Module manager: Gehan Selim
Email: g.selim@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
BA/BEng Architecture, Architectural Engineering or related degrees
This module is not approved as an Elective
This module provides students with a comprehensive understanding of research design and data analysis, covering quantitative and qualitative methods. It introduces various research approaches, designs, and techniques for conducting architecture and humanities research. The module introduces students to the challenges of designing, implementing and disseminating a research project. They will also build the skills needed for architectural research to inform design, encouraging you to consider how your investigations contribute to the academic knowledge in their field.
This module introduces key concepts and methods fundamental to architecture and humanities research in an accessible and structured manner. Students will build a solid theoretical understanding of a wide range of research methods, and a strong focus will be placed on applying critical appraisal skills to understand research questions and design appropriate studies.
1. Provide a strong foundation in research methodologies to design and plan research studies to investigate theories and underlying assumptions
2. Introduce the fundamental concepts of architecture and urban research.
3. Equip students with the suitable skills to undertake independent research projects.
4. Enhance ability to identify real context challenges that can be explored using primary and secondary evidence sources.
5. Develop the capacity to formulate clear, concise research questions and choose appropriate investigative methods.
6. Prepare students for designing and conducting comprehensive literature searches, identifying knowledge gaps, and critically appraising the literature to refine research questions and contextualise their studies.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Ability to identify and explain different types of research designs (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods) and select an appropriate design for architectural research.
2. Formulate clear and feasible research questions or hypotheses specific to architectural issues or phenomena.
3. Conduct a comprehensive literature review and critically assess existing research in architecture and related disciplines.
4. Understand and implement various data collection methods (e.g., surveys, interviews, observations, case studies) and analysis techniques.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of ethical principles in research, including informed consent, confidentiality, and data protection.
6. Develop clear and coherent research reports, essays, or presentations that effectively communicate research findings.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills:
a. Conducting literature searches and applying critical evaluation.
b. Formulating a set of focused research objectives and questions.
c. Selecting suitable data collection methods.
d. Implementing sampling strategies and data analysis plans.
e. Assessing quality aspects of research design.
f. Using proper referencing and knowing when, why, and how to acknowledge the work or ideas of others.
Indicative content:
1. Literature reviews and analysis
2. Developing and formulating a research question
3. Contextualizing a research question within existing evidence
4. Choosing a research approach
5. Designing a research study
6. Fundamentals of data analysis
7. Case Study research
8. Theories and Practices of Interviews
9. Ethnography and Observational Research
10. Analysing and reporting qualitative research
11. Designing questionnaires and surveys
12. Thematic analysis
13. Research Ethics
Methods of assessment
The assessment details for this module will be provided at the start of the academic year
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Lecture | 8 | 2 | 16 |
| Practical | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Seminar | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Independent online learning hours | 30 | ||
| Private study hours | 91 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 29 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150 | ||
Students must attend all lectures/seminar sessions designed to facilitate the development of research skills and the consolidation of learning. The formative feedback will be provided in small groups to emphasise discussion and debate. This format provides an excellent opportunity to evaluate students’ progress and deliver targeted feedback. Separate study days will be scheduled for each group, led by the module leader or supporting academic staff.
Through the Minerva platform, students will be encouraged to actively engage with one another as learning peers. The module will utilise the announcements area, to foster the exchange of ideas, pose questions, and provide feedback. These interactive spaces will be overseen by the module leader, who will review and respond to comments on a weekly basis throughout the semester.
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 30/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team