ZD345 Theory and methodology of geographical research

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2019
Extent and Intensity
1/2. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
RNDr. Petr Daněk, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
RNDr. Petr Daněk, Ph.D.
Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: RNDr. Petr Daněk, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The main objective is to repeat and deepen student`s knowledge of theoretical and methodological approaches in human geography and to link them to individual students PhD research projects.
Learning outcomes
After finishing the course, student will be able:
- to identify major theoretical approaches to human geography;
- to understand and discuss major strengths and weeknesses of particular approaches, and major objections to them;
- to navigate herself/himself in the literature;
- to make connections between theoretical and methodological approaches;
- to give reasons for selection of particular approaches and methods in her/his research project (typically PhD thesis);
- to present and defend such a selection.
Syllabus
  • 1. Traditional approaches to geographical research. Pozitivism and its criticism.
  • 2. Post-pozitivist approaches and their legacy in contemporary human geography.
  • 3. Cultural turn, post-modernism, post-structuralism, and post-colonialism, and their application in theory and methodology of geographical research.
Literature
  • DANĚK, Petr. Geografické myšlení: úvod do teoretických přístupů (Geographic Thought: Introduction to Theoretical Approaches). 1st ed. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2013, 172 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-6694-6. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.5817/CZ.MUNI.M210-6694-2013. Čítárna Munispace info
  • Key thinkers on space and place. Edited by Phil Hubbard - Rob Kitchin. Second edition. Los Angeles: Sage, 2011, xv, 510. ISBN 9781849201018. info
  • International encyclopedia of human geography. Edited by Rob Kitchin - N. J. Thrift. 1st ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2009, xxiv, 472. ISBN 9780080449135. info
  • Key concepts in geography. Edited by N. J. Clifford. 2nd ed. Los Angeles [i.e. Thousand Oaks, Calif.]: Sage, 2009, xvi, 462. ISBN 9781412930215. info
  • MURDOCH, Jonathan. Post-structuralist geography : a guide to relational space. First published. London: SAGE, 2006, ix, 220. ISBN 9780761974246. info
  • Practising human geography. Edited by Paul J. Cloke. 1st pub. London: SAGE Publications, 2004, xvi, 416. ISBN 0761973001. info
  • Introducing human geographies. Edited by Paul Cloke - Philip Crang - Mark Goodwin. London: Arnold, 1999, xv, 368 s. ISBN 0-340-69192-1. info
  • Human geography : an essential anthology. Edited by John Agnew - David N. Livingstone - Alisdair Rogers. 1st pub. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1996, xi, 696 s. ISBN 0-631-19461-4. info
  • LIVINGSTONE, David N. The geographical tradition : episodes in the history of a contested enterprise. First published. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 1992, viii, 434. ISBN 0631185860. info
Teaching methods
Brief introduction (lecture), class discussions based and compulsory reading, and short presentation of individual student`s projects.
Assessment methods
1. Notes from compulsory readings
2. Presentation of individual project (theoretical approaches and methods used in dissertation research).
3. Oral exam.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is taught: in blocks.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2011 - only for the accreditation, Spring 2011, Autumn 2011, spring 2012 - acreditation, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2015, autumn 2017.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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