# data[].attributes.body
I took the course GEOG 2P21 last year and to be honest, I spent the most time studying this course. A part is because it was delivered online and I was not used to the online format, so I had to put in the extra effort and also the content of the course was new to me as researching is not a daily task that you’re familiar with. On the bright side, I felt more knowledgeable, and every time I came across a peer-reviewed article, I started to appreciate the researchers’ effort as researching is not an easy task. So here is 3 main thing I learned:

1. How to differentiate between research topics, research problems, and research questions. And how to find a path to narrow from your research topics -> research problems -> research questions.

2. The attributes of a qualitative and quantitative research design.

3. Different types of data collection methods and when to use them.

After taking this course, I’m fascinated how there are so many researches still need to be conducted and I used to have a mindset that Google is the tool to to solve all of your questions, but GEOG 2P21 changed my point of view that there are still a lot of topics that humans still know too little about. Another thing I like about this course is that I can apply this knowledge to other courses as well. Most of my courses require a lot of readings and by identify what kind of research it is, what data collection method is used and so on, It helps me with analyze the material way faster.

The only question I have at this moment for the course is that: Do I have to conduct an actual research to graduate? The reason I ask this silly question is because I do find it a challenging task and I hope at that point I’m mentally prepared and have enough skills to conduct my research.

# data[].attributes.body
Hello everyone! As many of you know, learning online has been such a challenge in terms of focusing and grasping the concept entirely. Though it was harder to keep up, I thought that GEOG 2P21 was very well taught by Jeffory Boggs ! The three things I learned in my Introductory Methods course was;
The difference between qualitative and quantitative research, the different types of methodology and how they are used for certain types of research, and how your research problem should be a topic and your three questions should be very specific.

Two exciting facts that I would love to share is that a couple summers ago my culture celebrates a saint from our hometown and we had to take a survey of what we could do for the younger generation to make them more involved. What I now realize now is that was a form of qualitative research to help improve our annual festival. We used this data to later create a more inclusive festival for everyone. In addition, when we learned Spickard's 10 forms of logical structure it helped me try to improve things in my life through research. When there was a problem at work, I would try to work it out and make the solution better by using Spickard's 10 forms of logical structure so we can better ourselves at work though logical research.

The one question I still have about research is why do people want research to be rushed instead of taking your time to find out the best possible answer or solution?

# data[].attributes.body
As many of my other courses, I found it very difficult to learn online and to focus on GEOG2P21. Although when first being told we had to write a reflection on the past course, GEOG2P21, I felt that I did not remember or that I did not retain the information I learned. But when attending the first couple lectures for this class and my Geography Field course which also requires research, the information they were talking about all seemed to come back to me very quickly.

3 Things I learned
1. difference between research topics, research problems and research questions
2. the difference between qualitative and quantitative research design
and the different research methods that can be used for each one

2 facts
1. the material I learned in GEOG2P21 has actually helped me in a couple of my other classes that required research papers and I believe helped me to create a better research question and process which in turn most likely helped to give me a higher mark
2. a friend of mine was in a class over the summer and was required to find a research topic, question and then write a research proposal. She had not taken a course like this and was able to use my notes to help her come up with more complex questions.

Question
1. I do not have any questions at this moment as I am still learning a lot and by looking through the syllabus, I see that my questions look like they will be answered as we progress through this class

# data[].attributes.body
Hi everyone, the three main things that I have learned during GEOG2P21 that I took 2 years ago with Jeffery Boggs were the topics: qualitative research, quantitative research, and how to obtain research. He was an amazing instructor. It is great to be knowledgeable on these two different methods of research since it will make it easier to conduct research and obtain information in both Human and Physical Geography. I believe that qualitative research is a superior way of conducting research since you can retrieve more information through written analysis and performing in-depth interviews with many different organizations. Whereas in quantitative research, you are only able to obtain information by using numerical formulas and data tables. Also, I look forward to participating in the in-class activities and completing the research ethics course (CORE) to gain ore information regarding research ethics. I always wondered what it is really like going out into the field to collect research. What I hope to do in the future with this class is one day work for Google and conduct research regarding mapping and GIS operations. Overall, I feel it is great to learn how to conduct research in these many ways because we will be able to obtain information on our own through the different methods of qualitative research, instead of having to always rely on quantitative information.

# data[].attributes.body
I learned a lot from GEOG 2P21, as hard as it was in an online format. I did learn how to collect data properly and the many different forms of collection. Ethically and with concent so that the information used is valid and the study can be used as valid research. I also learned how to turn a research topic into a well developed research question. I also learned how to turn data collected into a meaningful report that explains the new data and what it means to people in the related field or average people in everyday life.

From this I have been able to think a lot more about what research means in everyday life. I find myself finding new areas i wish their was more information about almost daily. These in application have been seen a lot over the past year in the news with research on the pandemic coming out at a rapid rate never before seen.

