Supplementary Advice for Geography Dissertation Students

It is essential that you read the Geography Dissertation Handbook before reading this supplementary advice. You should also refer to the other documents that are available on the Dissertation web page, including the Risk Assessment Guidance Notes.

Choosing a Topic

What topics can I choose?

Students on the Physical Geography course must choose a physical geography topic. Students on the Human Geography course must choose a human geography topic. Students on the Geography course may choose either a human or a physical geography topic, or one that integrates different parts of the discipline. It is up to each student to devise their own topic. Advice and assistance will be provided by advisors. The choice of topic is one of the most critical stages of your dissertation; good dissertations only grow from good topics. Although constraints on the choice of subject are few in theory, they are rather greater in practical terms; most notably in terms of time and finance. The topic must be appropriate to a Geography-related degree. The study must involve first-hand research, and may be based on primary data collection (eg field measurements) or on the analysis of secondary data (eg satellite imagery or census data). You must demonstrate competence in dealing with material appropriate to the topic.

Some topics are more suitable for dissertations than others. As a general indication, there are some topics, such as questionnaires on bypasses and supermarkets, or descriptive studies of urban regeneration, which are difficult to handle imaginatively and usually produce unsatisfactory results. Impact studies are unsuitable for dissertations if you cannot get details of both ‘before’ and ‘after’ the impact. Generally it is not advisable to base your dissertation upon a topic that you did for an ‘A’-level project.

Topic ideas and titles of a large selection of previously completed dissertations are provided on the Dissertations web page. Successful dissertation topics from previous years include.

  • Military abandonment in Staffordshire: dereliction and the re-utilisation of defence installations.
  • A laboratory study of frost and salt weathering using a selection of rock types.
  • Longitudinal variation in the size, roundness and sorting of coarse clastic sediments deposited on bar surfaces: an Alpine example.
  • Deconstructing Postmodernism: evidence from Birmingham’s city centre landscapes.
  • Origin and significance of a meltwater channel system near Aughertree Fell, northern Cumbria.
  • Rural isolation in three parishes of Yorkshire 1754-1933: measurements of its existence and reasons for its demise.
  • Spatial distribution and utilisation of GP services in Wolverhampton
  • Residential development and Inter-censal Mobility in the Victorian City of Leeds

You may also find it useful to read one or more of the chapters/articles listed below, which are available from the Nuffield or Main Libraries.

Bell, J. 2005 (4th ed) Doing Your Research Project. Open University Press, Buckingham.

[Chapter 2 Planning the Project]

Burkill, S. & Burley, J. 1996. Getting started on a Geography dissertation. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 20: 431-437.

Gatrell, A.C. 2005. Choosing a topic. Ch3 In Flowerdew, R. & Martin, D. (Eds) Methods in Human Geography - a guide for students doing a research project. Pearson, London, 2nd edition

[This chapter is very useful for all students not just those interested in human geography]

Kennedy, B.A. 1992. First Catch Your Hare ... Research Designs for Individual Projects. In Rogers A., Viles, H. & Goudie, A. (eds) The Student’s Companion to Geography. Blackwell, Oxford: 128-134.

Parsons, T. & Knight, P.G. 2005. How to do your dissertation in Geography and related disciplines. Routledge, London. 2nd Edition

[Chapter 4 What shall I do it on?]

Will my topic enable me to do a good dissertation?

Your chosen topic should enable you to:

  • identify and define a problem and to assess what data and techniques are necessary to contribute to its solution (not simply to describe)
  • make a realistic judgement of what is practicable to attempt within a specific framework of resources and experience
  • display critical acumen in evaluating earlier studies and assessing the conclusions of other workers
  • devise an approach which is sound in methodological terms at your chosen scale of operation
  • show flexibility of mind (and determination) to overcome the inevitable problems encountered in gathering and processing data
  • show insight in interpreting data, backed where relevant by appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative techniques
  • present a formal report based upon a piece of academic research

Is the topic likely to sustain my interest?

You will be involved in your dissertation project for over a year so it is important that you are interested in what you are doing: don’t choose something so simple that it will quickly become dull.

Originality

Your dissertation gives you an opportunity to carry out an original piece of research. This means that you cannot just copy a project that has been done before, or repeat a school A-level project. However, this does not mean that you must try to do something completely revolutionary that has never been considered before: Research and scholarship often advance by projects that evaluate and build upon the previously published work of others. You must show an appreciation of this in your consideration of background material to your topic, most particularly in the literature review.

N.B. Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty

Plagiarism, the presenting of other people’s work as one’s own, will be heavily penalised. The university has strict penalties where plagiarism has taken place. To avoid this, give full acknowledgement to all source material, whether published or unpublished (including text, tables and figures). Make sure that you are familiar with the course and university regulations regarding plagiarism.

