Geography Methods

Code: GEO02370L

6 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours

Scientific Area: Geography

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Sustainable Development Goals

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Parcerias para a implementação dos objetivos - Fortalecer os meios de implementação e revitalizar a parceria global para o desenvolvimento sustentável.

Learning Goals

Development of the capacity of analysis, synthesis and oral and written presentation, and getting acquainted with the tools and methods most frequently used in geography (physical, human, environmental, GIT, and spatial and land-use planning). Being this course administrated in the first semester, it is intended to develop in the students the basic skills related to the scientific method in geography through a logical and critical lense.

(1) Introduction: The importance of using different methods and approaches in relation to the objectives and objects of study specific to geography.
(2) Analyzing a landscape (Desk work).
(3) Observing, mapping and characterizing a landscape (in the Field).
(4) Introduction to data science techniques relevant to geography (Excel, Python, R, and others).
(5) Analyzing geographic data through graphs and thematic maps.
(6) Exploring geographic data through univariate and bivariate descriptive statistics using Python or R.
(7) Interpreting geographic data through probability density functions (normal and log-normal) using Python or R.
(8) Learn to perform critical reviews of publications in Geography.
(9) Learn to carry out scientific literature reviews and bibliographic references.
(10) Learn to conduct interviews, surveys and focus groups/workshops.
(11) Learn how to write a dissertation.
(12) Learn how to produce a synthesis scheme.

Teaching Methods

A componente teórica será lecionada através de apresentações que incorporam texto, imagens, vídeos e outros materiais de apoio. Em particular, as aulas de ciência de dados terão uma componente teórica, seguida de aplicações práticas de desenvolvimento e análise de algoritmos relevantes para a geografia utilizando linguagens de programação interpretativas (e.g., Python). Além disso, procura-se promover a participação e o envolvimento dos alunos através de atividades interativas. Neste sentido, os estudos de caso serão analisados em grupos de trabalho, oferecendo oportunidades para a aplicação prática e interceção de conhecimentos adquiridos e promovendo a autonomia e o espírito crítico dos alunos.

Assessment

Continuous assessment:
(1) Group project + presentation (30%+10%);
(2) Two individual exercises (10% each) - (Exercise 1: Quantitative, graphic and cartographic methods. Exercise 2: Qualitative, deliberative and results dissemination methods);
(3) An individual test with all the theoretical material (35%); and
(4) Participation and attendance (5%)

Approval requires compulsory attendance at 75% of classes, including 100% of project classes, except where justification is allowed.

Assessment by exam: (1) Theorical component ? 40 % e (2) Practical component - 60%

Any plagiarism detected in the work submitted, from work by other authors or from CHATGTP or other artificial intelligence text production support, will result in a mark of zero for the work in question and the impossibility of submitting further assessment elements for the course unit.