My only question about research is how much do qualitative and quantitative differ in practice? And is it possible to mix them to get better results.

# data[].attributes.body
Last year I took Jeff Boggs 2P21 Introductory course. I learned SO much useful information and skills in that course, especially since it was the first research course I’ve ever taken, but here are the three main things I learned: The difference between a Research Topic, Research Problem and Research Question; The many different types of data collection methods including surveys/questionnaires, focus groups, interviews, public/private records, ethnography, content analysis, which we will now be focusing on the methods that give us qualitative data and results in this course; and lastly, just how much work goes into planning, conducting, and reporting a research project.

Two things that excite me going into research after completing last year’s course and starting this year’s courses are the amount research topics out there to explore, that then lead to many different research questions. I was also excited that there were so many options of data collection methods to choose from when conducting research. Personally, I like to have options and feel very constrained if I must do something a specific way. With having a variety of options, it allows me to choose a method that is not only the most appropriate, but also one that I enjoy and fitting me as a researcher.

I have a question about research, specifically about the way we are studying it and learning how to do it. Why do we focus on learning specific structures and processes to conduct a research project, when our profs and other researchers instruct us to be creative and branch out in the way we write our final report? I feel like we are learning such a specific way of doing things, but it is not the ONLY way.

# data[].attributes.body
Hi everyone! Although TOUR 2P21 was delivered online last year, I was able to learn a lot from the class and gain a good understanding of proper and important research methods and processes. To begin, Professor Boggs was excellent in instilling the idea of a proper research plan by thoroughly explaining what research problems, topics, and questions are and how to formulate a research plan before carrying out a research project. This knowledge is extremely helpful to me now not only for this class, but also other classes in my schedule this year where I will be responsible for conducting my own research projects. Another thing that I learned from 2P21 was how to identify the logical structure that my research followed, as well as appointing a proper data collection method to my research based on the type of logical structure that my research followed. As I mentioned above, I will be conducting my own research projects for other classes this year (which some of you might be doing as well in GEOG/TOUR 3P57), so it is great that 2P21 provided me with this preliminary understanding of conducting research and formulating a proper research question so that taking on these research projects is less daunting than it would be having no knowledge of correct research methods.

Obviously, I still have a lot to learn about research and I hope to learn a lot more in this class. A question that I have about research is how to properly and accurately analyze the qualitative data that is collected from my research. 2P21 covered a lot about how to collect and categorize data, as well as formulate the proper questions and build a research strategy but I do not recall much information on analyzing the data collected and assembling it all into a research report or paper. Since it was only an introductory course, I can understand why this may not have been covered extensively so I am hopeful that we will learn how to do this in this class!

# data[].attributes.body
Hello everyone, I was able to learn a lot from the GEOG 2P21 course last year. I learned different research methods, different data that can be used, which type of research goes with what kind of data, how to create research problems, how to properly write a literature review and show much more. For me this the GEOG 2P21 course was a little bit difficult just because I find online schooling very hard to learn in. I struggled all of last year and the end of the year before that just because it was something so new and I didn’t know how to properly teach myself the lessons. Something I was excited about was creating my own research problem. I was able to choose a topic that I wanted to do and work through something of interest if mine. Another exciting event that occurred during the course was being able to depict the difference between quantitative and qualitative data. Before that course I always had troubles depicting which was what but after that course I was successfully able to identify the different data being used in the research. One question I still have about research is the fact that if qualitative research and quantitative research both be used within the same researching project. This was a question I had during the course last year and is still one I have within this course.

# data[].attributes.body
Overall, I learned a lot during the GEOG2p21 class. Some of the things I learned were the many different types of research, how to effectively get the appropriate information for that research, and the different implications of research. Although research isn’t necessarily my favourite thing to do or learn about, it was still interesting how to see how there are so many facets to it.

Something that stuck out to me during the research course/process was how there was consistent revision when doing my research. During the process, it was okay and encouraged to refine everything and constantly review your work. By doing so, I was able to make my work better and made me continually think about how to effectively communicate the information that I wanted to present. Similarly, we had to write a literature review which was a first for me and was a nice way to gather information about my topic through other means of research. I feel like literature reviews are a great starting point to research since they give a great foundation to the start of research.

A question I still have about research is how do I effectively refine my research as I go? Aside from that, I’m always looking forward to learn even if its a topic that I am not the most keen about.

# data[].attributes.body
Hello, In the GEOG 2P21 class I learned how to choose which research methods best suit which kinds of data, which best suit which types of data collection, how to pieces together all the different parts of a research project, and how to best present this data in a compelling and though provoking way. Two interesting facts or applications that I found in this class were how to analyze a journal to best know if it has content that could help in the expansion of a research topic. I also learned how to best organize the information you collect to be as coherent as possible. One of the questions that I still have form this class are how to best approach a research paper when there is not as much of a human aspect to it and it is more physical data based.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Me, googling the difference between qualitative and quantitative every two days

# data[].attributes.body
Hi all! I really enjoyed 2P21 because despite the online format, I felt like  Dr. Boggs cared a lot about our success. He also cared a lot about seeing my kitten every time she walked across my keyboard (haha).

