VGU Urban Development Planning Overview over Modules and ...

Technical University Darmstadt www.urban-studies.de
International
Co-operation
and Urban
Development
Course description
Year One
1 Course identification
2.7.1_A
2 Module 2.7.
Academic skills
3 Name of course Research methods and thesis management
4 Course instructor Prof. Dr. Prof. Dr. Brigitte Geissel, TU Darmstadt
5 Contents /syllabus This course is an introduction to urban studies
research methodologies. The course deals with
identification of sources for urban data gathering, use
of the library in urban research, formulating a good
research question, research design, methods
commonly used in urban research, use of computers
to store and manipulate quantitative urban data, and
an introduction to data analysis and theoretical and
practical applications of urban research. The class will
further discuss the importance and limitations of theory
in social science research. Basic concepts and
vocabulary of social science research are explained
and the student will become familiar with how research
in the social sciences is done as well as with the
commonly accepted conventions for scientific
research.
6 Learning outcomes At the end of this course students will have the tools
they need to conduct basic urban research using
quantitative and qualitative methods. They will
understand the basic framework for a typical research
design and have the tools to evaluate research
projects to understand how researchers investigate
questions related to urban issues. More precisely,
students should be prepared to:
� Formulate good research questions and design
appropriate research.
� Collect your own data using a variety of methods.
� Analyse both simple qualitative and quantitative
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