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Development Research Design & Assessment (DEVT90041)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
February
Overview
Availability | February |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject will focus on understanding development research design and a variety of research methods for investigating development problems. The subject will also seek to build skills in assessing the evidence produced from development research, and identifying the strengths/weaknesses and validity of development research findings. The subject will give attention to the challenges of designing and ethically conducting research in developing contexts, and understanding of the various stages of research, particularly in identifying the most appropriate and feasible approaches for data collection and analysis. It will include sessions on qualitative research techniques, and a basic introduction to understanding and collecting quantitative data as well as mixed research methods. Students will gain insights into the debates between different disciplines on methodological approaches, and understanding the politics of knowledge in development research.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject should:
- Be familiar with various research strategies, methods and ethics in social research design and evaluation for development research purposes
- Be able to formulate a research design for investigating development issues, in a manner that is sensitive to different contexts, topics, and the needs of human subjects
- Acquire knowledge of how to select, analyse and synthesise relevant information
- Be able to understand and identify the strengths and weaknesses of different research approaches and related empirical findings
- Assess and compare different methodological foundations of different pieces of research on a given issue.
Generic skills
Students who successfully complete this subject should:
- demonstrate relevance of the topic to broader development debates;
- gain and understanding of field methods appropriate for development.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Students enrolling in this subject must have completed a Bachelor of Arts degree or equivalent.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- A group assignment (equivalent of 500 words per student) (20%) due during semester.
- A 2500 word research design essay (45%) due during semester.
- A 2000 word critical analysis essay (35%) due late in semester (Week 11 of the semester).
- Hurdle requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass this subject and regular class participation is expected.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- February
Principal coordinator Rachael Diprose Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 contact hours: A 3 hour seminar per week in Weeks 1 - 7 & Week 9 of Semester. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 27 February 2017 to 5 May 2017 Last self-enrol date 13 March 2017 Census date 24 March 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 12 May 2017 Assessment period ends 23 June 2017 February contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Additional delivery details
200 point program:
Admission to 097AB Master of Development Studies and Completion of 100 points
150 point program:
Admission to 097AB Master of Development Studies and Completion of 50 points
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Readings will be provided online through the subject's LMS site prior to the commencement of semester.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
- Links to additional information
Last updated: 3 November 2022