What you will study
In this module, you’ll build on the interests and understanding you developed in either Understanding global development (DD870) or Global development in practice (D890) and in Key challenges in global development (DD871) in order to develop your own independent research project.
In Block 1, you’ll reflect on the key challenges and issues in global development that you've previously explored. You’ll also think about your own personal and professional experiences and objectives and how these might inform your dissertation. The materials in this block support you to refine your broad interests to identify a researchable topic through reviewing literature and scoping available data. You’ll be able to network with other students to identify areas of shared interest.
During Block 2, you’ll develop a comprehensive research proposal. You’ll learn about research methodology and principles of research design, as well as specific methods of data collection and analysis and how to use them. Throughout this block and the module, you’ll be engaging with debates about what constitutes ethical research in global development. We’ll encourage you to reflect on the politics of knowledge production in global development, as well as consider how to put key ideas, such as informed consent, into practice as you conduct your own research.
In Blocks 3 and 4, you'll have more time for independent research, supported by one-to-one discussions with your tutor. At the end of Block 3, you’ll be able to submit some of your work for feedback.
At the end of the module, you’ll submit your dissertation. The module has been designed so that by the time you submit the dissertation, you’ll already have received feedback on key aspects, such as the methodology and research design. You will have had the opportunity to discuss your research and the dissertation writing process with your tutor, other members of the module team, and your peers.
Vocational relevance
Research skills are valued in many careers in global development and related fields. In addition to research-focused roles, understanding research processes and outputs is important in making, implementing and evaluating policy and planning, managing and implementing projects in a wide range of fields. The skills you’ll learn in this module and the experience of conducting independent research are also essential for students who wish to pursue further postgraduate research.
Entry
This is a compulsory module for Stage 3 of both routes through the MSc in Global Development and will be the final module that you study. You need to have successfully completed the modules at Stages 1 and 2 unless you choose to study Stages 2 and 3 simultaneously.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of this module and the best time to start, please speak to an adviser.
Preparatory work
As you'll be developing a research project shaped by your interests and objectives, before starting, you may want to reflect on what you found particularly interesting in the previous modules and on your personal and professional experience and interests.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You'll be a member of a tutor group and have a tutor who will work with you and your group while completing the module. Your tutor will also act as your dissertation supervisor. You'll have one-to-one online meetings with them throughout the module, and they will mark your tutor-marked assignments and provide feedback on them.
You can stay in touch with your tutor by email, phone and through the tutor group forum. The tutor group forum also allows you to meet the other students in your group and a space to discuss key issues arising from the module. Your tutor may also flag issues to the whole group – whether about module content or points of information about the study process.
In addition to individual meetings with your tutor, the module team will also host regular online drop-in sessions in which you can raise questions about aspects of the research and dissertation-writing process to discuss with the academics and your peers.
Assessment
The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box.