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| Semester | fall semester 2018 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Stefan Bächtold (s.baechtold@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Academic research and the social sciences in particular have recently started to consider their own impact in more systematic ways. This has led to a shift in the perception of research impact, which is now increasingly taking into account societal impacts that go beyond ‘a contribution to the academic debate’ or ‘publications in peer-reviewed academic journals’. Accordingly, questions formerly reserved for trans-disciplinary research have become relevant for a broader stratum of academic research. In conflict-affected contexts, this reconsideration has also led researchers to more strongly consider the impact of their research on societal conflicts, possible unintended consequences, and associated ethical dilemmas. At the same time, this greater attention towards societal impacts as a benchmark for 'good science' is not without its criticisms - stemming among others, from critical policy studies, anthropology of policy, or science and technology studies. This workshop for PhD students takes up these considerations and aims to spark debate on and provide practical answers to the following questions: - How can I conceptualise the societal impact of my research? - How conflict-sensitive is my research, and how conflict-sensitive should it be? - What are practical strategies and considerations to strengthen positive societal impacts and to deal with unintended (negative) consequences? This workshop will feature some conceptual readings and discussions, but more importantly, we will directly work with participants' actual research projects. Participants will thus be required to present their own research project, and get the opportunity to collaboratively develop strategies to the actual problems they face in their projects. |
| Learning objectives | The workshop aims to equip PhD students with conceptual knowledge on societal impact and conflict sensitivity, but also to enable them to critically question the overarching trend towards societal impact of research. At the same time, participants practice working with practical tools used in fields like development cooperation or peacebuilding to deal with similar problems. This allows the participants to navigate these issues and to develop practical strategies to deal with complex situations - skills that are valuable in academia, development practice, or any other related field. |
| Bibliography | Goetschel, L., & Gabriel, S. (Eds.). (2017). A conflict sensitive approach to field research: Doing any better? Bern: Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences. Jones, H., Jones, N., Shaxson, L., & Walker, D. (2012). Knowledge, Policy and Power in International Development: A Practical Framework for Improving Policy. Retrieved from http://www.odi.org/publications/7214-knowledge-policy-power-international-development-practical-framework-improving-policy Shore, C., & Wright, S. (2011). Conceptualising policy: Technologies of governance and the politics of visibility. In C. Shore, S. Wright & D. Però (Eds.), Policy worlds: Anthropology and the analysis of contemporary power (pp. 1-25). New York: Berghahn Books. |
| Comments | Das Kolloquium wird von Dr. Stefan Bächtold unterrichtet im Rahmen der G3S |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|
No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
African Studies: Recommendations (PhD subject: African Studies) Anthropology: Recommendations (PhD subject: Anthropology) Doktorat Politikwissenschaft: Empfehlungen (PhD subject: Political Science) Modul: Erweiterung Gesellschaftswissenschaften M.A. (Master's degree subject: Political Science) Modul: Fields: Governance and Politics (Master's degree program: African Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | pass / fail |
| 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 Politikwissenschaft |