RDS-33306 Methods, Techniques and Data Analysis for Field Research B

Course

Credits 6.00

Teaching methodContact hours
Lectures24
Problem-based learning16
Self-study
Course coordinator(s)dr. RA Gigengack
Lecturer(s)dr. RA Gigengack
dr. ir. MJ Voors
D Wartena
dr. S Hunt
MSc FV Diaz Copado
drs. R Alonso Lopez
MSc C Torres Sanabria
G Beekman
F Cecchi
Examiner(s)ir. EEM Nillesen
dr. RA Gigengack
dr. ir. MM van den Berg

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 development issues that concern development
sociology/anthropology and development economics. Practical problems of doing research in a situation outside one's own society will be stressed.
Major attention is given to:
- the definition and selection of appropriate units of analysis (plot, farm, household, group, village, region);
- the (dis)advantages of different methods for data collection (interviews, questionnaires, observations, etc);
- choice of appropriate samples;
- different procedures for data analysis and processing, and
- different methods for presentation of field results.
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. The final individual exercise is to write 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:

At the end of the course, the student is expected to be able to design, carry out and analyse information derived from primary field research. This will entail:
- designing a research proposal using a wide range of qualitative and quantitative the 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 (observations, informal, semi-structured and structured questionnaires), recording the data, coding, and analysing it;
- 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;
- interpretating ethnographic cases with different modes of analysis (event analysis, discourse analysis, life histories, network analysis, actor-oriented analysis) in a written examination.

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 anlaysis.
This course will not include the use of computers in data analysis. In place of computer-based analyses, students will apply the research techniques to designing their research for their theses.

Examination:

Written exam.

Literature:

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

ProgrammePhaseSpecializationPeriod
Compulsory for: MDRDevelopment and Rural InnovationMSc6WD
Restricted Optional for: MFNForest and Nature ConservationMScB: Management6WD
MFNForest and Nature ConservationMScA: Policy and Society6WD
MIDInternational Development StudiesMScA: Sociology of Development6WD
MIDInternational Development StudiesMScB: Economics of Development6WD
MIDInternational Development StudiesMScC: Communication, Technology and Policy6WD