G311 Introduction to Research Methods

Objective: Geography is a discipline with many well recognized and established sub-fields which over time have developed highly specialized techniques. The objective of this course is to provide an overview of the discipline, to introduce the characteristics of geographic research problems and commonly adopted methodologies, and provide experience with specific techniques.

This course addresses to some degree all the principles of undergraduate learning, but particularly core communication skills (oral and written), critical thinking, the integration and application of knowledge, and the understanding of society and culture (through independent research projects). This core course, in combination with G309, provides the foundation for development of intellectual depth and adaptiveness in the realm of geographic inquiry.

Course structure: Weekly meetings: Thursday 2.30-5.15. There will be a 1 h lecture each week (approximately) to provide an introduction and overview of the most important material on each topic. This will be followed by a practical assignment/ exercise. A tentative schedule is listed below. However, the weather and availability of the computer labs may mean the sequence of topics will change. If you miss a lecture or lab it is YOUR responsibility to get ALL the appropriate information from one of your classmates (see additional comments below concerning course attendance).

Text: A series of readings will be provided each week and placed on reserve in the Geography Department office. It is important that you keep up to date with these readings as we will discuss the material in class and a portion of your grade (participation) will be assigned based on the extent to which you contribute to such discussions.

Geographic Inquiry. Nature and scope of Geography, Geography at IUPUI, IUPUI's Principles of Undergraduate Learning
Formulation and Origin of Geographic questions, Importance of the Geographic Literature. This will be a brief summary of some of the essential elements of G309 (Frontiers in Geographic Thought).
Introduction to the Social Science Computer Classroom

Exercise (a hand-out will be given): Content analysis of a Research Paper in the Professional Geographer (Guidelines to be distributed); Brief report to be given in next class and written summary submitted.

Week 2 (January 22nd):

Presentation of exercise one
Research methodologies - scientific versus non-scientific methods
Introduction to social science lab and online library resources

Readings:

Kennedy B.A. (1992). First Catch your Hare …. Research Designs for Individual Projects. In Rodgers, A., Viles, H. and Goudie, A. (1992) The Student’s Companion to Geography, Blackwell, Oxford, 128-134.

No Exercise.

The Nature of Geographic Data. Objective versus Subjective measurements; Discrete versus continuous data; Issues of accuracy (both in direct measurements and data of others); Scale (both spatial and temporal).
Source of Geographic Data - Demographic and Environmental data.

Readings:

Lindsay J.M. (1997) Chapter 3: Handling data. In Techniques in Human Geography, Routledge, London and New York, 21-34.
Earickson R.J. and Harlin J.M. (1994). Chapter 2: Measurement and Sampling, In Geographic Measurement and Quantitative Analysis, MacMillan College Publishing, 13-41

Exercise: Overview of an assigned online data source (for example, census, agricultural census, Indiana online). To be conducted in pairs. (presented in week 4)

Week 4 (February 5th)

Presentations on Online data sources
Research Ethics

Exercise: Annotated bibliography for research paper (at least 10 refereed journal articles) (due week 5)

Spatial data - Maps and Mapping: Georeferencing: lat/long; GPS; UTM; Broad overview of map projections; working with maps: basics of scale, direction, slope/aspect, long-profiles;

Readings:

Strahler A.H. and A.N. Strahler (1992) Modern Physical Geography. Wiley, NY, NY. (4th ed). Chapter 1, p 3-9, Appendix 1 Map Projections p 543-550, Appendix IV Topographic Map Reading 571-580.

Exercise: Generation a simple map of the courtyard and buildings in front of Cavanaugh Hall using compass and tape, and to provide an exact location for one reference point using GPS.

Sampling. Types of sampling (random, systematic, stratified); Spatial versus non-spatial sampling

Readings:

Stoddard, R.H. (1982) Chapter 4: Sampling Geographic Phenomena Field techniques and research methods in Geography, Tech Books, Fairfax, VA. 75-108.
Wright T. (1998) Sampling and Census 2000: The Concepts. American Scientist. 245-253.

