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2015/16 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

GEOG5241M Applied Population and Demographic Analysis (WUN)

15 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Paul Norman
Email: p.d.norman@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: 1 Apr to 30 Jun (Adv pre 2223), 1 Apr to 30 June View Timetable

Year running 2015/16

This module is mutually exclusive with

GEOG5240MApplied Population and Demographic Analysis

Module replaces

GEOG5101M Census Analysis and GIS

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module will provide the knowledge and skills which are relevant in this topic area to postgraduates wishing to underpin their ongoing research and to people looking towards employment situations in national and local government, health research, charities, business and marketing.In this module we will review the main data sources which inform analyses of population and society: census, vital statistics on births and deaths and migration and will look at alternative sources such as administrative datasets and large scale surveys. We will discuss why data are collected, how they are kept confidential and the formats they are disseminated in for a range of geographies and with what socio-demographic detail.We will use data in the calculation of demographic rates and area characteristics and in a range of applied, policy relevant analyses.

Objectives

This module aims to provide knowledge and skills relevant in this topic area to research postgraduates and to employment situations in national and local government, health research, charities, business and marketing by:
- Reviewing the main data sources which inform analyses of population and society: census, vital statistics on births and deaths and migration plus administrative datasets and large scale surveys;
- Analysing population structure and composition including stratification by social groups (e.g. social class, ethnic group) and by health status;
- Developing measures of area characteristics, especially deprivation, and using these as analytical tools to draw out geographical patterns

Learning outcomes
On completion of the module students will have experience of:
- The pursuit of knowledge in an in-depth, ordered and motivated way;
- Learning and independent study;
- Information processing (especially IT skills): literature searches;
- Data manipulation (especially IT skills): analysis of data (especially spatial data); statistical methods; classification techniques;
- Data presentation through tables, graphs and maps;
- Communication: report writing; e-mail/discursive skills;
- Management: safe and effective project planning and execution; time management

Skills outcomes
Obtaining, manipulating, using and presenting
-Traditional sources of socio-demographic data
-Contemporary, non-standard sources of socio-demographic data


Syllabus

Sources of socio-demographic data (1): census, vital statistics, migration
Populations, samples and geographies: data collection and dissemination
Demographic methods: calculating fertility, mortality and migration rates
Age-sex structure: populations as denominators, standardised mortality and illness ratios
Population attributes: analysing by occupational social class and ethnic group
Area characteristics: measuring area deprivation
Sources of socio-demographic data (2): administrative data and large scale surveys
Estimating populations and attributes by indirect methods

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Discussion forum101.0010.00
Independent online learning hours50.00
Private study hours90.00
Total Contact hours10.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)150.00

Private study

Students will read the course notes and advised reading and carry out the calculations using the practical guides and data provided or sources identified. Students will follow up with the formulation of their work into a write-up of the practicals as a portfolio of work to be submitted as assessed coursework. A choice of scenarios (relating to geographical, social science research and / or as relevant to government, health professional, business, etc) will be available as coursework project choices; work which is to be carried out independently.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Through:
- Contact via email with tutor
- VLE discussion forum;
- Individual consultations on coursework.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Report2,000 word equivalent60.00
Report2,000 word equivalent40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 13/04/2015

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