Early-stage doctoral researchers from various universities across Ghana underwent four days of intensive training in September, participating in the Methodology and Field Studies course.
The Methodology and Field Studies course aims at enhancing participants' knowledge in research methodology, particularly in the study of topics related to Sustainable Development Goals.
The 18 doctoral researchers were competitively selected, and represented the University of Ghana (UG), SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD UBIDS), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), as well as the University of Cape Coast (UCC).
The course included both classroom learning, group assignments, and practical sessions - giving the doctoral researchers a deeper theoretical and practical understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Facilitating the learning experience were four experienced scholars; Prof. Akosua Darkwa (Department of Sociology, University of Ghana), Dr. Fred Dzanku, Dr. Kofi Takyi Asante, and Dr. Dzifa Torvikey (all from the Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research).
I am truly happy to have been part of this process and to witness the insightful exchange of ideas and learning that has taken place. Personally, I have also learned a lot from the students and look forward to sharing in their success stories.
- Dr. Fred Dzanku
Apart from guiding the researchers on how to make informed methodological choices, the course also provided an opportunity for the participants to share experiences and form a support network to further advance their studies.
The course included a half-day study visit to the Dome Market, located in the Ga East Municipality. The visit was designed to give the doctoral researchers an opportunity to apply their methodological training to a pratical case. It also allowed them to understand the structures, processes, and actors that kept the market running.
On the last day of the course, the participants held group presentations. Each group had been working on a research question for which they collected data the previous day. Following each presentation, the group members received valuable feedback from the facilitators and their peers.
The Research School on Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction is a collaboration between the lnstitute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), the School of Research and Graduate Studies of the University of Ghana, and the universities of Lund, Gothenburg, and Uppsala.
Photos and original article by Vicentia Quartey, University of Ghana.