Exercise:Application of different sampling approaches and methods

Questionnaires and Structured Interviews

Readings:

Lindsay J.M. (1997) Chapter 4: Questionnaires, interviews and allied techniques – getting information from people. In Techniques in Human Geography, Routledge, London and New York, 35-69.

Exercise: Design and Implementation of a Questionnaire

Summarizing data, identifying patterns, developing explanations Graphics

Readings:

Earickson R. and Harlin J. (1994) Geographic Measurement and Quantitative Analysis. MacMillan, NY, NY. Chapter 3: Graphing and Mapping data

Exercise: Data analysis and Graphing in Excel

Data Analysis - Simple Descriptive Statistics & Measures of Correlation and Difference

Readings:

Earickson R. and Harlin J. (1994) Geographic Measurement and Quantitative Analysis. MacMillan, NY, NY. Chapter 4. Descriptive Statistics

Exercise: Simple statistical analyses using Excel

Week 12 (April 8th) - Student Presentations

Exercise: Reviews of student presentations

Assessment: The objective of this course is a theoretical and practical introduction to research methods in geography. The final exam will focus on the theoretical issues addressed, while the assignments will focus on the practical use of the methods and principles taught. The independent project will integrate the two (see further comments below).

Class participation 12
(active involvement in class activities and discussions)

Individual/Group project:
    Literature review/ Outline of problem                      5
    Specific objectives                                               3
    Summary of data                                                 3
    Presentation & questions of other students            4
    Final paper                                                        15

Assignments: Individual and group projects will be assigned each week to illustrate the theory/principles taught in the lectures. Seven of these must be submitted to be graded (some are compulsory). Although the emphasis is on the substance of the material submitted, presentation will be considered in grading. Assignments are due in at the beginning of the following Monday class unless otherwise noted on the exercise handout. NO LATE labs will be accepted. You can work together on the assignments/exercises but the write-up and the work you hand in MUST be your own.

Individual project: The objective is conduct a simple research project using a range of the methods and techniques used in this course OR to develop a research proposal. The project should be based on a "real" problem with a basis in the Geographic literature. A more detailed handout will be distributed on specific aspects of the paper. The project will be conducted in stages, each of which will be graded. This project can be done individually or in groups.

1. Review of literature/ outline of a problem: Context from the literature and statement of a question to be answered. Week 6 (approximately 5 pages).

2. Specific objectives (hypotheses if appropriate) and research plan; outline methodology (techniques and methods, study site) Week 8 (approximately 2 pages).

4. Draft of paper incorporating 1-3 (approximately 10-15 pages in length with additional tables, figures etc) This will NOT be graded but MUST be handed in. Week 13.

5. Class presentation: Problem, context, research methodology, results, conclusions (approximately 15 minutes) (Weeks 13 & 15)

6. Final submission of paper (incorporating comments and suggestions from steps 1-5). Week 15.

Final Exam: Material covered in the lectures, text book and any extra readings will be examined. Exams will be made up of short answer, paragraph and essay questions. To help you prepare for these practice questions will be placed on reserve in the departmental office. A make-up exam will be given ONLY in the event of illness that keeps you from attending the exam. No make-up exams will be given without a verifiable excuse. It is YOUR responsibility to let me know BEFORE the exam that you will be unable to attend.

Note on behavior: Students should show common courtesy and observe basic rules of behavior in class and lab periods. Cheating in any form on the exam, assignments or independent project will NOT be tolerated and will be penalized by a failing grade for the course and a report being submitted to the Dean of Students. You are referred to the IU Student Code of Ethics for the University's definition and policy on academic misconduct.

Attendance: Attendance will be recorded throughout the semester. If you miss more than two consecutive classes you must notify me and provide an explanation. If you do not notify me, you may be contacted by the university and will be required to document that you have not unofficially withdrawn from the class.