Back to selection
79375-01 - Course: Research and Methods Clinic for Research in the Global South (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Manfred Max Bergman (max.bergman@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | This seminar offers a critical and practical introduction to conducting research in Global South contexts. Drawing on the experiences of European researchers working in the Global South, researchers based in the Global South, and those engaged in collaborative North-South research partnerships, the seminar examines opportunities and challenges of cross-cultural, context-sensitive research. Topics range from conceptualisation and theorisation to the presentation of proposals and findings. Participatory methodological approaches including action research and transdisciplinary research that take seriously questions of positionality, power, and epistemic justice will also be covered. Throughout the seminar, participants will work in small groups to develop a research proposal, which they present at the end of the semester. Researchers who already have a concrete project idea may alternatively develop an individual proposal connected to a Global South context. |
| Learning objectives | - Reflect on the politics and ethics of research across North-South divides, including questions of positionality, representation, and knowledge ownership - Apply culture- and context-sensitive approaches to research design, from framing research questions to communicating results - Distinguish between methodological approaches, including action research and transdisciplinary research, and assess their fit for different Global South contexts - Identify common pitfalls in cross-cultural research and strategies to address them - Design a coherent research proposal for a Global South context, integrating relevant theoretical, methodological, and ethical considerations |
| Bibliography | A reader will be provided. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Course auditors welcome |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Thursday | 12.15-14.00 | Soziologie, Hörsaal 215 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 17.09.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Soziologie, Hörsaal 215 |
| Thursday 24.09.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Soziologie, Hörsaal 215 |
| Thursday 01.10.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Soziologie, Hörsaal 215 |
| Thursday 08.10.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Soziologie, Hörsaal 215 |
| Thursday 15.10.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Soziologie, Hörsaal 215 |
| Thursday 22.10.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Soziologie, Hörsaal 215 |
| Thursday 29.10.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Soziologie, Hörsaal 215 |
| Thursday 05.11.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Soziologie, Hörsaal 215 |
| Thursday 12.11.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Soziologie, Hörsaal 215 |
| Thursday 19.11.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Soziologie, Hörsaal 215 |
| Thursday 26.11.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Soziologie, Hörsaal 215 |
| Thursday 03.12.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Soziologie, Hörsaal 215 |
| Thursday 10.12.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Soziologie, Hörsaal 215 |
| Thursday 17.12.2026 | 12.15-14.00 | Soziologie, Hörsaal 215 |
| Modules |
Modul: Methoden der Soziologie und der Gesellschaftswissenschaften: qualitativ (Master's degree subject: Sociology (Start of studies before 01.08.2026)) Module: Global Modernity and Difference (Master's degree program: Changing Societies) Module: Interdisciplinary and Applied African Studies (Master's degree program: African Studies) Module: Methods (Master's degree subject: Sociology) Module: Methods for Analyzing Changing Societies (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources (Start of studies before 01.08.2026)) Module: Research Skills (Master's degree program: African Studies) Module: Societal Approaches (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Soziologie |