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Research Basics

Course developer

Course abstract

The study course is intended to master the structure, content, research methods of scientific work. In addition, it is oriented towards the development of the master's thesis, defining the topic, problems, goals and tasks of the thesis. The study course is related to the scientific practice that follows this study course and, where it is planned to be practical, to acquire theoretical knowledge.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Students learn:
• Knows the industry's current research topics; 1st, 4th practical work
• Knows methods for working with scientific literature; 3. practical work
• Able to select and use different research methods; 1st, 4th practical work
• Are able to formulate the research problems and topic; 2. practical work
• Are able to prepare materials according to the research method; 4th, 5th practical work
• Able to analyze the obtained research data; 5. practical work
• Able to set research goals and objectives; 2. practical work
• Are able to select and analyze research literature sources according to the research goal; 3rd, 5th practical work

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Introduction - Structure of scientific work, research stages and groups of methods; (2h)
2. 1st practical work - work with branch research topics; (6h)
3. Research of master's theses, work structure, aim, tasks and methods used in the research; (4h)
4. Research topics, direct and related fields, research initiation and planning. How to build the 'design' of your research - problems, goal, tasks; (4h)
5. Research design - “Maind map”; (2h)
6. 2nd practical work - work with the formulation of research problems, goal and tasks; (4h)
7. Quantitative and qualitative data of the research. Acquisition and use. National Library of Latvia - information sources, databases; (4h)
8. 3rd practical work - work with databases; (4h)
9. Research requirements for the landscape protection zone of cultural and historical monuments. Landscape research and landscape expert opinions required in the development of plans for the protection and management of protected nature territories and other projects. (4h)
10. 4th practical work - research of cultural-historical and protected landscapes; (4h)
11. Landscape ecology, aesthetics, principles of sustainability - research, their structure and methods; (4h)
12. Landscape identity as a research topic; (2h)
13. Landscape modeling for research purposes; (2h)
14. Urban environment and rural landscape research groups - field research, surveys in nature; (4h)
15. Landscape reading, 'imagibilyty', photographic method; (4h)
16. 5th practical work - presentation of research structure, methods and obtained data. (10h)

Requirements for awarding credit points

Class attendance not less than 75%. The developed practical works and exam paper have been submitted on time. For works submitted after the specified time (if there is no justifiable reason), the mark is reduced by 1 point. Positively evaluated practical work. An accumulative test is also possible, the fulfillment criteria of which are determined by the head of the study course.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

1st test work - a study examining the range of research methods to define the various groups;
2nd test work - define study (master's thesis) problems, objectives and tasks of the potential labor structure.
3rd test work - using databases of scientific sources, to select the set of sources corresponding to the research, to structure it according to the content and use;
4th test - to define the methods used in the research of cultural-historical and protected landscapes (group work);
5th test work - to prepare the structure of one's research, concisely revealing the essence of each part, to define possible research methods, to prepare materials for field research.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

All tests must be passed successfully and before the final presentation. The final presentation includes the results of all five practical works, defends it. The mark consists of a weighted average mark for all practical work and the final presentation.

Compulsory reading

1. Kristapsone S. Zinātniskā pētniecība studiju procesā. Rīga: Biznesa augstskola Turība, 2008. 349.lpp.
2. Swaffield S. Theory in Landscape Architecture: A Reader. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2002. 265 p
3. Van den Brink A., Bruns D., Tobi H., Bell S. Research in Landscape Architecture: Methods and Methodology. Routledge, 2016. 330 p.

Further reading

1. Cresswell J.W. Research design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 2014. 273 p.
2. Eko U. Kā uzrakstīt diplomdarbu. Rīga: SIA Jāņa Rozes apgāds, 2006. 319 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Jola. Journal of Landscape architecture. Published by the European Council of Landscape Architecture Schools (ECLAS) http://www.jola-lab.eu/www/about.html#ih-2. Print ISSN: 1862-6033 Online ISSN: 2164-604X
2. Landscape and Urban Planning. An International Journal of Landscape Science, Planning and Design. ISSN: 0169-2046
3. Landscape Research. Print ISSN: 0142-6397 Online ISSN: 1469-9710.

Notes

Compulsory course in full-time studies of VBF study program "Landscape Architecture and Planning" (Master of Professional Higher Education). The study course is also taught in English.