Research Methods for Analyzing Complex Problems (AM_1182)
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Summary lectures exam 1 Research Methods for Analyzing Complex Problems (AM_1182)
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Course
Research Methods for Analyzing Complex Problems (AM_1182)
Institution
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU)
Book
Doing Research in the Real World
This is a summary of all the lectures that were given for the first exam of RMCP based on the books "Doing research in the real world" from Gray and "Designing a research project" from Verschuren & Doorewaard.
Summary lectures + aim Research Methods in Health Sciences
Summary literature exam 2 Research Methods for Analyzing Complex Problems (AM_1182)
Summary lectures exam 2 Research Methods for Analyzing Complex Problems (AM_1182)
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Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU)
Master MPA
Research Methods for Analyzing Complex Problems (AM_1182)
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Lecture 1
About MPA in general:
12 EC per periode → in periode 3 in totaal 6 EC → 30 EC per half jaar → uitzoeken welke vakken
via schedule MPA site.
Athena Science Shop: info about internship MPA → example internship companies M&E: Projects
Athena Institute - MSD - BaseClear - Pontes Medical - FFund - Catalyze - Roche - Price
Waterhouse Cooper - TTO VU - Consultancies - TNO → 2 internships, FEX. one at a large
company and one at a smaller company.
→ abroad: usually 6 weeks in NL and then go abroad.
MPA seminar as a networking event → oral presentations, networking.
Lunch meetings for Sept/Oct on electives and internships → master plan year 1 deadline october
1st 2022 (what electives p2/p3).
Durwin Lynch: d.lynch@vu.nl → Academic advisors: www.vu.nl/studentguidance
→ email: studieadviseurs.beta@vu.nl
Online lectures via Zoom
Complex problem = a problem caused from multiple angles/actors, external (climate change)
and internal factors (policy choices government), that causes deeper rooted problems to rise to
the surface → properties:
- Unpredictable and uncertain
- Multi-dimensional
- Multiple actors
- Different conflicting facts, values, perspectives
- Different perceptions of the problem defintion and roots and solutions
- Rules and regulations about management and markets
→ example: Pakistan flood frustration → natural disaster, a very large group of victims, no
specific cause/culprit, lack of an alternative.
Group assignment deadline friday 23 sept
Digital EXAM monday 26 september → second exam monday 24 october.
- 40% assignment research design → at least 5.5
- 60% combined grade exam 1 (60%) and exam 2 (40%) → average grade of 2 exams has to
be 5.5 or higher → resit in january (one exam covering everything).
Interview training 3 oct on campus → check canvas notifications for latest updates.
Research design of RMCP is connected to AGP (subgroups in RMCP, one group in AGP).
Research = something people undertake to find out things in a systemic way, thereby
increasing their knowledge.
→ studying real world research: transforming the world (action research, transdiciplinary
research (=the entire environment, beyond regular science silos)) -> understanding the world
(case study, ethnography) -> measuring the world (survey research, experimental research).
Real world research: society is the lab - doing research in an uncontrolled environment -
focus on change - complex problems - what are the key problem-solving skills?
Start with an objective (to reach something in a specific set of time), leads to an answer.
→ ask why (contribute), what (research area), how (to proceed) and which (perspective)?
, Research steps: intro, objective, theory, research questions, method, work schedule,
answer/conclusion, new research questions → not a linear process, but an (1) iterative process
(everything has to be connected).
During internship you have 6 weeks to make a research design.
- (2) Problematizing: not taking anything for granted (keep curious), ask implicit questions
(deeper roots of the problem), practical and theoretical relevance.
- (3) Interpreting: make interpretation steps → what is your role as researcher.
No literal things asked from the books (especially Grey) → for exam the lectures are leading.
Research objective is (a) by (b):
- (a) External objective = contribution of research project to solution of the problem (what
results can be expected).
- (b) Internal objective = the way in which this will be done, the insights, information,
knowledge needed.
→ ‘b’ provides an indication of the kind of knowledge, information and/or insights that is needed
to meet ‘a’.
Lecture 2
AGP is executing only qualitative (interviews) → but with RMCP you have to make a
mixed-method research design (qualitative and quantitative).
Complex problems: Wicked problems - Intractable controversies - Unstructured problems -
Tough problems - Messy, ill-defined, ill-structured - Early conceptualisations of persistent
problems - Persistent problems as systemically reproduced side effects of success.
→ complex, uncertain, difficult to manage, difficult to grasp, no agreement and with negative
side-effects.
Don’t have to completely follow the commissioners perspective → also have to think about what
is interesting for the bigger community.
Avoid too bigh too trivial research designs and a lack of resource materials and people.
There will be a mock exam with example questions.
Quality criteria for research objective:
- Useful: practical and theoretical relevance
- Realistic: what do you promise? can you achieve it? keep it realistic
- Feasible: time, knowledge and resources
- Clear: your contribution to solving a problem
- Informative: the knowledge you will generate
→ demarcation is key, otherwise the results are unfeasible, invalid and unreliable.
Research question is efficient, provides direction and leads to a fluid hypothesis.
Example: Case: Primary school teachers notice that more of their students are overweight. They
wonder whether they, as educators, should take action.
→ external objective: to make recommendations to primary schools on how to solve the problem
of many overweight students not participating in PE lessons
→ internal objective: by analyzing which factors influence participation in PE lessons
→ research question: Which social factors in primary schools influence Dutch primary school
student’s motivation to participate in PE lessons?
Exercise: problem statement: there is too much food waste within healthcare organisations and
hospitals in Amsterdam.
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