GEO-34806 Advanced Socio-spatial Research Methodology

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

Mandatory courses in socio-spatial analysis thesis traject; introductionary course in research methodology.

Contents:

The core purpose of this course is to get acquainted with various social science methodologies and to be able to apply research methods relevant to social-spatial analysis. Having experience with methods of social scientific methods is a prerequisite to be successful in the ACT case studies, the thesis and probably the internship. We will examine a range of methods that are commonly used to collect, analyse and report on quantitative and qualitative data and consider potential applications for leisure and tourism research.

Learning outcomes:

Learning outcomes: After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- critically evaluate the conceptual and technical design of existing research projects;
- collect qualitative data by means of in-depth interviews;
- distinguish and apply qualitative methods of data analysis;
- collect quantitative data with a questionnaire;
- apply quantitative methods of data analysis, such as Chi-square tests, ANOVA, t-tests, correlation and regression, using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS);
- judge whether a chosen analysis is useful for a particular research question given the characteristics of the collected data;
- reflect critically upon the use and interpretation of the discussed methods;
- compose a scientific paper that reports qualitative or quantitative research.

Activities:

- lectures/discussion;
- interviewing, observations, data analysis;
- ICT usage;
- analytical software tutorials;
- literature study;
- group exercises.

Examination:

Research report, Assignments.

Literature:

Various articles that will be uploaded on the Blackboard.