ZX120 Doing Research in Developing Countries

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2015
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 3 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Jayakumara Shantha Mallika Arachchige (lecturer), RNDr. Petr Daněk, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
RNDr. Petr Daněk, Ph.D.
Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: RNDr. Petr Daněk, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Wed 10:00–10:50 Z6,02006
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
ZX120/01: Wed 11:00–11:50 Z6,02006, J. Mallika Arachchige
Prerequisites (in Czech)
PROGRAM ( N - GK ) || PROGRAM ( D - GR4 ) || SOUHLAS || PROGRAM ( KOS )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 9 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
This course provides and equips the students with most essential knowledge and skills on how to conduct studies on socio-economic aspects of third world countries; Students will understand how to successfully adjust, to diverse socio-economic and cultural lifestyles prevailing in the area, standard data collection methods suit to the field by reviewing data collection methods employed by successful studies carried out, field data analysis while staying in the field. In sum, this course will familiarize the students to the effective collection and analysis of data in the field and productive use of valid data and information in social studies in third world contexts.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to the course
  • 2. Cultures in Asia and ethics of research
  • 3. What logistics should be concerned in management of research: Safe traveling, Stay, Selection of interpreters, Payments, timing of surveys
  • 4. How to access the secondary information including maps; local institutions and office norms, bureaucracy, working times, holidays, corruption
  • 5. Social surveys (part-i); what are social surveys, getting familiarity to the field, questionnaire development
  • 6. Discussion on group assignment and individual assignment (Group assignments have to be handed over in the 12th, week and individual assignments have to be presented in the colloquium)
  • 7. Social surveys (part -ii): Training of research assistants, Quality control (pilot surveys, cross-checking, note taking, debriefing at the end of the day, possible data analysis in the field)
  • 8. Case studies (part 1); What is case study strategy, getting familiarity to the field, putting boundaries to cases
  • 9. Case studies (part 2): in depth interviews, focus group interviews, participatory data collection including mapping, data analysis in the field
  • 10. Critical reviewing of case studies (Study -i)
  • 11. Critical reviewing of case studies (Study -ii)
  • 12. Colloquium for individual assignment presentation
  • 13. Review and conclusion of the course
Literature
  • Baker, Victoria. J (1998) A Village in Sri Lanka: Coping with Uncertainty, Harcourt Brace College Publishers
  • Chambers, Robert (ed) (1989) Farmer First: Farmer Innovations and Agricultural Research, Institute of Development Studies, Brighton
  • United Nations (2005) Households Sample Surveys in developing and Transition countries, http://unsat.un.org/unsd/hhsurveys/pdf/household_Surveys.pdf
Teaching methods
Lectures, home works, individual presentations, class discussion
Assessment methods
Evaluation of group and individual assignments and class exercises
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught last offered.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2015/ZX120