Research Methods in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning, 7.5 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master's Programme in Strategic Urban and Regional Planning

Entry requirements

• Bachelor's degree in urban and regional planning equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen
  or 
  other relevant subject area.
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (Engelska 6).
  Exemption from Swedish

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• describe research methods in urban and regional planning
• evaluate and critically discuss the advantages and limitations of scientific methods
• appraise and critically reflect on ethical approaches in relation to different research methods in urban and regional planning
• manage and analyse empirical material according to scientifically accepted methods of analysis
• formulate research questions and develop a research design related to strategic urban and regional planning, its methods and theories

Course content

The course introduces research methods and design of research projects relevant to strategic urban and regional planning. The course discusses central qualitative and quantitative methods used in the field and how these methods are designed, developed, presented and implemented in research and practice. In the course, scientific texts and the scientific discourse are studied and problematised by reviewing scientific publications and research reports in strategic urban and regional planning. Research ethics and good research practices are addressed and discussed. The course also covers the research process, how a scientific paper is written and how research results are presented.

Teaching and working methods

The teaching at the course consists of exercises, lectures and seminars. Homework and idependent study are a necessary complement to the course.

Examination

The course is examined through:

• Active participation in seminars, grading scale EC
• Individual written assignments, grading scale EC

For ’E’ as a final grade, it is required that all examinations (active participation in seminar) using the pass-fail grading system obtain a passing score and at least ‘E’ on the individual written assignments.

For ‘D’ as the final grade in the course, the student must obtain at least ‘D’ on 75 percent of the individual written assignments.

For C’ as the final grade in the course, the student must obtain at least ‘C’ on 75 percent of the individual writing assignment.

For ‘B’ as the final grade in the course, the student must obtain at least ‘B’ on 75 percent of the individual writing assignment.

For ‘A’ as the final grade in the course, the student must obtain at least ‘A’ on 75 percent of the individual writing assignment.
 

Detailed information can be found in the study guide.

If special circumstances prevail, and if it is possible with consideration of the nature of the compulsory component, the examiner may decide to replace the compulsory component with another equivalent component.

If special circumstances prevail, and if it is possible with consideration of the nature of the compulsory component, the examiner may decide to replace the compulsory component with another equivalent component.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it.

If the coordinator has recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

An examiner may also decide that an adapted examination or alternative form of examination if the examiner assessed that special circumstances prevail, and the examiner assesses that it is possible while maintaining the objectives of the course.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is conducted in such a way that there are equal opportunities with regard to sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation and age.

If special circumstances prevail, the vice-chancellor may in a special decision specify the preconditions for temporary deviations from this course syllabus, and delegate the right to take such decisions.

About teaching and examination language

The teaching language is presented in the Overview tab for each course. The examination language relates to the teaching language as follows: 

• If teaching language is “Swedish”, the course as a whole could be given in Swedish, or partly, or as a whole, in English. Examination language is Swedish, but parts of the examination can be in English.
• If teaching language is “English”, the course as a whole is taught in English. Examination language is English.
• If teaching language is “Swedish/English”, the course as a whole will be taught in English if students without prior knowledge of the Swedish language participate. Examination language is Swedish or English depending on teaching language.

Department