Development Research

MGDI70982 Development Research 15 Semester 2 Postgraduate Taught Level 7 Johan Oldekop Unit coordinator Tomas Frederiksen Unit coordinator Global Development Institute 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 7.5 <div>How do we know that works for development? Understanding what drives and shapes more socially just and equitable development is essential. In this course you will gain deeper theoretical and practical knowledge of how research in Global Development is designed, conducted, and disseminated. </div>  The unit will combine a series of lectures (8) and weekly tutorials (3) and practicals (4) designed to provide a conceptual understanding of, and practical basis for conducting development research.  The first three lectures (Part 1 – see below) will cover key concepts underpinning development research, including introductions to philosophy of science (e.g., epistemology), research design, and the use and application of common theoretical frameworks and theories of change used in development research. These three lectures will be accompanied by a series of tutorials designed to provide students with experience of formulating rationales, identifying research questions and writing research methodologies.The subsequent 4 lectures (Part 2 – see below) will provide a basic introduction to both quantitative and qualitative research approaches commonly used in development research. These will be accompanied by a series of research training practicals on qualitative and  quantitative research methods designed to provide students with key research skills development hand on practical experience of using research methods and software.The final lecture will provide students with an understanding and practical examples of how research translates to development practice and policy, and how practice and policy influence development research agendas.  The overarching aims of this is to provide students with (i) an understanding of how research in development is conceived of and designed as well as introduction key methods used in development research; and (ii) an opportunity for students to develop competencies in transferable areas, including research design, methods and analysis, as well as teamwork and written and verbal forms of communication. This unit will enhance students' employability by equipping them with core research competencies valued across development, policy, consultancy and academic career pathways. Students will develop the ability to design research, formulate evidence-based arguments, and critically evaluate diverse sources of data — skills directly transferable to roles in international development organisations, government agencies, NGOs and the private sector.The unit will further enhance student outcomes by developing specific skills needed for employability, including: research design and critical thinking skills; quantitative and qualitative analytical skills; written and oral communication skills; time management; and teamwork.   <ul><li>Critically compare principles of research design — including rigour, validity, replicability and epistemological positioning — as applied across different development research contexts</li><li>Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of different research methods and approaches used in development research</li></ul>  <ul><li>Formulate and justify research questions that address development research challenges drawing on appropriate theoretical frameworks and theories of change</li><li>Critically evaluate different sources of information and data for relevance, reliability and bias, and synthesise evidence to construct coherent written arguments</li></ul>  <ul><li>Implement quantitative and qualitative development research methods and approaches including the use of digital tools for data analysis</li><li>Design and implement simple research projects specifying appropriate methods, sampling strategy, analytical approach and ethical considerations for a defined development research question </li></ul> <ul><li>Apply digital tools and software (including R) to support qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis and interpretation</li><li>Independently gather, sift and critically evaluate material from multiple sources to construct and communicate structured, evidence-based arguments in writing</li></ul>  Analytical skills - through a deeper theoretical and practical understanding of how development research is designed, conducted and disseminated. Innovation/creativity - through the design of an original research proposal Research ] - through a deeper theoretical and practical understanding of how development research is designed, conducted and disseminated. Written communication - through completing two written assignments (Part 1)1LectureAn introduction to research for developmentTutorialFormulating research questions, hypotheses and rationales2LectureResearch design and research questionsTutorialWriting methods and analyses sections3LectureAnalytical frameworks and theories of changeTutorial Writing research proposals(Part 2)4LectureCases and case-based methods5Lecture Thinking about research ethics and methodsPracticalQualitative Methods 1  6Practical Qualitative Methods 27Lecture Introduction to quantitative methods (part 1)Practical Quantitative Methods 18LectureIntroduction to quantitative methods (part 2)PracticalQuantitative Methods 2  9Lecture Transforming research into practice   Teaching and learning will occur through weekly lectures and a series of tutorials and practicals that will provide a conceptual understanding of, and practical basis for conducting development research. The learning and teaching approach will therefore combine a series of different approaches, including the use of pre-recorded lecture material (e.g., introductions to epistemology and research design), group work (e.g., the development and formulation of research questions and interview protocols) and software training (e.g., basic coding in R).   0 Other 40% 1 Written exam 60% Research Proposal 1,000 wordsWritten Exam (2 hours)   Written formative and summative feedback will be delivered via VLEStudents will be given the opportunity to submit short essay plans for feedback.Tutorials and practical sessions will be primarily interactive and/or discussion-based. MSc International Development Intl Dev: Global Trade Ind PGDT Taught Component Mandatory MSc International Development ID: Pol, Gov and DP PGDT Taught Component Mandatory MSc International Development ID: Development Management PGDT Taught Component Mandatory MSc International Development ID:Poverty,Inequality and Dev PGDT Taught Component Mandatory MSc International Development ID:Enviro,Climate Change & Dev PGDT Taught Component Mandatory MSc International Development International Development PGDT Taught Component Mandatory MSc International Development MSc ID:MMD PGDT Taught Component Mandatory MSc InternationalDevelopmentPT ID:Enviro,CllimateChange&DevPT Second Year Mandatory MSc InternationalDevelopmentPT ID:PovertyInequality&Develo PT Second Year Mandatory MSc InternationalDevelopmentPT ID: Development Management PT Second Year Mandatory MSc InternationalDevelopmentPT ID:Politics, Governance&Dev PT Second Year Mandatory MSc InternationalDevelopmentPT ID:GlobalisationTrade&Ind PT Second Year Mandatory MSc InternationalDevelopmentPT International Development Second Year Mandatory MSc InternationalDevelopmentPT MSc ID:MMD Second Year Mandatory N General textsBlaikie, N.W.H. and Priest, J. 2018.Designing social research: The logic of anticipation. Medford, MA: Polity Press.Booth, W. C. et al. 2016. The Craft of Research (4th ed.). Chicago: Chicago University Press. (or earlier editions)Dalgaard P. 2008. Introductory Statistics with R. SpringerGerring J. 2007. Case Study Research: Principles and Practices. Cambridge University PressLeavy, P. 2017.Research design: Quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, arts-based, and community-based participatory research approaches. The Guilford Press, New York.King G, Keohane RO, & Verba S. 1994. Designing Social Inquiry: Scientific Inference in Qualitative Research. Princeton University PressRobson, C. & McCartan, K. 2016, Real World Research (4th ed.) Wiley, Chichester.Williams N. 2011. Research Methods: The Basics. Routledge Research in Development studiesDeasi, V. & Potter, R. B. (eds) 2006. Doing Development Research. SAGE, London.Hammett et al (2015) Research and Fieldwork in Development. Abingdon: Routledge.Skovdal, M. and Cornish, F. 2015. Qualitative Research for Development. Rugby: Practical Action Publishing.Scheyvens, R. 2014. Development Fieldwork: A Practical Guide (2nd edn.). SAGE, London) (or other editions)  DissertationBiggam J. 2015. Succeeding with your Master’s Dissertation: A Step-By-Step Guide Booth, W. C. et al. 2016. The Craft of Research (4th ed.). Chicago: Chicago University Press. (or earlier editions)Leavy, P. 2017. Research design: Quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, arts-based, and community-based participatory research approaches. The Guilford Press, New York.Turabian, K. L. (2018)A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 9th edition. Chicago: Chicago University Press. (or earlier editions)Oldekop J et al. 2016. 100 key questions for the post-2015 development agenda. Development Policy Review 34: 55-82   Lectures 16 Practical classes & workshops 8 Tutorials 6 0 120 Information GDI Programmes on which course unit is offered: MSc Global Development (core for all pathways)