3 things I learned from 2P21

The difference between qualitative and quantitative research

The importance of identifying a relevant and substantial enough sample

I learned about the existence of participatory action research. This is a type of research I’m really interested in as I think it can allow people who haven’t been the researchers or the researched in traditional academic circles to share and build knowledge.

2 exciting facts or applications

After that course I got a summer job with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization doing qualitative social research. I get to help facilitate and analyze focus groups of youth regarding their opinions and needs for Canada’s nuclear waste industry.

I have also been part of focus groups this summer! I provided input on my home community’s needs and wants for the municipality’s revitalization of our area as a tourist attraction.

1 question you still have about research

After the end of the last course, I am still wondering how research projects get funded and how researchers find collaborators/co-researchers. Some subjects seem really specific but have co-authors from several different universities, and I'm not sure how those researchers connected in the first place!

# data[].attributes.body
When I took GEOG 2P21 in 2019 I got to learn a medley of new information. From learning different methods of research to doing my own research proposal in preparation for GEOG 3P56, Prof. Boggs made the class very interesting. I particularly enjoyed learning about the different methods of collecting data and differentiating whether they were qualitative or quantitative and why as well as the quality of the information collected. This is an aspect that I will continue to use not only when I am conducting research but also when I am looking at someone else’s research on another topic. Another thing that I learned that wasn’t particularly related to the class but helped with the assignments was to ask for help and clarification - this definitely helped understand better as well as perform better in the class assignments.

One fun fact that stuck with me from 2P21 is that I can use my native language to remember the levels of measurement for quantitative data through the colour noir. Another fact that stuck with me is that Peterborough was one of the first cities in Canada to have electric streetlights. Both of these facts aren’t particularly relevant to the course, yet the way they were used meant that I remembered them and continue to do so.

One question I still have about research is whether the methods we learn to use for qualitative research are always the best options as through intersectionality and life events everyone has a different view on a subject. Now that can be advantageous to a certain extent, and my question is to which extent will it be ideal?

# data[].attributes.body
Hey everyone! After completing 2P21, I realized a lot about what I truly wanted to learn and study. 2P21 made me realize how many different, yet surprisingly similar, ways to express research. It took me a while to grasp that you could have 2 projects, which seem to be the same, yet the way they express their data and results makes the study completely different. I also learned how important a literature review is, and how to reflect on the materials. Although I did learn more than three things, the last major thing I realized was that I enjoy doing research...I do not however enjoy reflecting on it via t-tests and other modes of testing.
Two enjoyable applications of materials was the research project itself, I really enjoyed taking the time to work through how to write a research paper and then having the ability to write our own on a topic we were passionate about. I also enjoyed the weekly assignments to stay up to date on material.

I presume my question about research will be answered more thoroughly throughout the course; however with more of my classes being science and math based, I am interested to see how to analyze qualitative data effectively.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Our library on campus which gives us many resources for our courses and a central location for all knowledge. 

# data[].attributes.body
Hello everyone! In the course GEOG 2P21 I learnt may things that prepared me for this course and ones to come by giving me a basis of how to research to go off of. One of the things that I didn't realize before taking that course was how many different avenues there are to research (e.g. types of data, data collection methods/sites and logical structures). Secondly, I feel like one of the main things GEOG 2P21 taught me was how to construct a proper and detailed research question. I feel like going through a slower process of how to write a research question with feedback was helpful because it gave me an opportunity to fix my work and learn the proper way of producing a research question. Lastly, it was interesting to learn about the differences and specific definitions of a research topic, research problem and research question. Before GEOG 2P21 I had a basis of knowledge of these three terms which can sound alike but are completely different. I feel like it was a very simple concept we learnt but one of the most important because it broke down the proper way of getting to that more detailed point of a research question.

For the two exciting facts, first I found that I was interested to see how the material in GEOG 2P21 continued to help me in other courses by having previous knowledge of research which will continue help me exceed. Secondly I found it exciting to have an organized plan for my writing and researching process.

I do not have any questions about qualitative research yet but I am excited and interested to learn more specifically about qualitative research and how it can be intertwined with quantitative.

