Methods of Urban Studies

2026/2027

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

5

ECTS credits

Delivered at:

Department of Sociology

Course type:

Elective course

When:

4 year, 1, 2 module

Instructor

Epanova, Yulia

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course introduces methodologies, methods, and tools used in sociology and urban studies for researching the city. Students will study methods of urban analytics and qualitative methods of urban research, and will also be able to apply them in practice.

Learning Objectives

• To form students' understanding of the fundamentals of the methodology of sociological research of the city, to develop their skills in conducting qualitative data collection and analysis, as well as presenting research results.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Develops a research design and research strategy using the selected method
• Knows how to present research results in the public sphere, taking into account ethics in sociological research
• Is able to use different types of presentation of research results (oral, video presentations, texts)
• Selects a relevant methodology for the chosen topic of urban research. Applies methodological principles to formulate a research design
• Conducts observation. Keeps an observation diary.
• Develops an interview guide, a guide for express surveys, and focus groups
• Conducts thematic, discourse, and qualitative content analysis of interviews and documents
• Conducts collection of visual data. Conducts the analysis of visual data

Course Contents

• Introduction to the Course of Methods of Urban Research
• Ethnographic Research in the City.
• Survey Methods in Urban Research
• Document Analysis in Urban Research
• Visual Methods in Urban Research
• Methodological Group Projects.

Assessment Elements

• In-class participation
  IN-CLASS PARTICIPATION includes attending lectures and working in seminars. Attendance at lectures will be included in the overall percentage of attendance. Working оn seminars involves completing the lecturer's assignments during classes, reading texts at home, and completing assignments for seminars at home. Be ready to: • read and discuss literature • analyze videos, cases • conduct mini-research and present the results • make PowerPoint presentations Please not, that the average grade for in-class participation will not be rounded. Seminar participation and performance will be assessed according to the following 0–4 scale: 0 - Absent 1 - Present but not engaged in the session 2 - Participated but responses contained errors 3 - Demonstrated a solid command of the material with no major errors 4 - Delivered an outstanding, well-reasoned response demonstrating mastery The average score across all seminars will subsequently be converted into a 10-point grade, which will contribute to the final course grade.
• Homework
  Homework is a series of group works. Students form permanent groups of 4-5 people, in which they work throughout the course. To complete the homework, each group of students chooses one urban space and formulates a scholarly problem for research. The task of each group is to apply 4 different research methods (one from each block of methods) to analyze this space and study the stated problem. The homework will ultimately consist of 4 stages: HW1. Ethnographic Research. Each participant of the group must conduct at least 2 observations and make detailed diaries. The group forms a database of observation diaries with a general description. HW2. Survey Methods. The group chooses one of the survey methods most suitable for the studied scholarly problem, develops a guide, and collects data. Depending on the chosen method, the number of minimally necessary material per group participant is specified. The group submits a database of transcripts and audio files. HW3. Analysis of documents/texts. Within this work, group participants conduct analysis of the material collected in the first and second homework using one analysis method. The group submits a unified code tree and a database of coded material. HW4. Visual methods. Within this work, the group conducts collection of visual material (one type of choice - photo, video, mental maps, etc.) and conducts visual analysis. The amount of material per group participant will be determined depending on the chosen method. The group submits a database of materials and an analytical note with the main results of the analysis. For each of the 4 stages, a deadline for submitting materials will be established.
• Presentation of group work and methodological reflection
  Each group prepares a presentation based on the series of their homework assignments. The presentation must include: - presentation of the chosen location - presentation of the scholarly problem - collected empirical database - results of analysis for each method - methodological reflection on the advantages and limitations of the chosen methods for studying the topic and location.

Interim Assessment

• 2026/2027 2nd module
  0.2 * Presentation of group work and methodological reflection + 0.5 * Homework + 0.3 * In-class participation

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Oliveira V. Urban morphology: an introduction to the study of physical form of cities. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2016.
• Как собрать данные в полевом качественном исследовании / Нац. исслед. ун-т «Высшая школа экономики». — 2-е изд., эл. - Ваньке А. В., Полухина Е. В., Стрельникова А. В. - Москва: ВШЭ - 978-5-7598-2086-4 - 2021 - русский - https://ibooks.ru/product/336456 - iBOOKS - 336456
• Практики анализа качественных данных в социальных науках : учебное пособие / Нац. исслед. ун-т «Высшая школя, экономики». — 2-е изд., эл. - Полухина Е. В., отв. ред. - Москва: ВШЭ - 978-5-7598-2497-8 - 2024 - русский - https://ibooks.ru/product/335427 - iBOOKS - 335427

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• D’Acci, L. (Ed.), 2019. The Mathematics of Urban Morphology, Modeling and Simulation in Science, Engineering and Technology. Springer International Publishing, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12381-9
• Социология города. Проектирование социальных изменений в городской среде : учебное пособие для вузов / под общей редакцией Г. Б. Кораблевой. — Москва : Издательство Юрайт, 2025. — 115 с. — (Высшее образование). — ISBN 978-5-534-17795-4. — Текст : электронный // Образовательная платформа Юрайт [сайт]. — URL: https://urait.ru/bcode/515677 (дата обращения: 02.07.2026).

Authors

• Epanova Iuliia Valentinovna