Aims

• To develop knowledge and skills in methods of data collection, analysis and research that benefit urban planning and landscape planning and management practitioners.
• To aid students in developing appropriate research designs for their specialised study and their dissertation at postgraduate level.
• To introduce students to a range of different types of research for different purposes and contexts.
• To introduce students to the basic principles of commissioning research for a range of professional purposes.
• To stimulate students into thinking about their dissertations early and identifying and refining a research topic.

This module prepares students to undertake research for their final dissertation and for planning policy development and practice. It explores a range of approaches to the design and undertaking of methodologically robust research, it raises students’ awareness of the rigorous standards expected of both practice and academic research, and it also helps students identify and refine their final dissertation topic.

Outline Of Syllabus

• Introduction to research design
• Researching urban planning / landscape planning and management
• The researcher: positionality and ethics
• Framing research and building a literature review
• Broad methodological approaches and frameworks
• Qualitative and quantitative research
• Data collection and sampling, and data analysis
• Evidence and criteria for evaluation of research
• Presenting your research (dissertation and other conventions)

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The lecture materials, delivered throughout the module, provide the substantive content of the module. The preparation of the assessment is supported by a series of alternative teaching sessions: three workshops with staff members starting in week 4 and separated by several weeks, and a final drop-in session.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The assessment supports and tests the achievement of all knowledge and skills learning outcomes. A single research proposal is an appropriate way of both assessing the student’s knowledge of the research process, a research topic of their choice and the different methodological practices used in the social sciences, and assessing the student’s ability to critically review the existing literature on a topic and to develop an appropriate research design and methodology to investigate it. In addition, the assessment ensures that the student is capable of developing a postgraduate research dissertation. This module must be passed before a student can progress to TCP8099 Dissertation.