# data[].attributes.headline
Reflection of GEOG 2P21 - Aos (Aimi Abe-Lafond)

# data[].attributes.subject
Reflection of GEOG 2P21 - Aos (Aimi Abe-Lafond)

# data[].attributes.body
When I took GEOG 2P21 back in the school year of 2019, it was quite frankly an eye-opener as to how to make the process of research so much less stressful by dividing up the work into smaller and more manageable chunks. It also taught me the difference between a research topic and a research question, which was where I used to lose marks in previous assignments. That course had also put my weakness of word and context analysis into sharp contrast with my numerical data analysis proficiency, which directly led me to (re-)take GEOG 3P21. I was later able to apply my knowledge from 2P21 into my biology lab assignments to provide more detailed and concise background information in my written reports by branching out my search
of primary sources into more than just biology, such as government reports and remotely sensed data.
I don't particularly have a question about research, but I will ask if/when I do think of one.

# data[].attributes.body
In the introductory course on research design and methodology, I gained a better understanding of how to conduct research and how to write an annotated bibliography, a literature review, and a research proposal. I found the course challenging as the concepts introduced were relatively new to me however, the methods for conducting research was thoroughly explained in ways that were easily understood. First, I learned the difference between qualitative and quantitative research and later in the course, how the processes of conducting research for each type differs. Secondly, we were taught how to develop a quality research problem and research question, beginning the research process. I also learned about how research takes place in everyday life and how important it is to conduct research when presented with a research problem.

While I had very limited previous knowledge of the process of conducting research prior to taking GEOG 2P21, the course provided me with a lot of skills that will prove beneficial in this course and following years. The construction of a proper literature review was very beneficial in the course. As the literature review synthesizes what is unknown and known about a particular topic, it proves extremely beneficial in identifying patterns and themes to further my research. I also learned of how to properly choose a method of collecting and organizing data. I did not realize until taking this course how many different methods are available to collect and organize data based on your needs as a researcher. Choosing the best possible method for your research allows you to to understand your research at a later date and gives you the ability to share your work with others in a way that they will comprehend.

I don’t currently have a specific question in regards to research, but I do hope to learn more about how to analyze and summarize data in ways that are more efficient and productive. Although I have a broad understanding of how to conduct research from the introductory course, I am not completely confident in my abilities to complete each task efficiently and accurately.

# data[].attributes.body
In GEOG 2P21 last year I learned the basics surrounding research design and methodology. One of the first things I learned was how to develop a research problem, and then from there refine that research problem into a less vague research topic and eventually create a research question that is very specific and  will guide your research. The next thing I learned was Spickard's 10 forms of logical structure. Logical structure is the motivation for answering a research question and creates a framework for conducting research. Each logical structure pertains to a different type of research and allows the researcher to undergo their research efficiently and effectively. Lastly, I learned how to identify what data collection method would be best suited for the type of data being collected. There are 14 main types of data that can be collected and with those 14 types of data there are several different data collection methods.

One application of the GEOG 2P21 material that I found useful was how to properly create certain literary documents such as an annotated bibliography and a literature review. Being able to properly write these documents allowed me to compare and contrast certain themes within the literature being investigated and fill in any gaps. An interesting fact that I learned from this course was the difference between qualitative and quantitative data, something I previously was unaware of.

One question I had was about coding data. I remember learning it briefly in GEOG 2P21 and know it has something to do with qualitative data but I am still not sure how to do it or when to use it.

-Alex Wallace

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Always ask a question that can be answered through research. I need to further my understanding of qualitative research.

# data[].attributes.body
GEOG 2P21 taught me many researching fundamentals including coding, identifying problems that research may be used to figure out, and  the different types of data. First of all, I learned to refine my research and streamline the data sets I was using to display significant data that was collected to answer certain questions. The methods I learned to refine and collect my data included learning how to gather effective data from participatory interviews, site & sampling, and case studies to name a few. A focal point of the course was Spickard's six steps to researching a problem which includes many concepts and framework that taught me how to break down my research and make it effective. A third lesson I learned was developing a good research question or a "RQ" as Dr. Boggs emphasized throughout the course. I learned that the importance of a good RQ is everything in terms of researching and answering said question.
As for exciting facts, the course itself wasn't too exciting. However, it was interesting to see how in depth these research methods we learned and being able to answer RQ's with complete clarity due to the validity of the research.
A question I still have about qualitative research is if this type of research is effective for a large demographic as our society is so divided with many people with different perspectives and beliefs and some data used in qualitative research is certainly opinion based which could cause many different outcomes.

