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Development Research Design & Assessment (DEVT90041)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
To learn more, visit 2023 Course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 - Dual-Delivery |
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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: 10 November 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into the 097AB Master of Development Studies
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: 10 November 2023
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
A group assignment (equivalent to 300 words per student)
| During the teaching period | 15% |
A research design essay
| During the teaching period | 50% |
A critical analysis essay
| During the assessment period | 35% |
Hurdle requirement: Students are required to attend 100% of classes in order to pass this subject and regular class participation is expected. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 10 November 2023
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Violeta Schubert Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours 24 contact hours: 8 x 3 hour sessions in Weeks 1 – 6, Week 8 and Week 9 Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 27 February 2023 to 28 May 2023 Last self-enrol date 10 March 2023 Census date 31 March 2023 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 May 2023 Assessment period ends 23 June 2023 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 10 November 2023
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 Major Tailored Specialisation Major Tailored Specialisation Informal specialisation 100 Point Master of Development Studies (Gender & Development) Specialisation (formal) Development Studies Informal specialisation 150 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 - 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: 10 November 2023