Course overview
This course is part of MDC Academy's applied learning portfolio. It can be delivered as a standalone professional short course or adapted for universities, donor-funded programmes, NGOs, public agencies, and project teams.
Learning outcomes
- Develop a coherent applied research design
- Align research questions, methods, sampling and analysis
- Prepare data collection tools and fieldwork plans
- Strengthen proposal quality and methodological defensibility
Indicative modules
- Problem framing and researchable questions
Includes guided practice, templates, discussion, and application planning. - Theory of change, conceptual frameworks and variables
Includes guided practice, templates, discussion, and application planning. - Qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method designs
Includes guided practice, templates, discussion, and application planning. - Sampling, instrument design and field protocols
Includes guided practice, templates, discussion, and application planning. - Ethics, quality assurance and reporting
Includes guided practice, templates, discussion, and application planning.
Delivery approach
Sessions combine facilitator inputs, practical templates, group exercises, case discussion, reflection, and an action plan that participants can take back to their organizations.