You must come up with a hypothetical research idea on any topic in geography that you would like to investigate (e.g. homelessness, migration, uneven development, nationalism, neoliberalism, socio-spatial segregation, discrimination of minorities, abuses, colonialism and neo-colonialism etc.). Choose two of the theoretical approaches and their associated methodologies covered in the module, using them as lenses to analyse geographical and social problems (e.g. regional science, positivism and spatial science, humanistic geographies, anarchism, feminism, queer theory, postmodernism, poststructuralism, more- than-human geographies, hybridity, post-colonialism and geography’s exclusions, de- colonial approaches, etc.).
As an alternative to a theoretical approach, you may also pick as a ‘lens’ the thinking of a relevant scholar, e.g. ‘drawing upon Anne Buttimer’s notion of dialogue’, or ‘based on William Bunge’s ideas on social mappings’ …
Write an essay to explain and compare how this same research topic might be conceptualised and carried out differently when approached from each of these two different theoretical ‘lenses’. You must discuss: 1) how the different theories would inform the research; 2) the potential advantages and limitations of each, and; 3) decide which methodology would be most appropriate to carry out your study and justify why.
You are expected to draw from the module’s assigned readings, lecture materials and at least 4 additional SCHOLARLY READINGS (i.e. academic books, academic book chapters, or peer-reviewed journal articles) which are not included in the module’s reading list. Note that items such as NGO reports, government documents, magazine articles and newspaper reports are not academic/scholarly journal articles. You can include these references, but they will be IN ADDITION to the above. An academic style of writing is expected, including a complete list of references.
2500-3000 words
