Research Design

GEOG 6131 and GEOG 8131 – Research Design Fundamentals

Fall 2008 Wed. 6:30 to 9:20 p.m. in McEniry 401

 Instructors:                 

•  Dr. Sallie Ives

• Office: McEniry 403

• Phone: 687-5919 (Office/Voice Mail)

• Fax: 704 687-5966

• Email: smives@uncc.edu

• Office Hours: TTH 3:30-5:00, W 3-5 other times by appointment

 

• Dr. Jerry Ingalls

• Office: McEniry 425

• Phone: 687-5979 (Office/Voice Mail)

• Fax: 704 687-5966

• Email: gingalls@uncc.edu

• Office Hours: MW 10-11, TTH 1-2 or by appointment

Required Texts:          Blaxter, Loraine, Christina Hughes and Malcolm Tight. 2006. Third Edition.  How to Research.  Buckingham, UK:  Open University Press.

                                        Blaikie, Norman.  2000.  Designing Social Research:  The Logic of Anticipation.  Cambridge:  Polity Press.

Course Description:  This is a course devoted to the formulation and execution of solid research design.  In this course we will focus on scientific research and problem solving.  We will examine such issues problem identification of research problems, bibliographic searches to derive research questions, the role of literature in scientific research, data sources and collection, the selection and use of appropriate research techniques and preparation of reports and proposals. 

Your primary task in this class will be to develop a research proposal.  To accomplish this goal, you will be required to:

·         derive a preliminary problem/research question;

·         expand on the general topic of your research problem with relevant literature;

·         derive and concisely state a research problem/question;

·         write a proposal specifying the research design appropriate for solving your research problem;

·         identify the sources of data and the methods/techniques needed to complete your research.

In other words, the final product of this course (your research proposal) will need to contain all of the basic elements of a good research paper except for the explanation of the results and the conclusions.

This course operates on the assumption that at some point in your career as a graduate student or professional you will find it necessary to either engage in research or evaluate research done by others.  Hence, this course focuses on how to set up a research project within a specified period of time and under specific performance criteria.  This course requires that you execute specified research tasks under conditions that approximate those you would encounter as a practitioner while utilizing requirements that are, in all probability, more exacting and rigorous than those often established in the “real” world.  Just this once, this is research to be done “by the book.”

An additional component of this course will be a seminar sequence on the history and development of geographic thought.  This segment of the class will have a separate evaluation procedure that will be incorporated into your final grade in the discussion/participation requirement.

Course Objectives: 

·   To review the major components of research design.

·   To focus on the process of deriving a sound research design.

·   To encourage an attitude of critical evaluation of all research work.

·   To provide a linkage between the techniques and substantive course work provided in the MA in Geography.

·   To provide an introduction to the nature and status of geographic thought.

·   To construct a complete research proposal with all of the elements of solid research design.

Student Objectives and Instructor Expectations:  By the end of this course you must be able to demonstrate that you have:

·   A working knowledge of the research process.

·   A functional grasp of each specific component of the research process.

·   The capability to critically assess the research efforts of others as well as your own.

·   An understanding of the nature of the geographic approach to inquiry.

·   The capacity to produce a solid design for a research project.

The course evaluation procedure outlined provides the mechanisms by which you can demonstrate you have attained these objectives.

Attendance:  The effectiveness of this course is dependent upon the full participation of all class members.  Therefore, as a participant in this course, you should plan to attend every class period on time.  In the event of an absence, it is the student's responsibility to obtain class materials and other important information.

Assignments:  As noted earlier, there are two required textbooks for course readings.  Additional reading assignments for this course will be made available in the Graduate Student Mailbox area or via Blackboard.  Please do not remove these from the office except to make copies or read the materials during one brief period.  If you choose to make copies, you must do so with your own copy card on a copier other than any of those in the Department.  If we meant for you to have a copy, we would have distributed them!  Although there will be a lecture component for a few topics we cover, class discussion of assigned readings is an overwhelmingly important feature of this course.  Therefore, it is imperative that you keep up with all assigned readings.

There will be a series of written assignments made during the semester to provide students with practical experience in designing, conducting and assessing geographic research.  These exercises will require a considerable commitment of time outside of the classroom.  A detailed assignment sheet will be distributed explaining each exercise.  The due dates are clearly labeled on each assignment sheet.  It is a student's responsibility to turn in the assignments on time.  Late assignments will be assessed a penalty of 1 letter grade per calendar day (that includes weekends!).  An assignment turned in 4 days late will be recorded as a permanent zero.  If you are absent on an assignment due date for an illness or other personal emergency, you must contact me no later than one (1) class period after that date.