LUP-20306 Planning and Research Methods

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

Dutch

Assumed knowledge on:

LAR-24306; LUP24306; YRM-21306

Continuation courses:

LUP-30806

Contents:

This practical course is an in-depth planning methodology course, focusing at planning and research methods to support planning problems at local scale level. Students gain knowledge and skills with applying various methods for qualitative and quantitative analysis of land use and landscape assessment, including bio-physical and environmental aspects as well as socio-economic aspects. The course familiarizes the students with concepts for structuring spatial related data, its analysis and spatial coherence, participatory approaches and a variety of assessment techniques. The methods will be applied in several case studies and landscape transformations related to agriculture, nature, recreation and tourism, mobility and network infrastructure, spatial-environmental conflicts and demography. Students are expected to reflect on the methods presented in the course, in order to improve their skills in distinguishing and selecting the appropriate methods in a given planning context.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- compare different planning methods;
- compare different quantitative and qualitative research methods;
- assess advantages and disadvantages of planning and research methods;
- distinguish and select planning methods in the context of a planning task on the local scale;
- interpret analytical results in terms of landscape transformation processes at the local scale;
- explain the relationships between research and planning methods;
- apply statistical knowledge for landscape, land use and spatial analysis.

Activities:

- lectures;
- practical exercises;
- writing short reports;
- individual presentation.

Examination:

The student will be assessed on the basis of the following separate parts:
- his/her participation during the introductions and practical exercises and the completion of the exercises (either group work or individual work) (25%);
- an individual reflection paper about the separate methods and techniques applied and studied during the course; these have to be related to a specific planning process (25%);
- an individual written examination about the planning and research methods (including the applied statistical part) (50%). Each of the assessments parts (a-c) should be passed separately (i.e. score at least 5.50). More detailled information will be provided in the course guide.

Literature:

selected scientific papers and additional literature.