Course description

You will conduct a small-scale piece of empirical research of relevance and use this as the basis for your dissertation. The emphasis of the dissertation will be on the use of methodology in the context of:

tracing the application of certain methods to the investigation of particular issues;
discussing how that methodology functioned in practice;
research reflexivity.

You will be expected to report on the findings of the study, although the scale of the work will necessitate modest aims and outcomes, given that you will require space to provide in-depth methodological critique and potentially also methods development as an outcome of your study.

It will also be possible for you to choose to undertake a literature-based dissertation, in which case there will be an expectation that a formal review methodology will be used to conduct the review.

The form the dissertation ultimately takes will reflect the particular study conducted, and its structure will be negotiated and agreed by your supervisor. All dissertations undertaken will be required to contribute to meeting the ESRC's research training criteria.

Aims

You will:

• develop as a well-rounded researcher who is able to access the full range of research in relation to planning and environmental management;
• actively and practically engage with research methods used in the context of planning and environmental management;
• attend introductory PhD research training lectures, seminars and tutorials and get a taste of life as a PhD student.

Coursework and assessment

You will conduct a small-scale piece of empirical research of relevance and use this as the basis for your dissertation. The emphasis of the dissertation will be on the use of methodology in the context of:

tracing the application of certain methods to the investigation of particular issues;
discussing how that methodology functioned in practice;
research reflexivity.

Career opportunities

MSc Research Methods is ideal if you are considering PhD study and/or a career in research in planning and environmental management.

More generally, Planning and Environmental Management graduates are popular with employers, particularly in consultancy, where the ability to analyse and propose policies and implement strategies is vital. After London, Manchester hosts the largest number of planning and environmental consultancies in the UK.