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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
March
Overview
Availability | March |
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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 designs. 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
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
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 to 300 words per student) (15%) due during the teaching period.
- A 3000 word research design essay (50%) due during the teaching period.
- A 1700 word critical analysis essay (35%) due in the assessment period.
- Hurdle requirement: Students are required to attend 100% of classes in order to pass this subject and regular class participation is expected.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- March
Principal coordinator Anne Decobert Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours: A 3 hour seminar per week for 8 weeks. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 5 March 2019 to 30 April 2019 Last self-enrol date 15 March 2019 Census date 29 March 2019 Last date to withdraw without fail 17 May 2019 Assessment period ends 28 June 2019 March contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
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:
Type Name Specialisation (formal) Development Studies Specialisation (formal) Development Studies Major Tailored Specialisation Informal specialisation 150 Point Master of Development Studies (Gender & Development) Informal specialisation 100 Point Master of Development Studies (Gender & Development) Informal specialisation 200 Point Master of Development Studies (Gender & Development) Major Development Major Development Major Education Major Education and Social Change Major Tailored Specialisation Major Tailored Specialisation - Links to additional information
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022