- Course Code
- GG 2508
- Credit Points
- 15
- Course Coordinator
- Dr M Beecroft
Pre-requisites
Only available to students in Programme Year 2 registered for one of Geography and Environment's degree programmes, or at least three from GG 2010, GG 2012, GG 2509 and GG 2510. Students who do not meet these criteria may be admitted to the course at the discretion of the course coordinator.
Notes
This course involves an Easter field trip. Students are advised not to make arrangements for the vacation until details of the trips are confirmed. Please note the field course involves a student financial contribution.
Overview
The course introduces key research skills for the geosciences, both scientific and social scientific, and includes both lecture and practical components. Students will learn how to conduct investigations in their chosen field of study effectively and safely. Topics considered include concepts underpinning geosciences research, and basic methods of data gathering, analysis and presentation (such as questionnaire design, keeping of a field notebook, basic field skills, some statistical training, report writing). The core element of the course is a residential fieldtrip in the Easter vacation. This enables students to employ the skills and techniques learned in lectures and workgroup sessions to conduct original research into phenomena/issues covered elsewhere in the suite of Level 1 and 2 courses in Geography & Environment.
Structure
Lectures to introduce principles of research design, key techniques of data collection and analysis, supported by workgroup sessions for field trip preparation, plus the field trip itself.
Assessment
1st Attempt: Coursework (100%): pre-trip presentation (20%), end-of-trip presentation (20%), fieldwork diary and 2,500 word report written up as a short research paper (60%).
Resit: Apply to course coordinator. In exceptional circumstances, students may be permitted to resubmit the field trip report.
Formative Assessment
Students work in groups, supported by staff, to prepare their field trip projects. Students are expected to keep a diary/notebook that records the progress of their project. Pre-trip and end-of-trip presentations provide opportunities for formative feedback that can be used to improve students' performance at the next task/stage of assessment.
Feedback
Feedback (verbal and/or written) on students' pre-trip presentation before the field trip provides opportunities to adjust the proposed research design. Feedback (verbal and/or written) on students' end-of-trip presentation provides opportunities to adjust the processing and write-up of data. Students receive individual written feedback on their project report. We also provide a group debrief that identifies strengths and weaknesses and looks ahead to the additional demands of Level 3 study.