Introduction
This course explores major theoretical and methodological approaches to urban research. Students undertake all steps of an urban research project from conceptualization of a proposal and literature review through research implementation, writing-up, and presentation. The urban object of study is Toronto although students living in other urban areas will be encouraged to study their own home towns. A fieldwork trip to Buffalo also allows for comparative study. Students will be encouraged to develop their own approach to research and will select a local topic that reflects their individual research interests. The emphasis of the course is on development of the skills required for urban research, in terms of research techniques as well as critical and analytical skills. Although the course draws heavily on texts from Geography students will also be introduced to material from other disciplines as well as to a wide variety of methods covering the social sciences and humanities including both quantitative and qualitative techniques.
The course is divided into three sections:
Pre-Fieldwork: The course begins with a consideration of different approaches to urban studies, and on students’ analysis of academic research. Prior to beginning empirical research, the researcher needs to understand her/his own theoretical approach to research, and to have a clearly defined research topic and plan of action. Class work will assist students in choosing, defining, and refining a research topic, developing a theoretical framework, as well as discussing and addressing ethical issues in research. Students will begin work on designing their research proposal and developing a literature review.
Fieldwork and fieldwork techniques: The course will overview both quantitative and qualitative methods for urban research, with an emphasis on qualitative methods. In this section, we will begin with a three day trip to Buffalo to develop an understanding of comparative research. We will start an investigation of research methods by looking at surveys as a research method and discuss techniques for designing a questionnaire. Qualitative methodologies reviewed will include interviewing using different interviewing styles and techniques, visual analysis, including observation and participant observation, and documentary analysis. The emphasis will be on choosing the method that will generate the data best suited to both the topic and the student’s approach. We will also discuss triangulation and the use of multiple methodologies in a research project. Students will begin fieldwork for their own projects.
Post-Fieldwork: In the final section of the course we will deal with the tasks facing researchers returning from the field: confronting the mass of data accumulated, crafting a coherent account from it, structuring and writing a research paper, the review process, and finally, presenting findings to the community (in this case, of class colleagues).
In addition students will attend a weekend long fieldtrip to Buffalo, USA, on which they will also be evaluated.
Learning Objectives:
Successful completion of the course will ensure that the student has had practical experience of developing and implementing the following research components:
| Objective |
Learning outcome |
| Understanding the relationship between theoretical and methodological approaches |
- Be able to formulate researchable social science questions and understand how to go about answering them
|
| Undertaking a literature review on a research topic which recognizes and critically assesses the key arguments in a text |
- To develop competence in describing and commenting upon current research or equivalent advanced scholarship
- To understand how to gain access to books and journal articles using the on-line electronic library catalogues and electronic journal article databases
- Become familiar with finding research material on the Web
|
| Developing an original research plan and selecting appropriate research methods |
- To become acquainted with qualitative and (descriptive) quantitative social science research methods, including: archival research, surveys, case studies, field research, interviews, focus groups
|
| Conducting original research |
- To develop a research project from its initial conceptual stages and to operationalise it.
|
| Planning, drafting, and writing an essay which presents and analyzes research findings |
- Be able to prepare a paper containing tables, charts or other data presentation methods and written analysis of the data presented in it
|
| Making an effective oral presentation. |
- To develop the ability to communicate information, arguments, and analyses accurately and reliably, orally and in writing to an audience
- Be able to communicate information effectively using data graphics and Power Point software
|
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Breakdown of marks
| Overall course |
Participation |
5% |
| Pre fieldwork |
Critique of an academic article:
Research proposal: |
10%
20% |
| Fieldwork |
Fieldwork diary: |
15% |
| Post fieldwork |
Presentation:
Research essay: |
10%
40% |
|
|