# data[].attributes.body
The GEOG 2P21 introductory course on research design and methodology was jam-packed with concepts, properties of knowledge and, data collection methods that I honestly never even knew existed! In the end, I definitely learned a lot such as 1) primary data refers to data collected for the first time while secondary data refers to data that has already been collected by some other person 2) the importance of data collection and fieldwork to serve the purpose of research proposals and 3) the various methodologies utilized for research purposes e.g. observations, group discussions, surveys, interviews, etc. Although I found 2P21 to be quite challenging at times in terms of the weekly assignments given, the most exciting part of the course material was being able to develop my very own research proposal! My research question was regarding traffic congestion patterns in Peterborough and creating my annotated bibliography was probably one of the easier assignments. Another exciting thing I took away from the course was that I learned how to effectively write literature reviews! The purpose of literature reviews is to identify inconsistencies, such as gaps in research, conflicts in previous studies and even open questions left from other research. I think it’s important that I learned this concept as it may be helpful in my career as a teacher. Being able to identify inconsistencies in students’ work will allow for better advice and feedback given to students! Overall, I dont specifically have a question regarding research but in terms of the course, I always wondered why did the course specifically ask us to conduct research in regards to Peterborough and why we weren’t offered options as to where we want to collect data for.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
*me looking at my notes from three weeks ago*

# data[].attributes.headline
G3P21 Week 1 Reflection - Melaina Malcew

# data[].attributes.subject
G3P21 Week 1 Reflection - Melaina Malcew

# data[].attributes.body
I am sort of a special case in this regard as I never took GEOG 2P21, however, for this reflection I will draw on my experiences in related psychology courses that I have taken! Two courses that I have taken that discuss experimental design and methods have been ‘Foundations of Psychology’ and ‘Statistical Research and Design’.

In these courses, the processes of research were taught in a way that allowed the student to build on previous concepts to understand the reasoning behind the methods used in research design. A key skill I have learned from both courses is the need for a clear documentation of data, and because of the ‘building block’ style of teaching, I was able to recognize the personal and professional responsibilities of said skill. Having a clear and concise method of collecting and organizing your data not only allows you, the researcher, to understand your work at a later date, but it is also valuable to be able to share your work with others and have them understand. Even in my academic life, I constantly find myself looking back on class notes that I can no longer relate to because I didn’t think of what may happen when I revisit my work.

Another skill learnt from these courses, which also ties in with my question, is that observations are just as important as the mathematical/statistical data, and that there are pros and cons of both. I really struggled with statistics as I don’t consider myself as someone who can see clear patterns and trends within a numerical sense. One question I would love to learn more about is if there is a deep connection between observations and statistics, and if there is a way I might be able to make sense of one if I am already comfortable with the other.

Melaina Malcew

# data[].attributes.body
I took the introductory methods course about two years ago, and since then have been applying it to many different courses. I have also taken the course on qualitative research; thus, I am very excited to now gain the practice of qualitative research. However, three concepts that the introductory methods course taught me, are how to formulate a research problem and question, the different methodologies of conducting research such as through interviews, meta-analysis, observations, group discussions, surveys, etc, including the appropriate times to use them. Furthermore, I learned how to conduct a literature review and look for existing resources for research.

Something I found interesting about the course was the research process and how there are so many different elements to suck work, however, so rewarding at the end. I also found writing a literature review quite interesting as different ideas get passed down from reading scholar’s research, forming new ideas, and building on to your own.

In terms of a question, I wondered whether there are certain situations where both qualitative and quantitative research are used to answer one specific research question. Additionally, I am also curious about how qualitative data is analyzed.

Bibi Bokor.

# data[].attributes.body
In GEOG 2P21, I have learned and grasped the fundamentals of research design and methodology. First, I learned that research begins with identifying a research problem that one is interested in studying, then refining the research problem into a less vague research topic, and finally, as one can't answer everything in a short time, more specific questions must be generated from the research topic. Second, I learned how to write an annotated bibliography by searching for scholarly literature related to the research questions I wanted to investigate and summarize the article’s information, key results, limitations found, and relevance to my research questions and study location. Lastly, I learned how to write a research proposal where I proposed a plan of how I would carry out my research that specifies the type of study that I will be conducting, the literature review, methodology, and the predicted timeline of the study.

The logical structure of a research design and the literature review are two fascinating things I acquired in GEOG 2P21. A logical structure is a framework that must be followed to solve a research question. All ten logical structures are good study structures, but they create quite diverse types of research, therefore one must select one that corresponds to their research problems. Writing a literature review is one of the exciting skills I learned in GEOG 2P21. As the literature review compares, contrasts, and synthesizes what is and isn’t known about a particular topic, it helps me identify the themes, patterns, and gaps in the literature relevant to my research.

I don’t have a specific question about Research, but I’m hoping to learn more about the methodology aspects of research in GEOG 3P21, particularly the data analysis method for qualitative research, how to properly summarize and complete the findings section, and how to draw an accurate conclusion from the research findings.

# data[].attributes.body
GEOG 2P21 introduction to research design and methodology was a challenging course from the start to finish. Because it was a mandatory course, so it adds an extra pressure to archive a good mark. Thankfully I got to study with Dr. Jeff Boggs who is a great professor, always enthusiastic about the lecture although the class start early at 9 am.

