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Research Methods

Overview

  • Credit value: 0 credits at Level 7
  • Convenor: Dr Olivia Sheringham
  • Assessment: this module is not assessed

Module description

In this module you will acquire the practical skills for successfully designing, conducting and communicating academic research. We will explore the whole research process, from developing key research questions and reviewing the existing literature to selecting appropriate methodologies, collecting data, analysing findings and presenting results, in a clear and professional manner.

You will learn qualitative and quantitative approaches to research, gaining an understanding of their strengths and limitations, and the ways in which these methods can be applied in a specific context of data collection and analysis. In addition to developing core research competencies, you will gain transferable and professional skills through practical, hands-on activities. These will include data analysis and visualisation, programming with R for statistical analysis, and GIS mapping techniques for spatial data exploration and presentation. We also offer training on fieldwork techniques, both for the fieldwork module and for future fieldwork you may take part in. In collaboration with Birkbeck’s Careers and Enterprise team, we also offer employability, industry and entrepreneurship training to maximise future-career possibilities.

The module is designed to encourage critical thinking, problem-solving and independent learning, while also developing confidence in the use of digital research tools and analytical software used in academic and professional settings.

Indicative syllabus

  • Writing a research proposal
  • Doing a literature review
  • Writing an ethics proposal
  • Questionnaire survey, interviews and focus groups
  • Analysing visual and textual data
  • Conducting statistical analysis and modelling
  • R programming for data analysis
  • Introduction to mapping
  • Fieldwork training
  • Employability and entrepreneurship training

Learning objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • design and develop an independent research project, including the formulation of research questions, aims and objectives
  • conduct a literature review using appropriate academic sources and referencing conventions
  • understand research ethics and prepare an ethics proposal
  • apply a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including questionnaire surveys, interviews and focus groups
  • analyse and interpret visual, textual and other qualitative data
  • conduct statistical analysis and modelling using real-world data
  • code R scripts to conduct data analysis using digital data from various sources
  • produce and interpret maps using introductory GIS and mapping techniques
  • communicate research findings effectively through written, visual and oral presentations
  • demonstrate transferable skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, data handling, and entrepreneurship relevant to academic and professional contexts.