AGDK14001U Advanced Research Methods

Volume 2014/2015
Education
MSc programme in Global Development
Content

This course will introduce students to three major types of social science related research methods:

1)      Qualitative methods (interviews, participant observation, PRA)

2)      Quantitative methods (econometrics/statistics)

3)      Spatial analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

 

The course will be based on a combination of lectures and interactive seminars drawing on relevant academic literature. Students will develop their practical skills through exercises and an empirical case study combining and integrating the three types of research methods.

 

Learning Outcome

By the end of the course students should be able to:

  • Explain and critically reflect upon the main methodological issues that arises when doing development research, account for what makes a good empirical study within different traditions and how these can be combined and complement each other.
  • Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the identification problems faced when carrying out empirical work, and are able to analyze how different social sciences identify and establish causal relationships.
  • Produce and replicate empirical data and results (using relevant software), and are able to present empirical results in a precise and consistent manor. This will hopefully prepare students for original independent empirical research and help identify possible interesting thesis topics.  

 

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge
• Show overview of important social science methodology debates.
• Describe central concepts in qualitative and quantitative data gathering and analysis and GIS
methods.
• Understand what makes a good empirical study within the different social sciences.
• Critically examine and evaluate the choice of research method in scientific and scholarly work.

Skills
• Select relevant methods for data gathering and analysis.


• Critically examine and evaluate the choice of research method in scientific and scholarly work.

Competences
• Perform Participatory Rural Appraisal, Participatory Learning and Action and ethnographic
interviews and analyze qualitative data
• Perform various statistical analyses, in particular quantitative impact evaluation, using
appropriate statistical software.
• Construct and analyze geo-data using appropriate GIS software.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 20
  • Field Work
  • 15
  • Lectures
  • 28
  • Preparation
  • 105
  • Seminar
  • 42
  • Total
  • 210
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Written synopsis composed of three separate assignments and a final proposal for a research design using the methods taught in the course.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Exam period
December 2014
Re-exam
If you fail an examination, you will be allowed two more attempts to pass the relevant course. The first re-examination will typically be scheduled immediately following the semester (February/August). The second re-examination will typically be scheduled in the following exam period.

In order to contact to sign up for the re-exam please contact Ulla Andersen, ua@samf.ku.dk. You must sign up no later than 14 days before the re-exam date.
Criteria for exam assesment
See 'Learning Outcome'