While the course is a relatively straight forward and easy to understand. But there are moments in this course I felt stuck and difficult to follow. This course gives us a broad understanding of how to create and tackle a research paper. There are many types of research method become my best friend in the last year or two. I learn about the different and the import of both primary and secondary data, how these two data can be use in a research paper. I also got a chance to be familiar with how to do a lit review, a proposal, annotated bibliography.

Although I studied this course two years ago, but the material and the knowledge will stay with me forever. This course is a first step for many upper courses such as 3P57 or 3P21. By understand 2P21, I think I’ll have a good structure to doing well in this course. I feel weird by saying that I do not have any question although 2P21 is a challenge course. But if there any questions ahead of me, I think I will have the knowledge and the material to answer them all.
Cuong Pham.

# data[].attributes.body
Three things that I learned from 2P21 the introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative research and methodology course was how to chose a research topic, create a strong research problem and research questions for the trip to Peterborough. I also learned how to write both a literature review as well as annotated bibliographies. Finally I Learned that there were more ways to gathering research data than the basics like surveys, questionnaires and interviews.

Two things that was an exciting fact or that I applied the material to other courses or other research. The first thing that i applied from this course to other courses or research is how to write a good literature as well as how to write a good annotated bibliography. Another way that I applied the stuff we learned in 2P21 was how to gather research data better so that for the 3 research courses that I have to take this year will help me understand this stuff better and in different ways from surveys, observation of people and doing focus groups or interviews to gather different types of qualitative information.

A question that I have from 2P21 is how to use the data that we collected and then analyze it to use it properly for research reports and assignments?

-Ashley Buston-White

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Qualitative versus Quantitative research          Image from: https://blog.optimalworkshop.com/a-beginners-guide-to-qualitative-and-quantitative-research/ 

# data[].attributes.body
The introductory research course that I took last year was beneficial and educational. Before taking GEOG 2P21 I was unaware of the many steps involved in academic-level research. One of the main things I learned in the class was about the 6 different steps to research and how each step is important to complete accurate and effective research. Another key skill I learned was how to write a literature review and what kind of work that entails. I learned that many sources must be consulted before beginning to collect data in order to understand what has already been researched, and to identify gaps in the literature. The third thing I learned was how to effectively narrow down a research problem into a research question which can be used to guide a research project. I learned that creating an effective, precise research question is very important to the research process.

One fact that I found to be very interesting was that there are fourteen main types of data used when conducting research and that they each have specific data collection methods to go along with them, such as how demographic data can be collected through surveys/questionnaires, etc. A second interesting application/fact I found through the course material is how involved ethics are in the research process and how every form of research with human participants must, in some way, be reviewed by an ethics board to be approved.

One question I still have about research is: How do I effectively code the data I have collected? This topic was covered briefly in the introductory course, but I feel as though I still do not have a strong understanding the coding process or how it is used in research. Once I learn how to properly code data, I feel as though I will be able to present more complete research overall.

Olivia Davies

# data[].attributes.body
Geog 2P21 was a very pleasant surprise of a course. At first I didn't know what to expect, so I'm glad to finally experience the course and learn so many things such as the difference between qualitative and quantitative research and how there are different methods to approach both types of research. It was interesting for me to learn which data collecting methods were more compatible with qualitative, quantitative, or both types of research. It was also interesting to use the data collected to write an annotated bibliography, form a literature review, and eventually develop a research proposal.

For me, the most exciting application of the course material was from choosing topics and deciding on the right research question, in order to clearly demonstrate to others what I am conducting the research about and why I am conducting research. After finding that out, the most exciting thing was to actually apply my findings from scholarly journals that I read, and create a literature review, breaking down the main points and using these points to find out which data collecting methods were most suited for those journals individually.

I do not have questions but I hope I can learn more about coding and analyzing data since I am still struggling with diving deeper into data that has been collected and drawing accurate conclusions from them. I remember learning vaguely about analyzing data in this course but I hope to go more in depth with it so that I can get better at writing research proposals.

Alan Jeng

# data[].attributes.body
Upon reflecting on the GEOG 2P21 research course, I was incredibly grateful for it being a mandatory enrollment. To learn how to organise research, conduct different types of research, and how to properly initiate qualitative and quantitative research are a few of the covered topics within the course. The wide variety of lessons properly prepare the student for facing research scenarios, all while prepping them for doing research of their own. Personally, I liked the course as I felt that it better primed me for the 3P57 field course that I would have attended in my 3rd year. It also helped me to know what constructing a proper RQ looked like, which in turn helped me more with writing papers and proposals.

Whilst I was in GEOG 2P21, I learned many valuable skills that have since carried over into my academic routine. To whittle it down to a few, how to properly organise a research question and how to construct literary documents (such as proposals, lit reviews, and annotated bibliographies) are of the ones that made most of an impact on me. The lessons that pertained to these skills demonstrate how to properly construct and value a strong research question, and what exactly that means. As Geography utilises many literary documents, it is crucial to understand why organised research should be conducted, and how it translates into a concise document. Without having a good RQ, one cannot have a document that presents itself in a manner that makes sense, or conveys "what" or "why" you are conducting research. I still personally feel like these two topics tie in tandem, and build each other up during the research process.

