Seminar: Graduate Research II (Research Design) (15-041-797)

Spring Quarter, 2002

Mondays 2-5 p.m.

H. A. Stafford

Department of Geography

The single most important component of a graduate program is independent research. This seminar will examine the design of research projects.

Participants will:

• extract useful guidance from books on research methods in the social and natural sciences.
• extract useful guidance from books on research methods in the geographical sciences.
• critique Geography Ph.D. research proposals submitted to the National Science Foundation for support.
• produce and present a formal design of research they may pursue.

Schedule:

DATE	TOPIC
March 25	Introduction; discussion of participant research directions
April 1	Reviews and operations guidelines from social, natural & geographical sciences guidebooks; literature search results
April 8	Critiques of and guidelines from NSF proposals; focus/question/problem statement
April 15	Statement of problem, bibliography’ “golden article”
April 22	Participant research proposal outlines (I)
April 29	Participant research proposal outlines (II)
May 6	Consolidated research proposal guidelines
May 13	Participant research proposals presentations
May 20	Participant research proposals presentations
[May 27]	[Memorial Day Holiday]
June 3	Participant research proposals presentations