Geographical Research Methods (01:450:330:01)
Class time: M 1:40pm-4:40pm, LSH-B266 (LIV), Fall 2013
Instructor: Prof. Asa K. Rennermalm
Office: LSH-B214 (LIV)
Office hours: W 1:30-3:30pm and by appointment
Phone: 848 445 4731
Email: asa.rennermalm@rutgers.edu
Course theme and learning goals: This course provides an introduction to research methods
and research design in geography. Topics addressed include formulation of research questions
and hypotheses, development of research projects, and quantitative and qualitative research
approaches. The class will follow a lecture and group discussion format. Class time will also be
devoted to development and execution of assignments for group course research projects. This
class is required for the Geography major.
This course satisfies a Quantitative and Formal Reasoning (QQ) requirement in the SAS
Core Curriculum. Upon completion of this course, students will be expected to be able to
formulate, evaluate, and communicate conclusions and inferences from quantitative
information.
Important dates:
• 14 Oct: Instead of class attend: Bridging the Divide Conference about Hurricane Sandy:
10:30am – 3:30pm. Attendance mandatory between: 1:30 to 3:30pm
• 23 Oct: Chasing Ice Screening, 5:45pm – 8pm, Rutgers Cinema
• 28 Oct: Exam 1
• 4 Nov: Assignment 1 is due
• 18 Nov: Assignment 2 is due
• 25 Nov: Assignment 3 is due
• 2 Dec: In-class presentations of Assignment 3 results
• To be announced: Exam 2
Course material:
• B. Gomez, J. P. Jones III (2010). Research Methods in Geography. Wiley-­‐Blackwell Press. • Additional required readings will be posted on course sakai site and include: o R. M. Leichenko, K. L. O’Brien, W. D. Solecki (2010). Climate Change and the
Global Financial Crisis: A Case of Double Exposure. Annals of the Association of
American Geographers, 100(4), 963–972, doi:10.1080/00045608.2010.497340.
o E. Nickl, C. J. Willmott, K. Matsuura, S. M. Robeson (2010). Changes in Annual
Land-Surface Precipitation Over the Twentieth and Early Twenty-First Century,
Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 100(4), 729–739,
doi:10.1080/00045608.2010.500241.
Evaluation: The final grade consists of 100 points based on the following formula:
• Exam 1 (22.5 points)
• Exam 2 (22.5 points)
• Three written assignments (30 points, 10 points each)
Discussion questions about weekly readings (15 points, 3 points each)
Participation (10 points)
o Mandatory participation in class group exercises and discussions
o Mandatory attendance in class
o In class-presentation and reaction to seminar
o In-class presentation based on graduate student interview
Exams are not cumulative and assess understanding of new material covered between semester
start or previous exam. Extra credit is given for attending Geography Seminar Series Lectures
(0.2 for attending, 0.1 for asking a relevant question to the speaker, and an extra 0.2 for a 300
word essay about the seminar). Make sure you check in with Prof. Rennermalm at the start or
end of the seminar. Seminars are announced on the Department of Geography website:
http://geography.rutgers.edu/. Other opportunities may be announced throughout the semester.
•
•
Grading scale follow Rutgers standard scale for undergraduate courses.
Grade From To
A
90
100
B+
85
89.99
B
80
84.99
C+
75
79.99
C
70
74.99
D
60
69.99
F
0
59.99
Discussion Questions: Students are required to develop a list of at least five issues and/or
questions to be used in class discussion about each week's reading assignment. These lists need
to be written using complete sentences where each question/issue. Students should select issues
and questions that are worthy of further discussion with the class. Discussion questions are
submitted via the course Sakai site Assignment page, and will be graded on a scale from 0 to 3,
with 0 for no submission or extremely poor submission and 3 for excellent.
Assignments and course group project: The three assignments will all be part of the group
research project. Assignments will be distributed in class and posted on the course web site. All
written assignments are handed-in individually. This means that students will work with a group
in executing parts of the group project and in the group presentation of the results, but the written
assignments must be the student’s own work.
Policy regarding class participation, late discussion questions, late assignments, make-up
exams, missed class: Active participation during class is expected. Late discussion questions,
and late assignments will not be accepted/graded except under extraordinary circumstance
(religious observance, bereavement, illness, official university business, jury duty, etc.).
Similarly, make up exams and classes are only given for extraordinary circumstances.
Arrangement for makeup classes and exams should be made in advance of the class/exam if
possible. All absences should be reported by using self-reporting absence system
(https://sims.rutgers.edu/ssra//).
Accommodations for students with special needs: Students who, because of disability, need
accommodation for special needs should arrange this through the Office of Disability Services
for Students.
Academic integrity: Students are expected to understand and to act in accordance with the
Rutgers Academic Integrity Policy: http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/policy-on-academicintegrity
Schedule (subjected to change)
Class Date
Topics
1
Sept 9
Introduction about research in
geography
2
Sept 16
Thinking about research in geography
Readings
Gomez and Jones
Chapter 1-3
Discussion
questions 1 due
3
Sept 23
Ethics and politics of research
Literature review process
Gomez and Jones
Chapter 24
Readings on Sakai
Discussion
questions 2 due
4
Sept 30
Planning a research project and
discussion of course group projects
Gomez and Jones
Chapter 4 and 5
Discussion
questions 3 due
5
Oct 7
Description of quantitative Data
Gomez and Jones
Chapter 11, 17
Discussion
questions 4 due
6
Oct 14
Lecture replaced by “Bridging the
Divide” Conference about Hurricane
Sandy: 10:30am–4pm. Mandatory
participation 1:30pm–4pm. Extra
credits for attending earlier part of
conference
7
Oct 21
Mapping of quantitative data
GIS mapping tutorial
Preparation for Chasing Ice screening
and discussion
8
Oct 28
Gomez and Jones
Chapter 16 and 22
Discussion
questions 5 due
Exam 1
Work on assignment 1
9
Nov 4
Analysis of quantitative data
Gomez and Jones
Chapter 10 and 18
Assignment 1 due
10
11
Nov 11
Nov 18
Collecting primary data for
quantitative and qualitative analysis
Gomez and Jones
Chapter 6 and 8
Work on assignment 2
Discussion
questions 6 due
Survey techniques
Gomez and Jones
Chapter 12
Group work on survey and plan for
data collection.
12
Nov 25
Qualitative data
Group work on processing of
Assignment 3 survey data
Assignment 2 due
Gomez and Jones
Chapter 13 and 15
Assignment 3
surveys due
13
Dec 2
Group work on processing of
Assignment 3 survey data
Assignment 3 final
write up due
14
Dec 9
In-class presentations of assignment 3
results
Final write up is
due