Although I do not have any pressing questions, and this might seem contradictory, I am incredibly slow at understanding the puzzle pieces that are constructing a cohesive research document. While I can understand and appreciate the skills that we were taught, I can be slow at writing research pieces. I would like to learn how to be more efficient at conducting research, and learn how to be more effective with what I research. If I can do research quickly, but properly, then I think that I would be able to get more out of my research and writing experiences.

# data[].attributes.body
During GEOG 2P21, I learned how developing a good research question was of great importance in order to present quality data in a professional manner. In this class I remembered that the textbook was a great asset to utilize as Spickard’s 6 steps helped me form my research question and pushed me in the right direction. During this, I was taught the difference between comparing and contrasting, forming logical structures, differences between Qualitative and Quantitative research, types of data, data collection methods (detached observations, in depth interviews, focus groups...etc); and the list goes on. Overall, I learned how to do three main things: 1. Write an annotated bibliography 2. Form a literature review and 3. The most important, writing and presenting a research proposal.

Two facts I’ve learned from taking Geog 2p21 was identifying what data collection method was appropriate for the type of data using Spickard’s table in 4.1; and the difference between Qualitative research and Quantitative research is epistemological (Description based data vs. Numerical based data… eg. A painting: Qualitative = the colour, texture. Quantitative = the dimensions of the painting, cost).

The question I have about the introduction course of research and methodology would be why my course was subjected to only studying/ researching the area of Peterborough? This led to the struggle of being interested in the topic and having the research proposal on a topic not of my choosing. Also, I want to be able to analyze data more effectively and be able to conduct quality in depth interviews, at the same time displaying the data accordingly during my time in this course.

# data[].attributes.body
Geog 2P21 was a very interesting course that taught me about what research truly is and how we see and experience research in our everyday lives without even realizing it. Before taking this course I did not have a very good understanding of what research truly entailed, the many steps in the research process and the time it takes to do professional research. Throughout the course, I learned about all the steps to research itself and the many different methods of research, but I also learned about how research takes place in our everyday lives without us even thinking about it. I also learned about the differences between qualitative and quantitative research and how they both had very different processes and considerations when completing them.

An interesting fact I learned about the material from last year is all of the consideration that is regarded about ethics when conducting surveys. The many steps and considerations regarding ethics and surveys from the past to the present have made it much easier and accessible for those taking the surveys to feel safe and receive support throughout the time that the research is taking place. Something I found interesting about the material is seeing the different methods being used in real life. Hearing about research taking place through the news or other media and having an understanding of the research process was very interesting as it made me think about the steps they went through and different methods they may have used.

I do not have any specific questions, but I am hoping to learn more about how to analyze and summarize data more efficiently and productively as I feel like Geog 2P21 was more about how to collect data and the different research methods but not about how to go about concluding our findings.

# data[].attributes.body
I am glad that I was I required to take GEOG 2P21. GEOG 2P21 allowed me to take an in depth look at research projects from the point of view of an actual researcher. Previously in my academic career, I had only looked at research from the perspective of a student. GEOG 2P21 taught me how to create my own research problem/question. Additionally, learning how different qualitative versus quantitative is and the affect it has on your research project as a whole was eye opening. At first, I was confused when I saw I had to take two different courses about the different methods of research until I realized the vast differences between the two. I also learned making the correct decision when deciding between different data collection methods is quite important. I learned the way in which I am collecting data can have a major impact on the overall outcome of my findings. Prompting me to be cautious when selecting these methods.

Initially, I believed it was not possible to mix qualitative and quantitative data. When creating my proposal, I realized that there is a way where you can mix the two that I did not think was possible. Also, I learned that there are certain data collection methods that are only to be used for qualitative and different ones that can be only used for quantitative data collection. Thanks to GEOG 2P21 I was able to discover these facts and skills.

In this course I hope to gain a better understanding of how to summarize and complete the findings section properly which leaves me somewhat confused.

- Mac Van Os

# data[].attributes.body
In GEOG 2P21 I learned the main steps for creating good research. This included formulating good research questions, choosing logical structure, identifying types of data, data collection methods, site and sampling strategies, and data analysis. These steps were well laid out and made it easy for me to understand the basics behind what research looks like and why we do it. I also learned the fundamental differences between qualitative and quantitative research. Understanding these major differences has prepared me for this course as I already have a basic idea of what qualitative research is and why we use it. Another thing I learned is the types of data methods that can be used for both qualitative and quantitative research. In relation to this class, I learned in GEOG 2P21 that ethnography, in-depth interviews and focus groups are good methods for collecting qualitative data.

