ZA112 Global change research methods

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
0/3/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
RNDr. Petr Daněk, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
RNDr. Jan Divíšek, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
prof. RNDr. Petr Dobrovolný, CSc. (seminar tutor)
doc. RNDr. Zdeněk Máčka, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Jiří Malý, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Ondřej Mulíček, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
RNDr. Robert Osman, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
RNDr. Ondřej Šerý, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Monika Šulc Michalková, Ph.D. et Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
RNDr. Jakub Trojan, MSc, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Petr Dobrovolný, CSc.
Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: RNDr. Jan Divíšek, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable of Seminar Groups
ZA112/01: Fri 9:00–11:50 Z4,02028, P. Daněk, J. Divíšek, P. Dobrovolný, Z. Máčka, J. Malý, O. Mulíček, R. Osman, O. Šerý, M. Šulc Michalková, J. Trojan
Prerequisites
The course is intended for postgraduate (MSc) students. Basic knowledge of research methods in physical and human geography on the undergraduate (BSc) level is required to attend the course.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course aims at providing students with a basic knowledge of research concepts and analytical methods commonly used to address questions and hypotheses related to global change issues. The course is divided into two parts where students will acquire quantitative and qualitative methods used in physical and human geography. They will be also introduced to the main sources of geographical data providing information on changes in the Earth's environment and human society. The first part of the course will deal with concepts, data and research methods commonly applied in physical geography, particularly in climatology, geomorphology, hydrology and biogeography. The second part is devoted to concepts, data and methods used in human geography, with special attention to population projections, cognitive mapping and project management.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
- communicate the latest research and methodological trends in physical and human geography
- competently use data on global change
- apply the selected research methods to address fundamental questions and hypotheses in physical and human geography
- interpret the results of these methods to better understand past, present and future changes in the Earth's environment and human society
Syllabus
  • Physical geography:
  • 1. Climate data on global change - Climate Change Explorer
  • 2. Methods for analysing climate change in space and time - time series analysis and introduction to geostatistics
  • 3. Assessment of river evolution and geomorphic condition
  • 4. Changes in river systems - data and methods
  • 5. Habitat suitability modelling I - concepts, data and methods
  • 6. Habitat suitability modelling II - projecting models in space and time
  • Human geography:
  • 7. Methodological transformation in human geography
  • 8. Population projections – concepts, methods, data and modelling
  • 9. Methods and techniques of spatio-temporal dynamics research
  • 10. Methods of field research in human geography
  • 11. Cognitive mapping methods: mental map, semantic map
  • 12. Project management methods in geographical research
Literature
    recommended literature
  • RAPP, C.F. and ABBE, T.B. (2003): A Framework for Delineating the Channel Migration Zones. Ecology Publication #03-06-027, Washington State Department of Transportation & Washington State Department of Ecology, 66 p.
  • MADDISON, Janine and Rebecca KITCHEN. Creative fieldwork : a level geography. [Telford]: Field Studies Council, 2018, 31 stran. ISBN 9781908819420. info
  • SILVERMAN, David. Doing qualitative research. 5e. Los Angeles: Sage, 2017, xviii, 572. ISBN 9781473966987. info
  • GUISAN, Antoine, Wilfried THUILLER and Niklaus Emanuel ZIMMERMANN. Habitat suitability and distribution models : with applications in R. Edited by Valeria Di Cola - Damien Georges - Achilleas Psomas. First published. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017, xiii, 462. ISBN 9780521758369. info
  • Key methods in geography. Edited by Shaun French - Thomas W. Gillespie - Meghan Cope - N. J. Clifford. Third edition. Los Angeles: SAGE, 2016, xxx, 722. ISBN 9781446298602. info
  • FRYIRS, Kirstie A. and Gary J. BRIERLEY. Geomorphic analysis of river systems : an approach to reading the landscape. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley-Blackwell, 2013, xiii, 345. ISBN 9781405192743. info
  • WEBSTER, R. and M. A. OLIVER. Geostatistics for environmental scientists. 2nd ed. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, 2007, xii, 315. ISBN 9780470028582. info
  • Methods in human geography : a guide for students doing a research project. Edited by Robin Flowerdew - David Martin. 2nd ed. New York: Prentice Hall, 2005, xxiii, 366. ISBN 0582473217. info
  • ROWLAND, D. T. Demographic methods and concepts. 1st ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003, xiv, 546. ISBN 0198752636. info
  • Tools in fluvial geomorphology. Edited by G. Mathias Kondolf - Hervé Piégay. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, 2003, viii, 688. ISBN 047149142X. info
  • Qualitative methodologies for geographers : issues and debates. Edited by Melanie Limb - Claire Dwyer. London: Arnold, 2001, xv, 303. ISBN 0340742267. info
Teaching methods
Theoretical lectures and group discussions will introduce students to the individual research topics. Special attention will be given to the demonstration and explanation of selected research methods and techniques. After the theoretical introduction, students will conduct their own analyses of the data provided.
Assessment methods
written test
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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