HS 231A — Research Methods and Capstone

Introduces students to the multi-disciplinary research methods used in both the Conflict Resolution and Development fields, and prepares students in the Global Sustainability Policy and Management program for their practicum and capstone paper. Students in this course will solidify their understanding of practicum options and their outputs, and produce a proposal for their final capstone paper or thesis as required for the degree. In addition, students will obtain a thorough understanding of, and practice with, the commonly used qualitative research methodologies and tools appropriate for work in these fields, and practice advanced methods used in longer term field studies. Students will also become comfortable with critical analysis tools to understand and evaluate published research, which will further develop their skills as researchers. Moreover, participants will learn how to transform raw data into a meaningful analysis for a variety of settings, including academic, policy and advocacy audiences, as well as the latest technology for doing so. Finally, students will understand the ethics, biases, power imbalances, legal and safety issues involved with research in current and post conflict settings and with vulnerable communities, as well as the protocols needed to develop a successful Human Subjects Review Board (IRB) Proposal. The final output for this course will be the production of a proposal for the student's upcoming practicum and the accompanying capstone paper or thesis, which is a requirement for graduation. Usually offered every year.