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QUALITATIVE METHODS IN GLOBAL SOUTH STUDIES A-L
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Qualitative Methods in Global South Studies A-L
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Anno accademico 2022/2023
- Codice dell'attività didattica
- CPS0372A
- Docente
- Elisa Bignante (Titolare dell'insegnamento)
- Insegnamento integrato
- Corso di studi
- Master's Degree Course in Area and global studies for international cooperation
- Anno
- 1° anno
- Periodo didattico
- Secondo semestre
- Tipologia
- Caratterizzante
- Crediti/Valenza
- 6
- SSD dell'attività didattica
- M-GGR/02 - geografia economico-politica
- Modalità di erogazione
- Tradizionale
- Lingua di insegnamento
- Inglese
- Modalità di frequenza
- Facoltativa
- Tipologia d'esame
- Scritto
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Sommario insegnamento
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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 competencies required to operate in the context of international development, a 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 organizational, 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.
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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, context, and 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.
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Modalità di insegnamento
The course will be held only in person.
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, taking part in practical activities, and group work.
Alternatively, for non-attending students (those who can’t follow the course in person), it is possible to simply study the text indicated in the section Recommended texts and bibliography (as non-attending students). For non-attending students, it will not be necessary to study the materials uploaded on Moodle: the text 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. 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 constant attendance by the students.
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Modalità di verifica dell'apprendimento
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
The final examination will consist of a written examination (in person) 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 open questions (10 points for each answer). In answering the questions, the student must demonstrate a thorough and critical knowledge on 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:
The final examination will consist of a written examination (in person) based on a few 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 articles and materials shared by the teacher during the course and uploaded on Moodle. The written examination will last 1 hour and students will be asked to answer three open questions (10 points for each answer). Attending students who will volunteer to discuss in class an article proposed by the teacher will only answer two questions in the written exam.
Attending students will be also evaluated through a group project. The group project will consist of writing a research proposal. Each group will produce a written report. Students will have to work together, the individual contribution will not be extrapolated. The written report will receive an assessment (a group evaluation, not an individual one) which will average with the evaluation of the written exam.
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).
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Attività di supporto
In order to stimulate the acquisition of the identified transversal competences, 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, 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 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).
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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, methodological choices
- Developing and planning a research project
- Literature review and texts as data
- Observation methods, spatial reporting and analysis
- Focus group methods - organization, facilitation skills and topic guides
- Participatory, visual and performative methods, and documentation
- Intro to innovative research processes such as participatory video and digital story-telling
- Thematic data analysis
- Intro to research partnerships and challenging research such as with highly marginalized groups or in unaccountable or contested contexts
- Organizing and managing fieldwork including building partnerships and research relationships, and technical and logistic aspects
- Preparing for fieldwork challenges and mitigating risks
Testi consigliati e bibliografia
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- Libro
- Titolo:
- Research for Development. A practical guide
- Anno pubblicazione:
- 2013
- Editore:
- Sage
- Autore:
- Sophie Laws, Caroline Harper, Nicola Jones, Rachel Marcus
- Obbligatorio:
- Si
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The textbook for both attending and non-attending students is: Sophie Laws, Caroline Harper, Nicola Jones, Rachel Marcus, Research for Development. A practical guide. Sage, 2013, second edition.
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Note
THIS COURSE IS FOR STUDENTS WITH LAST NAMES FROM: A-L
The course will take place in the second semester, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m.
THE COURSE IS HELD ONLY IN PERSON.
The course DOING RESEARCH AND FIELDWORK IN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION A-L will be divided into the following two parts:
- first 6 weeks: MODULE "Research tools and methods in socio-cultural anthropology" (prof. Barbara Sorgoni)
- last 6 weeks: MODULE "Qualitative Methods in global south studies" (prof. Elisa Bignante)
All materials and information will be uploaded on the Moodle page of the course. Please register on the Moodle course page before the course starts!
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