This is an introductory course in the fundamental techniques of geographical data acquisition, analysis, interpretation, and presentation. It aims to give new students a common foundation in both physical and human geography research techniques. It provides a grounding for further research-based courses, particularly GG1032/34 (the 1st-year Spanish fieldtrip), GG2003/04 (2nd-year fieldtrips), and GG3001 (final-year dissertation).

This course addresses many of the areas of knowledge and understanding identified in the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education’s 2014 benchmarking statement for geography (http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/SBS-geography-14.pdf). It has particular relevance to the following: an understanding of the representation of the human and physical worlds in the form of maps, visual images, and texts; a firm grounding in the main methodologies used in the analysis and interpretation of geographical information; training in a range of analytical and observational research strategies; an emphasis on the practical nature of the discipline as a basis for an informed concern for the Earth and its people.