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Advanced literature review - ENV00029H

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  • Department: Environment and Geography
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Laura Chapman
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
    • See module specification for other years: 2021-22

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23

Module aims

The aim of this module is to prepare students for their year 4 research project by building up subject specific knowledge. The module will enable students to develop into independent learners and to be able to access data from a broad range of sources, synthesise the information and produce a concise report.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of their chosen topic, deeper knowledge of specialist areas and an awareness of the provisional nature of knowledge.
  • Demonstrate ethical awareness and apply professional codes of conduct to incorporate a critical ethical dimension into their work.
  • Clearly define a specific area of study and the rationale, scope and structure of a literature review and ground the central topic of the literature review into a larger area of study.
  • Summarize individual studies or articles and synthesise them effectively into the review.
  • Organise literature to support discussion of a range of ideas and concepts appropriate for their own investigation.
  • Evaluate the work of others and the current "state of the art" for the body of knowledge reviewed, pointing out major methodological flaws or gaps in research, inconsistencies in theory and findings, and areas or issues pertinent to future study.
  • Students will further develop skills in the use of data sources e.g. journals, web pages, bibliographic software and staff knowledge.
  • Present their work in a concise, accurate and engaging manner, clearly reporting the results of their research findings appropriately to a given audience.

 

Generic / Employability Skills:

The module will allow you to develop some core generic skills including:

  • The ability to prepare work independently and to research your own topic in depth.
  • The ability to think and write critically.
  • The ability to summarise a large body of work to produce a concise summary.
  • The ability to present your work orally to a group of people.
  • Time management.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Literature review		 N/A 70
Oral presentation/seminar/exam
Presentation		 N/A 30

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Reassessment Literature review		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Students will receive formative feedback over the course of the module from their supervisor.

Feedback on the presentation will be delivered individually and on a class basis (standard 4 week turnaround)

Feedback on the literature review will be delivered individually (standard 4 week turnaround)

Indicative reading

Bryman, A. (2015). Social Research Methods. 5th Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Dytham, C. (2003). Choosing and using statistics: a biologist's guide. 2nd Edition. Malden: Blackwell.

O'Leary, Z. (2014). The essential guide to doing your research project. 2nd Edition. London: Sage.

Parsons, A. J. and Knight, P. (2015). How to do your dissertation in geography and related disciplines. 3rd Edition. London: Routledge.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.