Is it feasible in the time available?

You have more than 12 months to devise, design, execute and write up your research project. This may seem a long time but will pass very quickly so you must be realistic in the scope of the project. The ideal topic is specific and highly focused. Start from your broad area of interest and then narrow down to a very specific question that will form the core of your work. Bear in mind that you must not only research the background to the project and collect primary data, but you must also analyse the information, present it and write about it. It is common for the working up and writing up the research material to take far longer than expected/intended.

Is it possible to obtain the necessary data?

Make sure that the data you require to address the chosen topic are available or can be generated. Explore available data sets (e.g. census data, historical data) and ensure that if the data are held by an institution (e.g. Meteorological Office, Local Councils) they will allow access to that data. If your topic involves ‘sensitive’ information (e.g. crime or health data), or if it is going to be highly reliant upon a single source, e.g. a planning authority or government department, make sure that you have a fall-back position if the information is not available. More and more students nationally are doing project-based dissertations and some public and private bodies are becoming resistant to requests for information. If you intend to generate your own data e.g. fieldwork, laboratory analysis, ensure that any necessary equipment or technical support will be available. Ensure also that sufficient appropriate data can be obtained within the given time constraints. Some helpful ideas are available from the references listed under Data Collection in this handbook.

Is it ethical ?

In many areas of research, especially in topics that involve people as subjects, ethical issues arise that you will need to consider. The issues are most obvious when dealing with topics like the geography of crime, inequality or medical geography, but many kinds of information, even questionnaire surveys on ‘innocent’ topics, may have ethical implications. The implications need to be considered for yourself, those participating in the study, members of the public, KeeleUniversity and the reputation of Geography. You need to consider the rights and welfare of the people involved, the value of the knowledge obtained and the need to promote and maintain a positive image of Geography.

If you ask people to help you with your research, they have the right to decline. Respect their rights at all times and avoid exploiting them for your own interests. The sorts of issues that you should consider are:-

  • Have I informed the participants of all that they need and would expect to know before taking part?
  • Have they willingly agreed to take part?
  • How do I ensure that all research records are confidential and anonymous, and will remain so?
  • How do I ensure that my research is carried out professionally and in a way that does not give offence and protects the rights of those involved?

Where appropriate you should the gain the clear consent of people involved. This is usually not needed when carrying out observations of behaviour in public places, but people's privacy should be respected. If you are researching on private property, such as a shopping precinct, or a quarry it is essential to ask permission from the appropriate owners/authorities. Respect your participants' privacy[1] by treating data as confidential. Others should not be able to identify those who have taken part in your study. You should never:-

  • insult, offend or anger participants
  • make participants believe that they have harmed or upset someone else
  • break the law or encourage others to do so
  • contravene the Data Protection Act
  • illegally copy tests or materials
  • make up data
  • copy other people's work
  • claim that somebody else's wording is your own.

Where to work?

Some of the best dissertations have been done by enthusiastic and well-organised individuals working overseas, sometimes in conjunction with expeditions. Most UK students’ dissertations are done in Britain because of the problems of access to materials, languages and finance when working abroad. With determination and foresight, however, all these problems can be overcome. Students who study Geology may wish to consider a topic that can be undertaken in the same area as their Geology mapping project. Students spending a year abroad for languages may also wish to consider doing their dissertation abroad. Previously, Geography students at Keele have done their dissertations in Australia, Egypt, France, Iceland, Malta, Sri Lanka, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the USA and Zimbabwe.

If you wish to consider doing research abroad you are strongly advised to discuss this with academic staff and begin your planning at a very early stage. If you are abroad, especially if you are in an ‘exotic’ location, contact with your Keele advisor may be difficult, or impossible, so it is important that you have arrangements in place / contingency plans if things go wrong. Having an exotic location will not of itself guarantee a good dissertation topic or a high quality result.

The Expedition Advisory Centre has a wide range of publications covering the organisation of expeditions, guidelines for developing projects and expedition field techniques. The EAC will also provide advice, information and contacts. For further information contact: The Expedition Advisory Centre, RGS-IBG, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR, or see their web page:

If you are considering working in a developing area then the following book will be useful:

Robson, E. & Willis, K. 1997 (eds) Postgraduate fieldwork in developing areas: a rough guide. Monograph No. 9, Developing Areas Research Group, RGS-IBG.

Is funding available?

There is no internal funding available to assist with dissertation projects, although students will be able to use the School’s equipment and facilities. For certain projects some financial assistance may be available from external bodies. Further information can be obtained from the sources listed below.

