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 2021/2022

• DOING RESEARCH AND FIELDWORK IN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION (CPS0372)

Sommario insegnamento

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

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

Communicate/pitch a research proposal - present research plans including rationale and case for focus, design, methods, organisation and risk management and mitigation.

Modalità di insegnamento

The course will be held in person if Covid-19 related sanitary conditions will make it possible. Every lesson will be also streamed via the Webex platform to allow the attendance of students who will not be able to reach the Campus.

All relevant information on the course 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.

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 maximise 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 (or via webex in case of Covid-19 restrictions) 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 (via webex if Covid-19 restrictions will make it necessary) based on the textbook "Sophie Laws, Caroline Harper, Nicola Jones, Rachel Marcus, Research for Development. A practical guide. Sage, 2013, second 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 to assess and promote students' capacity to analyse, interpret and creatively discuss concepts.

ATTENDING STUDENTS:

Also for attending students, the final examination will consist of a written examination (via webex if Covid-19 restrictions will make it necessary) based on selected chapters from the textbook "Sophie Laws, Caroline Harper, Nicola Jones, Rachel Marcus, Research for Development. A practical guide. Sage, 2013, second edition; and on other materials shared by the teacher during the course. Moreover, their knowledge will be also evaluated through ongoing exercises and activities.

In particular, attending students will be evaluated through group work (which will take place even in the case of distance learning) jointly with the module “Research tools and Methods in socio-cultural anthropology”. Each group will produce a written report. The written report will receive an assessment (group evaluation, not individual) that will average with the evaluation of the group work. The written report will be also presented orally in plenary by each group.

Therefore, for attending students, understanding of methodological theory and practice, and ability to manage a qualitative research collaboration in the global South, will be assessed through a group project. The group project will consist of a writing a research project in the global South and will take place also in case of Covid-19 restrictions (via skype/webex as already experienced during last year Covid-19 lockdown). The research project will receive a group evaluation. Students will have to work together, the individual contribution will not be extrapolated. The evaluation of the group research project will average with the evaluation of the written exam. A self-evaluation of the group processes will also be assessed. The group project will be run jointly with the module Research Tools and Methods in Socio-cultural Anthropology (and also coordinated with the course International Cooperation for Development: Practices and Project Design).

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 EVALUATION OF 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, each group will also be supported individually by the teacher in elaborating its analysis (some lessons will be devoted to group work under the supervision of the teacher).

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

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Note

The course will start on Monday 21.2.2022 and will be divided into the following parts:

- 2 introductory weeks of "Qualitative Methods in GS studies"

- 6 weeks of "Research tools and methods in SC Anthropology"

- 4 final weeks of "Qualitative Methods in GS studies"

In case of worsening of the Covid-19 pandemic, the lectures will be held in Webex: https://unito.webex.com/meet/paola.minoia

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.

• Materiale didattico
• Bacheca appelli
• Vai a Moodle
• Visita i forum