Course Information


Course Information
Course Title Code Semester L+U Hour Credits ECTS
RESEARCH METHODS AND TECHNIQUES IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE 801600715240 3 + 0 3.0 8.0

Prerequisites None

Language of Instruction
Course Level Graduate Degree
Course Type Compulsory
Mode of delivery
Course Coordinator
Instructors Aydın ÖZDEMİR
Assistants
Goals This course introduces the fundamental elements of basic research approach to help students understand and become proficient in both quantitative and qualitative methods. The course aims to cover the following topics: Introduction to Basic Research; Research Philosophy; Comparing Qualitative and Quantitative Research; Sampling Techniques; Recruitment in Qualitative Research; Ethical Guidelines, and required readings. Based on a theoretical background of a relevant subject, students are involved in investigating the fundamentals of landscape research, developing theoretical thinking based on processes such as grounded theory, selecting proper research methods and organizing data collection techniques, making field research and interacting with the real subjects in the field, analyzing the collected first-hand data, and finally reporting the field notes.
Course Content The purpose of this course is to develop among graduate students in landscape architecture the techniques and intellectual skills necessary to develop an original and academically acceptable research proposal. While preparing the student to undertake this process, the course aims as much as anything at developing the student’s abilities to critically think about, and frame, social issues and environment-behavior relations in the landscape architecture discipline. Therefore, the skills and techniques taught in this course are those useful both in academics and practice; therefore, general aim is to contribute to theoretical thinking and investigation of research gaps, which will be the basis of the coursework.
Learning Outcomes 1) PY 3. Interprets the subjects of the field
2) PY 7. Life-long learning and research ability
3) PY 10. Able to conduct design research

Weekly Topics (Content)
Week Topics Teaching and Learning Methods and Techniques Study Materials
1. Week Introduction to basic research Lecture; Question Answer; Discussion

 Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
2. Week Epistemology, theoretical perspectives, methodology and methods in design research Lecture; Question Answer; Discussion; Case Study

 Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
3. Week Pozitivist and interpretivism related to landscape architecture Lecture; Question Answer; Discussion; Role Play

 Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
4. Week Role of researcher in the research process, asking research questions and methodology selection Lecture; Question Answer; Discussion; Role Play

 Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
5. Week Qualitative and quantitative research orientations and relations to landscape architecture, defining methodological persepctives Lecture; Question Answer; Demonstration

 Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
6. Week Problem definition, research questions, literature review techniques Lecture; Question Answer; Discussion; Case Study

 Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
7. Week Landscape research methodology Lecture; Question Answer; Discussion; Case Study

 Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
8. Week Landscape research methodology Lecture; Question Answer; Problem Solving; Discussion

 Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
9. Week Observation forms, analysis and synthesis of the data Role Play; Education Excursion

 Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
10. Week Data collection techniques: surveys, observations and interviews Lecture; Question Answer; Discussion; Case Study

 Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
11. Week Data collection techniques: document analysis, qualitative data interpretation, coding and summary Lecture; Question Answer; Problem Solving; Discussion

 Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
12. Week Research epics and applications Lecture; Question Answer; Problem Solving; Discussion

 Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
13. Week Quality standards in research (reliability, validity etc) Lecture; Question Answer; Discussion

 Presentation (Including Preparation Time)
14. Week Report writing; interpretation of research results; Presentation of study Lecture; Question Answer; Problem Solving; Discussion; Case Study

 Presentation (Including Preparation Time)

Sources Used in This Course
Recommended Sources
* Bell, S., Herlin, I. S., & Stiles, R. (Eds.). (2011). Exploring the boundaries of landscape architecture. Routledge.
* Braae, E., & Steiner, H. (Eds.). (2018). Routledge Research Companion to Landscape Architecture. Routledge.
* Brink, A. V., Bruns, D., Tobi, H., & Bell, S. (2017). Research in landscape architecture: methods and methodology. New York.
* Deming, M. E., & Swaffield, S. (2011). Landscape architectural research: Inquiry, strategy, design. John Wiley & Sons.
* Nijhuis, S. (2013). Research methodology in landscape architecture. In Colloquium Research Methodology, Van Hall Larenstein, University of Applied Sciences.
* Prominski, M., & Seggern, H. (Eds.). (2019). Design Research for Urban Landscapes: Theories and Methods. Routledge.
• Balcı, A. (2000). Sosyal Bilimlerde Araştırma Yöntem Teknik ve İlkeler. Pegem Akademi Yayınları, Ankara.
• Bell, J. (2005). Doing Your Research Project. Open University Press, UK.
• Booth, W.C., v.d. (2003). The Craft of Research. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
• Bulduk, S. (2008). Psikolojide Deneysel Araştırma Yöntemleri. Çantay Yayınları, İstanbul.
• Büyüköztürk, Ş., v.d. (2012). Bilimsel Araştırma Yöntemleri. Pegem Akademi Yayınları, Ankara.
• Day, R. (1996). Bilimsel Bir Makale Nasıl Yazılır ve Yayınlanır? (Çeviri)Tübitak, Ankara. http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/kitap/maknasyaz/
• Erkuş, A. (2009). Davranış Bilimleri İçin Bilimsel Araştırma Süreci. Seçkin Yayıncılık, İstanbul.
• Kaplan, S. ve Kaplan, R. (1998). With People in Mind: Design and Management of Everyday Nature. Island Press, Washington DC.
• Neuman, W.L. (2000). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Allyn and Bacon, Boston.
• Popper, K. (2005). Bilimsel Araştırmanın Mantığı. Yapı Kredi Yayınları, İstanbul.
• Türkiye Bilimler Akademisi Bilim Etiği Komitesi (2002). Bilimsel Araştrımada Etik ve Sorunları. TUBA Yayınları, Ankara.
• Van Wagenen, K. (1991). Writing a Thesis: Substantive Style. Prentice Hall: Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
• Yıldırım, A. ve Şimşek, H. (2011). Sosyal Bilimlerde Nitel Araştırma Yöntemleri. Seçkin Yayıncılık, Ankara.

Relations with Education Attainment Program Course Competencies
Program RequirementsContribution LevelDK1DK2DK3
PY15000
PY25000
PY35000
PY45000
PY55000

*DK = Course's Contrubution.
0 1 2 3 4 5
Level of contribution None Very Low Low Fair High Very High
.

ECTS credits and course workload
Event Quantity Duration (Hour) Total Workload (Hour)
Course Duration (Total weeks*Hours per week) 14 3
Work Hour outside Classroom (Preparation, strengthening) 14 3
Homework 7 3
Presentation (Including Preparation Time) 7 3
Project (Including Preparation and presentation Time) 7 3
Report (Including Preparation and presentation Time) 7 3
Practice (Teaching Practice, Music/Musical Instrument Practice , Statistics, Laboratory, Field Work, Clinic and Polyclinic Practice) 5 3
Seminar 5 3
Quiz 2 3
Midterm Exam 1 3
Final Exam 1 3
1 1
2 2
3 3
Dönem Sonu Sınavı (DSS) 1 1
Total Workload
Total Workload / 30 (s)
ECTS Credit of the Course
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Course Information
  • Course Information
  • Weekly Topics (Content)
  • Sources Used in This Course
  • Relations with Education Attainment Program Course Competencies
  • ECTS credits and course workload