82138 - Research Methods in Development Studies

Course contents

The laboratory course is intended to understand methods and strategies of work and research in the area of development studies, with the aim of identifying and selecting approaches and useful issues for research on and within developing countries.

Students must refer to the following texts:

Britha Mikkelsen (ed), Methods for Development Work and Research: New Guide for Practitioners, New Delhi; Thousand Oaks; London, Sage, 2005

Alan Thomas and Giles Mohan (eds), Research skills for policy and development: how to find out fast, Los Angeles, The Open University in association with Sage, 2007

Moreover students are requested to attend classes regularly

The course will be structured as follows:

Some basic meetings will be held to discuss methods, approaches and research themes. Afterwards, students will be asked to write, on an individual basis, a text according to the modalities and on certain research topics and/or projects indicated during classes.

Some topics of reference will be:

Climate change and agriculture

Climate change and livelihoods adaptation

Fair trade

Microcredit and microfinance

Decent work and sustainable development

Gender issues in development

Sustainable development goals

ICT and development

The seminar will be held with the collaboration of Iscos-Emilia Romagna, an onlus promoted by CISL Emilia Romagna, using cases studies linked to international cooperation projects carried out in Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

Students not attending classes will define the programme with the professor.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliographical references are indicated jointly with the syllabus.

Teaching methods

Lessons and discussion of the papers written by students.

Assessment methods

The final examination will be an oral discussion about the papers written.

Teaching tools

Documents of international development organizations

Office hours

See the website of Mario Zamponi