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
2.7.3-B
2 Module
Academic skills
3 Name of course Field study methodology
4 Course instructor Prof. Dr. Prof. Dr. Brigitte Geissel, TU Darmstadt
5 Contents /syllabus Urban and also rural planning is for people, and
therefore any research project will need to gather and
process information about the target group. Social
surveys and interviews are commonly applied for this
purpose, and basic knowledge about interviewing
techniques and data processing is essential already in
the stage of research design (even if the actual
application may later be done by specialists).
This course is meant to technically assist students to
design and carry out their field works and - indirectly (if
based on the field work) – also in preparing the master
thesis.
6 Learning outcomes Students should learn:
� In which situations quantitative and mixed
empirical surveys are a useful research tool
� How to prepare and organize social surveys
� What is an adequate sampling size
� Methods of collecting data in the field
� How to design a good questionnaire
� The use and quality of indicators
� When do I need a pilot study
� Time management
� Keeping records
� Ethical principles
� Interpreting data
7 Instructional methods Introductory lecture, case studies, exercises, test
8 Course Form Seminar
9 Mandatory / elective Elective
2.7.3 Page 1