Unit information: Study and Field Skills for Human Geographers (Bristol) in 2020/21

Unit name	Study and Field Skills for Human Geographers (Bristol)
Unit code	GEOG20018
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Professor. David Manley
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	GEOG10002 Geographical History, Thought and Practices, GEOG10003 Key Concepts in Human and Physical Geography, and GEOG10004 Introduction to Quantitative Geography.
Co-requisites	Either GEOG20012 Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography or POLI20001 Conducting a Research Project using secondary data
School/department	School of Geographical Sciences
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

This field-based unit links theory, policy and practice through work in and on a UK city – Bristol – and its population and hinterland. The unit will introduce students to a variety of human geography methods, both quantitative and qualitative, encouraging them – through structured and unstructured field encounters – to reflect on their strengths and limitations, the ethics of different methods, the forms of data generated, and their use in addressing a range of questions and problems. Research design, sampling, analysis and interpretation will also be considered.

The course provides material for the basis of day-projects in the field and will give students an opportunity to develop their methodological skills and awareness.

The aims of the unit are to:

• Develop students’ skills in project design and formulation
• Apply methods and analyse results both quantitative and qualitative
• Provide an opportunity to undertake a range of research methods
• Reflect critically on the links between theory and practice
• Deepen their awareness of research ethics and their own positionality
• Synthesise and write-up diverse material and evidence

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students will have:

1. developed their field skills;
2. put their learning into practice in a field setting;
3. reflected critically on their field encounters;
4. integrated their results and experiences into a report;

The following transferable skills are developed in this Unit:

• Written communication
• Team work
• Numeracy
• Computer literacy
• Problem solving
• Analytical skills

Teaching Information

Briefing lectures, workshops, non-residential field work (including briefings in the field), drop-in discussion sessions

Assessment Information

Percentage of the unit that is coursework: 100%

Fieldwork portfolio consisting of three mini-reports (100%).

Reading and References

Essential Reading:

• Steve Pile and Nigel Thrift, eds. (2000) City A-Z: Urban Fragments

• Jennifer Robinson, (2005) Ordinary Cities: Between Modernity and Development

• Ash Amin and Nigel Thrift, ed. (2002) Cities: Reimagining the Urban

• Walter Benjamin (1997) One-way Street and Other Writings