Two skills I found exciting from the GEOG 2P21 course were how to write a good research question and how to conduct a literature review. Creating a good research question is fundamental in understanding what you are researching and why you are researching it so knowing this still is very helpful to me. I like that I learned a lot about literature reviews because it has taught me how to write papers more effectively and with a higher degree of knowledge and fact.

One thing I feel has never been covered well in my previous courses is how to analyze the data I have collected. Specifically, GEOG 2P21 discusses a lot about methods for collecting data but I have struggled with what it means to analyze this data and how to draw accurate conclusions from the data that has been collected.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
An aerial view of our beautiful school where we all come together to work towards our post-secondary education. 

# data[].attributes.body
I learned how to create a proper and academic research question which will help me in this class and many others as I work towards getting my bachelors in Geography and will have to conduct my own research for some courses.

In 2P21 I learned about the difference between Qualitative and Quantitative data/research and how they are so vastly different and different research ideas will either use Qualitative or Quantitative research depending on what the end goal is.

I learned that I very much enjoy qualitative data more than quantitative data. I enjoy researching and talking to people rather than just observing and collecting data and numbers from a far. I enjoy talking about deep topics and people’s  thought processes and how they got there. (Maybe this is the future teacher in me) but I like to know why they think a certain thing/way. There is no right or wrong answer as long as you can explain why you think that.

I learned that all research must go through ethical considerations. All research must have ethical considerations to ensure there is consent, confidentiality and anonymity, the participants are aware of any harm or side effects, if there are any ethical issues, etc. It surprised me how much work has to go into ethical considerations before the research even begins.

What I found interesting from the material is the difference between deductive and inductive methods. This depends of wether you start with a theory or an observation and if the goal at the end is to get conformation of your theory or to create a theory from your initial observation. The “V” image is a very good visual to show if you need to choose a deductive or inductive method for your research.

My question is about why as a con-ed student majoring in geography do I need to take Qualitative and Quantitative geography? Not that I am complaining as this course seems very interesting and I am very excited. But as I do not plan on doing research in the future or getting my masters (that could always change), why would I need to know how to to do research as I will not be teaching it to high school students. Maybe this question cannot be answered or someone very high up at Brock only knows but as I said earlier I am okay with doing Qualitative and Quantitative geography I just want to know the reasoning behind why as a con-ed student I have to take these courses.

- Ashley Boere

# data[].attributes.body
In 2P21 last year I learned a lot about researching techniques and methods. It was particularly helpful to understand the core differences between Qualitative research (the meaning of, or perception, of an experience) and Quantitative research (a data driven analysis the experience that affects humans). Understanding more about how various research methods are tailored to the type of research being done also helped me better understand research that I read for all my classes and papers, by understanding what type of data is being analyzed it becomes easier to decipher whether the research is helpful for the given project. Lastly, I found that conducting a literary review was a useful tool for organizing the research being collected. By easily identifying which article provided related insights, the writing phase of the research proposal became much easier to organize.

One of the most exciting skills I learned in 2P21 was how to use a literature review. I found this technique helpful for other classes and papers I wrote and look forward to learning more about this. Another helpful thing I learned was how to draft a proposal. Although this was the first time I had done so, I feel more prepared to conduct an actual proposal in a more relevant way soon.

One question I have about Qualitative research is this; It is often required that we search for peer-reviewed articles for our papers. If qual research is interpreted by the researcher from the perspective of the participant, how can this process be peer reviewed?

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
The difference between qualitative and quantitative research.

# data[].attributes.body
In GEOG 2P21, I learned that qualitative and quantitative research could not be approached through the same research methods. I  understood the difference between the terms qualitative and quantitative, but I failed to consider how those differences warrant a need for different research methods. I thought you could use the same techniques, just one would use numbers, and one would use words. In that respect, I also learned about the different types of data collection methods for both qualitative and quantitative research. For instance, surveys can be utilized in qualitative and quantitative studies; however, they are best suited to quantitative studies as they lack an in-depth understanding of people’s perceptions of an issue. Further, GEOG 2P21 taught me how to be analytical. In research, it is critical to disassemble and assemble information to create a based understanding of an issue.

An interesting fact that I discovered in the material is that all research needs to undergo ethical considerations. This information is intriguing because it shows that all research has real implications in the real world; thus, it can be a driver for positive change. Nonetheless, the most exciting fact that I learned in GEOG 2P21 was that the researcher is allowed, and should, research topics that they feel passionate towards. The chance to extend the literature about an issue of concern to me makes me feel empowered and excited as a new researcher.

I am still confused about how to code data. I remember this topic being covered in GEOG 2P21; however, I never grasped the different coding methods properly. I want to learn more about this concept because coding will be important to me in future research tasks. If I cannot code well, I will struggle to draw accurate and concise conclusions.