Corsi di Studio del Dipartimento di Culture, Politica e Società

QUALITATIVE METHODS IN GLOBAL SOUTH STUDIES M-Z

Qualitative Methods in Global South Studies M-Z

Anno accademico 2023/2024

Sommario insegnamento

• Obiettivi formativi
• Risultati dell'apprendimento attesi
• Programma
• Modalità di insegnamento
• Modalità di verifica dell'apprendimento
• Attività di supporto
• Testi consigliati e bibliografia
• Note
• Strumenti didattici
• Scheda del corso

Obiettivi formativi

The overall purpose of this course is to prepare students for designing, managing and carrying out qualitative research projects in the Global South. In so doing the course aims at providing the skills and research competences required to operate in the context of international development, theme which is central to the Master's degree in Area and Global Studies for International Cooperation.

To achieve this there are three related aims: i) to develop the theoretical understanding and practical skills needed to define appropriate research questions, and make effective design and methods choices ii) to equip them to competently manage the organisational, technical, logistical, ethical, communication and safety aspects of research partnerships in the Global South iii) to embed the knowledge and skills through practice, and planning, critically reflecting on and communicating about real-world projects and applications.

Risultati dell'apprendimento attesi

By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to:

1)      Understand and use a range of qualitative fieldwork methods

2)      Develop a research project - identify a research topic, problem and context, ground it through literature review, and define focused research questions

3)      Plan qualitative research strategies - select a research design and appropriate methods, and know how to apply them in fieldwork collaborations in the Global South

4)      Organise research fieldwork - plan, schedule, prepare for and manage project partnerships and activities including: materials, resources, equipment, and travel in reference to safety, language, environment, cultural context, finances and logistics

5)      Prepare for fieldwork challenges and risks - anticipate likely problems and mitigate risks, critically reflect on ethical issues and responsibilities, prepare for ethical review, and consider how to adapt responsively as the research processes unfold

6)      Communicate/pitch a research proposal - present research plans including rationale and case for focus, research questions, methodological design, participatory methods, and ethics.

Programma

•  Introduction to fieldwork in global South contexts, including researcher positioning, reflexivity and diaries
• Epistemology and axiology as starting points
• Qualitative research questions, research designs and methodological choices
• Developing and planning a research project
• Literature review and texts as data
• Observation methods, spatial reporting and analysis
• Social media and ethical issues
• Action research with social movements
• Focus group methods - organisation, facilitation skills and topic guides
• Participatory, visual and performative methods, and documentation
• Intro to innovative participatory research processes such as participatory video and digital story-telling
• Content and discourse analysis of texts and videos
• Intro to research partnerships and challenging research such as with highly marginalised groups or in unaccountable or contested contexts
• Organising and managing fieldwork including building partnerships and research relationships, and technical and logistic aspects
• Preparing for fieldwork challenges and mitigating risks

Modalità di insegnamento

The course will be held in person. Attendance is mandatory as the course is interactive and requires constant participation. All relevant information will be available on the Moodle platform of the course, as well as a forum for questions and answers. During the course, articles and other materials will be regularly uploaded on Moodle.

Attending the course means real participation through weekly reading and discussing, and group work in the classroom and beyond.

Alternatively, for those who can’t follow the course, it is possible to simply study the text indicated in the section Recommended Texts and Bibliography (as non-attending students). If you opt to study the text without following the lessons and debates, it will not be necessary to study the materials uploaded on Moodle: the texts will be sufficient to study for the final exam.

This course is designed as active learning, to maximize the potential for students to successfully carry out research projects in real-world contexts. This means each topic will include introductory input but will be largely delivered through workshops and participatory exercises in small groups. Knowledge and awareness will be developed by considering concrete qualitative research projects. Skills in using methods and convening/facilitating participatory exercise will also be developed through experience during the classroom activities and exercises and reflection afterward. Students will be expected to prepare for discussions and practical activities by undertaking key readings and tasks beforehand. They will also be required to continue and complete activities outside class time. In the second part, students will be divided into groups and will work together on planning a research project in the Global South for the final exam. 

All activities will be carried out in order to encourage students' self-evaluation and to reinforce the transversal skills indicated in the "Risultati dell'apprendimento attesi /Expected learning outcomes".

The illustrated teaching methods require frequent attendance by the students.

Modalità di verifica dell'apprendimento

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS

The final examination will consist of a written examination based on the textbook:

Iain Hay and Meghan Cope (eds.) 2021. Qualitative research methods in human geography, Oxford University Press (5th edition).

The written examination will last 1 hour and students will be asked to answer three questions (10 points for each answer). In answering the questions, the student must demonstrate a thorough and critical knowledge of the topic. The questions will be aimed at verifying the 'comprehension of the themes and concepts explored in the textbook and assessing and promoting students' capacity to analyze, interpret and creatively discuss concepts.

ATTENDING STUDENTS:

Also for attending students, the final examination will consist of a written examination based on selected articles and chapters shared by the teacher during the course together with the lecture presentations.

Moreover, attending students will be evaluated through group work (which will take place even in case of distance learning) jointly with the module “Research Tools and Methods in socio-cultural Anthropology”. Groups will produce research plans of potential studies to be carried out using qualitative methodology to respond to specific research questions. The grades for the written essays will average with the grades of the group works. During the last meetings of the course, all the groups will present their proposed research plan orally to receive feedback for the final essay.

Therefore, for attending students, an understanding of methodological theory and practice, and the ability to manage a qualitative research collaboration in the global South, will be put into practice through a group project. Students will have to work together, and the individual contribution will not be extrapolated; therefore, individual responsibility in the collaboration is fundamental, although students are invited to report in case of free riders. The teacher will also propose a self-evaluation of the learning process to increase awareness about individual engagements and challenges.

THE FINAL EVALUATION OF THE COURSE DOING RESEARCH AND FIELDWORK IN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION:

FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS: IT WILL CONSIST OF THE ARITHMETIC MEAN OF THE FINAL EVALUATION OF THE TWO MODULES QUALITATIVE METHODS IN GLOBAL SOUTH STUDIES AND RESEARCH TOOLS AND METHODS IN SOCIO-CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY (WITH ROUNDING UP IF THE ARITHMETIC MEAN IS EQUAL TO .5).

FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS: IT WILL CONSIST OF THE ARITHMETIC MEAN OF THE FINAL EVALUATION OF THE TWO MODULES ("QUALITATIVE METHODS IN GLOBAL SOUTH STUDIES" AND "RESEARCH TOOLS AND METHODS IN SOCIO-CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY") AND OF THE GROUP WORK (COUNTING 1/3 EACH). 

Attività di supporto

In order to stimulate the acquisition of the identified transversal competencies, guided readings and debates on research methods and on the research process will be proposed. Students will also be asked to present and defend specific positions within role plays (if possible) and to present their reading and interpretation of specific themes to the classroom.

Researchers with key expertise in the field of development research will be invited (via Webex if necessary) to share their experiences and materials and help students to carry on their research activities. During group work, groups will also be supported by the teacher in elaborating their analysis; therefore, some meetings will include supervised group work.

For attending students: other reading material will be uploaded in the Moodle area of the course.

Note

The course DOING RESEARCH AND FIELDWORK IN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION will start on Monday 19.2.2023 and will be divided into the following parts:

- 6 weeks of "Research tools and methods in SC Anthropology" (19.2-27.3)

- 6 weeks of "Qualitative Methods in GS studies" (8.4-22.5)

Please register on Campus Net before the start of the course!

All materials and information will be uploaded on the Moodle page of the course.

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