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MP0003

Research Methods for People and Environment Studies

Forskningsmetoder i studier av människa och miljö
How can we study how people react to the outdoor environments that surround them? It may concern single persons reflecting on favourite restorative places or large groups of people completing enquiries on the qualities of urban parks, etc. This course aims at presenting various techniques and methods that are used in such studies. It attempts to go through all steps from critical compilation of relevant scientific literature, design and planning of studies, selection, evaluation and application of methods, and scientific writing of a full-scale article. It also involves ethics and philosophy of science.

The course consists of four main blocks including a number of compulsory online elements see information below from course leader.

Information from the course leader

Dates for obligatory online meetings spring 2023

23 January - 25 January

15 March - 17 March

12 April - 14 April

22 May - 24 May

Course evaluation

The course evaluation is now closed

MP0003-30013 - Course evaluation report

Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.

Additional course evaluations for MP0003

Academic year 2023/2024

Research Methods for People and Environment Studies (MP0003-30176)

2024-01-15 - 2024-06-02

Academic year 2021/2022

Research Methods for People and Environment Studies (MP0003-30238)

2022-01-17 - 2022-06-05

Academic year 2020/2021

Research Methods for People and Environment Studies (MP0003-30169)

2021-01-18 - 2021-06-06

Syllabus and other information


Syllabus

MP0003 Research Methods for People and Environment Studies, 15.0 Credits

Forskningsmetoder i studier av människa och miljö

Subjects

Environmental Psychology Landscape Architecture Environmental Psychology Landscape Architecture

Education cycle

Master’s level

Modules

Title Credits Code
Qualitative inquiry 7.5 0102
Quantitative inquiry 7.5 0103

Advanced study in the main field

Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Master’s level (A1N)

Grading scale

5:Pass with Distinction, 4:Pass with Credit, 3:Pass, U:Fail
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Language

English

Prior knowledge

Knowledge equivalent to 120 credits and English 6

Objectives

The course aims to give an overview over current research methods and techniques that are used to investigate the interactions between people and environment. The course serves as an introduction to the methods of Master- and PhD-studies in the field.

After completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• report on the various techniques and methods that are used in people and environment studies

• identify possible research questions and/or hypotheses concerning the interaction between people and environment

• exemplify, describe, and motivate the choice of method for specific research questions in the area

• design qualitative and quantitative studies

• select and conduct basic qualitative and statistical analyses

• write a scientific report, including references and critical analysis of sources and literature

• identify and explain ethical issues in research studies.

Content

Based on theory and research on people and environment interactions various study approaches to specific research questions will be presented. Principles for defining research questions and suggestions for the design of investigation will be outlined, demonstrated and discussed. This will provide the foundations for explaining how different methods provide different types of knowledge. Alternatives in designing studies will be demonstrated and practiced. The strategies presented belong to a broad field of people–environment studies including methods typical for experiments in lab, surveys as well as fieldwork with participant observation. Scientific writing will be practiced, including management of literature references and source criticism, resulting in a number of short papers where different methods are tested, and a final complete scientific paper. Compulsory seminars where the different methods are discussed are also included. Examples of ethical issues that may arise in studies including human beings will be illustrated and discussed.

The course combines mandatory online meetings with tasks carried out independently.

Grading form

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Formats and requirements for examination

Participation in compulsory elements. Approved participation in seminars. Successful completion of exercises. Passed scientific paper.

  • If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.

  • The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.

  • If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.

  • For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Other information

  • The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

  • If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Additional information

The course is given as a distance course, with mandatory online meetings, at 50% speed.

Responsible department

Department of People and Society

Further information

Replaces: LK0240

Litterature list

Essential literature for MP0003 ”Research Methods for People and Environment Studies”

Additional, optional literature will be introduced when needed.

General literature

Qualitative

  • Anderson, H. (2020). Nature, nationalism and neoliberalism on food packaging: The case of Sweden. Discourse, Context and Media, 34, 1-9. Available online: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211695819301394
  • Bednarek, M. & Caple, H. (2014). Why do news values matter? Towards a new methodological framework for analyzing news discourse in Critical Discourse Analysis and beyond. Discourse & Society, 25(2), 135-158. Available online: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/0957926513516041
  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. Available online: https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
  • DeWalt, K.M. & DeWalt, B.R. (2011). Participant observation a guide for fieldworkers. 2nd ed. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield. Available online through the SLU Library
  • Englander, M. (2012). The interview: Data collection in descriptive phenomenological human scientific research. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 43(1), 13-35. Available online: https://brill.com/view/journals/jpp/43/1/article-p13_3.xml
  • Frost, N. (2011). Qualitative research methods in psychology: combining core approaches. Open University Press. Part I: Some core approaches. Accessible as an e-book at the SLU Library.
  • Giorgi, A. (2009). The descriptive phenomenological method in psychology: a modified Husserlian approach. Duquesne. University Press. Parts of the book. Will be available as pdf.
  • Jaworski, A. (2015) Globalese: a new visual-linguistic register, Social Semiotics, 25:2, 217-235, DOI: 10.1080/10350330.2015.1010317 -Available through the library website
  • Johansson, R. (2003). Case Study Methodology. Available online: http://www.psyking.net/htmlobj-3839/case_study_methodology-_rolf_johansson_ver_2.pdf
  • Kvale, S., & Brinkmann, S. (2015). InterViews: learning the craft of qualitative research interviewing. London. SAGE Publications. You need to buy or borrow this one.
  • Riessman, C. K. (2007). Narrative Analysis Narrative methods for the human sciencesLondon: Sage publication. pp. 1-7. Will be available as pdf.
  • Smith, J. A., & Osborn, M. (2007). Interpretative phenomenological analysis. Qualitative psychology: a practical guide to research methods. London: SAGE Publications. pp. 53-80. Will be available as pdf.
  • von Essen, E. & Englander, M. (2013). Organic food as a healthy lifestyle: a phenomenological psychological analysis. International Journal of Qualitative Studies
    on Health and Well-Being, 8, 20559. Available online: https://doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v8i0.20559

Quantitative

  • Bryman, A. (2012). Social research methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Chapters 10–12. Will be available as pdf.
  • Chambliss, D. F., & Schutt, R. K. (2015). Making sense of the social world : methods of investigation. Chapter 8. Will be available as pdf.
  • McCormick, K. (Consultant), Salcedo, J., & Poh, A. (2015). SPSS statistics for dummies (3rd edition.). Available as an e-book through the SLU library.
  • SCB. (2004). Design your questions right. Available online: http://share.scb.se/ov9993/data/publikationer/statistik/_publikationer/ov9999_2004a01_ br_x97op0402.pdf

Course facts

The course is offered as an independent course: Yes The course is offered as a programme course: Outdoor Environments for Health and Well-being - Master's Programme Sustainable Food Systems - Master's Programme Tuition fee: Tuition fee only for non-EU/EEA/Switzerland citizens: 27500 SEK Cycle: Master’s level (A1N)
Subject: Environmental Psychology Landscape Architecture Environmental Psychology Landscape Architecture
Course code: MP0003 Application code: SLU-30013 Location: Location independent Distance course: Yes Language: English Responsible department: Department of People and Society Pace: 50%