Module Catalogue 2024/25

GEO3150 : Participatory Research and Development (Inactive)

GEO3150 : Participatory Research and Development (Inactive)

  • Inactive for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Professor Rachel Pain
  • Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System
Pre-requisite

Modules you must have done previously to study this module

Code Title
GEO2043Key Methods for Human Geographers
GEO2103Development & Globalisation
TCP2027Research Skills
GEO2110Social Geographies
Pre Requisite Comment

Students must have studied all of the above modules**. This will ensure that they have a firm grounding in (i) conventional research methodology in Geography, and (ii) relevant geographical concepts and issues.

** APL students must do TCP2027 Research Skills as an alternative to GEO2043 (GPS only module)

Co-Requisite

Modules you need to take at the same time

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module aims to support students in developing a critical understanding of the theories, practices and politics of participatory development and research in a range of contexts across the global North and the global South. Participation has become a buzzword. Participatory approaches to development have exploded in popularity in recent years, and are now widely used in international and community development, planning and research that seeks to make a positive difference. The advantages of the participation of local people in activities previously governed by ‘experts’ is that it should result in development that is more democratic, context-specific, culturally-sensitive, and fit for purpose.
But in reality, many uses of participation take it far from its radical grassroots origins such as independence movements in the Global South. As states, NGOs and other institutions (including Universities) now claim to practice more participatory ways of going about their business, we can see the dangers of subverting participation for reactionary, neoliberal and even oppressive purposes are sometimes realised, and sometimes challenged. Many smaller organisations and social movements still attempt to deploy participation in social justice struggles. Participation is, fundamentally, about competing attempts to hold onto or redistribute power.
Through wide ranging examples, and engaging you as students in hands-on learning through participatory exercises, the module explores the nature and contested meaning of participation, and investigates the conflicting political, philosophical and everyday perspectives that affect why and how it is used in different settings. We consider the intersections of theory and practice in participatory research, and the importance of geographical concepts and methods to understanding it.
The module involves a set of core lectures on the history, theories, practices, politics, ethics and methods of participatory development and research. Tracking participatory practice from radical pedagogy, postcolonial, anti-racist and feminist perspectives, it pays special attention to the geographies of participation, and explores critiques and debates in academic Geography. It is relevant to social, economic and political geography, connecting with key issues and providing an approach to research/activism across the discipline. It takes on board perspectives from local as well as international development and research, and thus draws on a rich variety of case studies from across the world; from sexual health in Zambia to violent crime in north east England. A guest session will involve a North East community organisation demonstrating their own participatory practices in community-led development.

Outline Of Syllabus

Lecture 1: Introduction to the module: key concepts in participatory development and research

Lecture 2: Histories and philosophies of participation

Seminar 1: Histories and philosophies of participation

Lecture 3: Participatory geographical research

Workshop 1: Understanding participatory techniques

Lecture 4: Reflections from the field: Rachel

Workshop 2: Reflections from the field: local community partners

Lecture 5: Participatory ethics, positionality and reflexivity

Lecture 6: Critiques of participation

Seminar 2: Power and participation

Lecture 7: Geographies of participation: space, place and scale

Seminar 3: Geographies of participation

Lecture 8: Indigenous perspectives and critical race theory

Lecture 9: Feminist approaches to participatory development

Seminar 4: Indigenous/feminist/anti-racist approaches to participation

Lecture 10: Emotions and embodiment in participation

Lecture 11: Participatory action research – outputs, impacts and legitimacy

Lecture 12: Revision

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

•       Demonstrate critical understanding of the theories, practices, ethics and politics of participatory development and research and its relation to the geographies of social justice

•       Identify and critically assess the relationships between participation, space, place and scale

•       Display deep understanding of examples of participation in research and development in a range of global contexts

•       Critically appraise the nature of knowledge production, and the impacts of knowledge, that characterise both mainstream and participatory geographical research

Intended Skill Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

•       Synthesise and critically assess the interdisciplinary literatures on participatory development and research
•       Develop informed and coherent arguments based on critical understanding of theories and practices of participation
•       Identify and critically discuss a range of ethical and political issues raised by participation
•       Use and evaluate basic participatory techniques
•       Exercise critical reflexivity on your own and others’ practice

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture122:0024:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion1162:00162:00Assessment preparation and completion & Directed research and reading & Independent study
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching41:004:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops22:004:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery61:006:00N/A
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

•       Lectures will focus on key theoretical, political, ethical and methodological issues and concepts, introducing students to interdisciplinary literatures and using selected case studies in illustration. They will encourage students to reflect on the nature and impacts of participatory development and research, and critically appraise different models. Some methodological and reflection skills will also be taught.
•       Workshops will involve students in hands-on activities to learn, practice and evaluate participatory techniques. One of these sessions will be led by a community partner organisation, offering the chance to be involved in real-world development activity.
•       Seminars provide students with the opportunity to discuss key themes focused around key readings and help prepare them for the exam.

Reading Lists

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Prof skill assessmnt2M10Assessed seminars, arranged to ensure an element of participation from each student, assessed using specific marking criteria
Reflective log2M251000 word Short reflective piece requires students to reflect on workshop content, connecting to key academic literatures and themes
Case study2M653000 word essay set as a take home exam. Each question will test knowledge of broad themes across the module
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

•       The assessed seminars will encourage participation and engagement with key readings, which provide a foundation for later assignments.
•       The personal reflections assignment will require students to practice critical reflection on workshop material, and connect this to themes in academic literatures.
•       The essay will require students to read widely and synthesise the literatures on participatory development and research, in order to produce an advanced discussion of key theoretical, political, ethical and/or methodological issues.

Timetable

Past Exam Papers

General Notes

N/A

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