AGDK14017U Interdisciplinary Field Research

Volume 2023/2024
Content

This course gives students an opportunity to prepare, implement and report on field research in interdisciplinary groups. The course emphasizes qualitative and quantitative methods commonly used in the social sciences. Students will experience the difficulties, trade-offs, limitations and possible benefits of applying various methods in real world situations.

The main objective of this course is for students to gain experience of the research process in its entirety: from identifying and formulating a research question; preparing a research design; planning and implementing data collection, analyzing data and writing an academic report. The course gives students the possibility to appreciate how different approaches to data collection affect the findings obtained, and to reflect upon the material gained (or not gained) from the specific methods used. Additionally, an important aim is to create awareness of research ethics.

The course includes preparing a (small scale) research project and two weeks of field research in a context of relevance to themes of global development. With point of departure in a specific field site and logistical setup, students work in groups refining their research design and applying relevant methods in order to collect the data necessary to answer their research questions. Based on the field work, the groups write a report on the findings of their research, which form part of the exam along with an individual essay reflecting on the methods used and empirical findings.

Field Trip 16th February - 3rd March 2024.
The trip is mandatory and the cost is app. 12.000 - 15.000 DKK which is not included in the program.

Learning Outcome

The learning outcomes of the course relate both to design and implementation of research in a complex and messy field situation and to knowledge and reflection upon social science methods and ethics.

 

Knowledge
• identify, define and justify a research question  
• describe and define central concepts of relevance to social science data collection and interpretation

 

Skills
• design a research plan for field study, incorporating relevant methods 
• collect, process and analyze relevant data during and after fieldwork 
• clearly communicate research findings

 

Competencies
• critically discuss how different data collection methods have shaped the resulting data and forms of knowledge
• write an analytically informed research report
• reflect on ethical concerns in relation to empirical research

The course requires full-time commitment for a period of 8 weeks. This will involve preparation (formulation of a research design and training specific analytical and methodological skills), 2 weeks of mandatory fieldwork, and supervised writing of the research report.

Throughout the course, students work in groups to design, undertake and report on a research project they define. Students receive feedback from their supervisor and co-teachers on their research proposals, their methodological and analytical approach during fieldwork, and their drafts for their research reports.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 40
  • Preparation
  • 120
  • Field Work
  • 100
  • Seminar
  • 20
  • Exam Preparation
  • 120
  • Exam
  • 20
  • Total
  • 420
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Type of assessment details
Written group report of maximum 20 pages with individual contributions marked out.
Exam registration requirements

To qualify for the exam, the student must activity participate in the oral feedback seminar, which is held the last days of the mandatory field work in Bolivia.

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

Se learning outcomes