Two useful books to consult for both UK and overseas fieldwork funding are:

Directory of Grant-Making Trusts, Charities Aid Foundation, Tunbridge.

Winser, S & McWilliam, N (2004) TheExpedition Planners' Handbook and Directory, 2nd edition, Royal Geographical Society.

Personal Funding Sources:

Dudley Stamp Memorial Fund & 20th International Geographical Congress Fund, Executive Secretary, Royal Society, 6 Carlton House Terrace, London. SW1Y 5AG.

Arthur Haydock Bequest & Bernard Hobson Fund, British Association for the Advancement of Science, Fortress House, Saville Row, London. W1X 1AB. Note: Geological research only.

Exploration Fund, Explorer's Club, 46 East 70th Street, New York. NY10021, USA.

Wyndham Deedes Travel Scholarship to Israel, The Director, Anglo-Israel Association, 9 Bentinck Street, London, W1M 5RP. Note: For intensive study in Israel only.

Violet Cressey-Marks Fisher Travelling Scholarship, Royal Geographical Society, Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AR. Note: Awarded every three years.

Expedition Funding Sources:

Royal Geographical Society-Institute of British Geographers, Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AR. (Tel: 020 7591 3000).

Edinburgh Trust Number 2, Duke of Edinburgh's Office, BuckinghamPalace, London.

Gilchrist Educational Trust, Mary Trevelyan Hall, 10 York Terrace East, London. NW1 4PT.

Albert Reckitt Charitable Trust, Southwark Twrs, 32 London Bridge St., London. SE1 9SY.

Royal Scottish Geographical Society, 10 Randolph Crescent, Edinburgh. EH3 7TU. (Note: Expedition must have a Scottish base or Scottish membership.)

Gino Watkins Memorial Fund & Edward Wilson Fund, The Director, Scott Polar Research Institute, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1ER. Note: Expeditions to polar regions only.

Working with outside agencies.

Several commercial and charitable organisations, including Operation Wallacea, Frontier and Operation Raleigh have ‘expedition’ type arrangements for conservation and other projects that can form the basis of student dissertations. There are several problems that may arise in following this route for your project. Usually these organisations expect a substantial level of sponsorship from participants and in return they offer a variety of back-up and supervision services, and even ‘ready-made’ dissertation topics, which might break the rules for Keele’s dissertations (see below). Some companies and authorities produce lists of topics that they would like to be tackled and for which they are willing to provide data. Working on a project relevant to a company or agency can be very rewarding, you may gain access to data or land that would otherwise be inaccessible and someone (other than your examiners) will be interested in your work. However, if you work under the auspices of any of these organisations or agencies, you must bear the following rules about Keele dissertations in mind:

  • students are required to devise their own dissertation topic
  • the project must be appropriate to a degree in Geography
  • the project must be your own work
  • you may be required to write a report for the sponsor of the project but your dissertation must be entirely separate
  • your final dissertation must conform to the criteria stated in this handbook
  • you are required to sign a declaration that the dissertation is all your own work

Planning the research programme

Reviewing the literature

Once you have chosen a research topic you will need to spend time in the library, browsing the web and researching elsewhere to make use of the available literature. Although the ideal dissertation topic is specific and highly-focused, you must be able to relate your work to broader areas of geographical enquiry and to work that has previously been done on the topic. Avoid the tendency to focus only on your specific hypotheses and ensure that you consider the wider implications of the work. You will need to write a literature review for your Formal Research Proposal and update it as you find more relevant articles. A literature review sets your work into the context of what has gone before and is an important part of the dissertation. At the end of the dissertation you will also need to evaluate your conclusions in the light of the existing literature.

In terms of finding information, if your choice of topic was inspired by a journal article or text book then start there, look at the references that the authors have cited and track them down. If a lecture sparked your enthusiasm then you could ask the lecturer if they can suggest some reading. You can find books and articles through the library catalogue and on-line databases (see Keele University Library Factsheet No. 6. Online and CD-ROM Services. The following article is full of useful ideas on how to track down background material for your project.

Flowerdew, R. 2005. Finding previous work on the topic. In Flowerdew, R. & Martin, D. (eds) Methods in Human Geography - a guide for students doing a research project. Pearson, London, 2nd edition.

[This chapter is very useful for all students, not just those doing human geography]

Do not under-estimate the time it takes to locate and read sufficient background information to place your project into context or to refine the research objectives. You should have a clear idea of exactly what you are going to do and how you are going to achieve it before you leave Keele for the summer. When selecting the topic and area of study for your dissertation, remember to make use of Keele Map Library. Find out which maps are available at Keele (O.S. maps, geological maps, town plans, CD-ROMs etc.), how easy it will be to obtain maps of your study area and what resources will be available locally in your research area.