This course teaches the logic and process of undertaking empirical, original and scholarly research on natural hazards and disasters. Students undertake an individual cutting edge research project in the Asia-Pacific region. 

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. plan and engage in an independent and sustained critical investigation of a research problem on natural hazards and disasters

2. carefully assess literature and systematically identify relevant theory and concepts that are related to their research interest and relate these to appropriate methodologies and data gathering methods

3. develop, refine and defend a research proposal and engage in systematic collection and discovery of relevant information and critical review of appropriate and relevant data sources

4. understand and recognize the importance of ethics and their observance in undertaking research

Assessment will be based on: 

-Attendance and participation in class discussions (15 %)

-Presentation and submission of a 1,500-word research proposal (25%)

-Presentation and submission of a 10,500-word research paper (60%)

Weekly lectures (2.5 hours X 10 weeks)

Academic and research skills workshops (2.0) hours x 5 sessions)

Discussion and presentation sessions (2.0 hours x 5 sessions)

Because this is a research project, students will spend a good amount of time working independently to complete the course. 

This course is incompatible with HGEO8003

None

A reading brick will be provided for this course.  The collection of materials will consist of book chapters from the following set of recommended readings.

Burgess, Robert. 1986. Key Variables in Social Investigation. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

Kindon, Sara, Pain, Rachel and Kesby, Mike.  2007.  Participatory Action Research Approaches and Methods.  Connecting people, participation and place. New York: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group.

Parsons, Tony and Knight, Peter G. 2005. How to do your Dissertation in Geography and Related Disciplines.  New York: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group.

Rodriguez, Havidan, Quarantelli, Enrico and Dynes, Russell.  2006. Handbook of Disaster Research. New York: Springer.

Schratz, Michael and Walker, Rob. 1995. Research as Social Change. New opportunities for qualitative research. London: Routledge.

Stoddard, Robert. 1982. Field Techniques and Research Methods in Geography. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.

Internet access