COURSE UNIT TITLE

: RESEARCH METHODS IN BEHAVIOR AND ENVIRONMENT STUDIES

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code Course Unit Title Type Of Course D U L ECTS
ERA 3002 RESEARCH METHODS IN BEHAVIOR AND ENVIRONMENT STUDIES ELECTIVE 3 0 0 7

Offered By

City and Regional Planning

Level of Course Unit

First Cycle Programmes (Bachelor's Degree)

Course Coordinator

PROFESSOR DOCTOR EBRU ÇUBUKÇU

Offered to

Architecture
City and Regional Planning

Course Objective

Practioners and researchers in various disciplines often rely on their instincts to understand the relationship between human behavior and the designed physical environment. A common point of view and a scientific methodology is needed to collect and analyze data to understand and solve problems arising from the design of the space. This course will discuss the scientific methods in collecting and analyzing data in the field of social sciences in general .Within the scope of this course, the applications of research methods used in the field of social sciences and in the field of human behavior and environment studies will be discussed.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1   Can understand concepts associated with research design
2   Able to grasp the measurement of abstract concepts to understand the space-human relationship
3   Can design an empirical research

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week Subject Description
1 1 Ordinary and Scientific Knowledge
2 2 Abstract concepts Objective Measures
3 3 Interview, Survey, Observations, Archival Data
4 4 Construct Validity, Internal Validity, External Validity
5 5 Research Design
6 6 Discussion on readings
7 7 Discussion on readings
8 8 Homework submission
9 9 Find a research question
10 10 Defining the research methodology for a specific research question
11 11 Defining the research methodology for a specific research question
12 12 Defining the research methodology for a specific research question
13 13 Writing the research paper
14 14 Writing the research paper
15 15 Project submission and presentation

Recomended or Required Reading

- Judd C. M. Smith E.R. & Kidder L. H. (1991) Research Methods in Social Sciences,
Harcourt Brace Javanivich College Publishers, Orlando, Florida.
- Zeisel J (2006) Inquiry by Design. W.W. Norton & Company, Newyork.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Lecture, discussion.

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 ODV Ödev
2 PRO Proje
3 BNS Başarı Notu ODV * 0.70 + PRO * 0.30


Further Notes About Assessment Methods

None

Assessment Criteria

Class participation will be evaluated through students active participation in class discussions. Throughout the semester, student participation will depend on the quality of students responses to questions during the course and students overall contribution throughout the course to create a positive learning environment.

Language of Instruction

English

Course Policies and Rules

1. It is not considered as a valid excuse to be absent in class for late submissions of assingments, class participations, and exams.
2. All kinds of plagiarism will result in a disciplinary action.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

ebru.cubukcu@deu.edu.tr

Office Hours

Will be announced.

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 5 3 15
Student Presentations 10 3 30
Preparing assignments 10 2 20
Preparing presentations 1 5 5
Preparing report 1 5 5
Reading 10 5 50
Project Assignment 1 10 10
Project Final Presentation 1 40 40
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 175

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

PO/LOPO.1PO.2PO.3PO.4PO.5PO.6PO.7PO.8PO.9PO.10PO.11PO.12PO.13PO.14PO.15
LO.11
LO.2
LO.3