RDS-33306 Methodology for Field Research in the Social Sciences

Vak

Studiepunten 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Contents:

This course offers students the opportunity to become acquainted with different qualitative and quantitative methods for exploratory field research. The focus is on issues of development and change. The problems of doing research in a situation outside one's own society will be stressed.
Major attention is given to:
- implications of social theory for research (for example choice of a research paradigm and/or perspectives);
- the definition and selection of appropriate units of analysis (organization, group, farm, household, village, region);
- the (dis)advantages of different methods for data collection (interviews, questionnaires, participant and and non-participant observation, focus group discussions, sensorial research, discourse and material artefacts analysis, computer-mediated research);
- choice of appropriate samples;
- different procedures for data analysis and processing (writing fieldnotes, grounded theory);
- different methods for presentation of field results;
- reflexivity and ethics of field research.
Practical cases and (individual and group) exercises are scheduled to facilitate an active learning process. The organisation of the course will stimulate critical reflection on various approaches for data collection and analysis, and on the relationship between specific research problems and related methods. Students are expected to undertake a small research project culminating in a research report. (However, there is also the option of a final individual exercise in the form of writing the methodological part of a research proposal. The topic may be the one you have selected for your MSc Thesis, or it can be on another topic.)

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to design and carry out primary field research, and analyse information derived from it. This will entail:
- designing a research proposal using a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods and techniques introduced in the course;
- defending their reasons for choosing this design, showing how the design will: check assumptions and data throughout the research process; use appropriate units of analysis and samples; define conceptual and operational definitions;
- using different research techniques (participant and non-participant observations, informal, semi-structured and structured questionnaires);
- recording , coding, and analysing data, including but not limited to field notes;
- presenting workshop assignments with students from different disciplines;
- demonstrate detailed understanding of the literature through critical analysis presented in the workshops and in the written examination;
- show (incipient) ethnographic thinking and reflexive reasoning in the final research paper.

Activities:

The course makes use of different types of learning activities:
- problem-oriented case studies. Concrete research problems are used to illustrate how different research methods could be used;
- practical exercises and assignments on research techniques;
- design research using various methods: observations, informal interviews, semi-structured interviews and structured interviews;
- analysis of primary research data, using multiple modes of analysis.

Examination:

Written exam (50%), workshop participation (25%), final research report (25%).

Literature:

Course guide and literature are available at the beginning of the course.