10th PhD Winter School on Research Methodology

Topic:

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY in social sciences urban studies and spatial planning research approaches and methods

Overview:

The Winter School offers PhD candidates and young academics in the fields of urban studies and spatial planning the opportunity to interactively build their learning and training paths in research, with a specific focus on pre-methodological (e.g. how to write and publish an academic article) and methodological (e.g methods of policy analysis, geodesign methodology, engaged research etc.) questions. Attendees from all countries are welcome. Master degree is a basic requirement.The Winter School will be held in English and will provide students with 4 credits (to be agreed with the sending universities). Participation grants are not available. If you have any question, please do not hesitate to contact the organisation at: winterschool.rmflorence@gmail.com

The Network:

The Winter School is promoted by the Università degli Studi di Firenze (PHD PROGRAM in Sustainability and innovation for the design of the built environment and the product system, Doctoral Program on Urban and Regional Planning, Department of Architecture), with the support of IUSSAF (Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori dell'Ateneo di Firenze) and EURA (European Urban Research Association) and the participation of a network of Italian universities: Politecnico di Bari, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Università degli Studi di Catania, Università degli Studi di Firenze, IUAV, Venezia, Politecnico di Milano, Università degli Studi di Torino, Politecnico di Torino, Sapienza Università di Rome, Università degli Studi Roma Tre, Università degli Studi del Molise, Università degli Studi di Napoli, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Università degli Studi di Sassari.

Structure:

A network of scholars from a number of Italian universities, engaged with doctoral courses, have voluntarily set up a PhD learning project on research methodology in the field of planning and urban studies. The school is organized around the following main sections:

1. BASICS
   Basic questions will be addressed in this section, including: how to write an academic article or a PhD Thesis, and, how to publish in international scientific journals.
2. RESEARCH DESIGN
   We will address: an overall strategy to integrate the different components of a qualitative study and effectively address the research problem. We will address topics including: questions about what research design is and what it is not, how to make sure all parts are properly in place before “tightening”, and why are you thinking of doing a qualitative study of the topic chosen.
3. METHODOLOGICAL QUESTIONS [METHODS]
   Parallel workshop will be offered, addressing topics including: questions related to methods of qualitative and quantitative research and to the re- search-action approach, and, the challenge of working with comparative approaches beyond the stereotyped ‘divides’ that have influenced inter- national research (north/south divide; formal/informal etc.).
4. APPROACHES
   We will address hot topics in the field of planning and urban studies this section from a methodological perspective. Leading scholars in the field will give a talk addressing their methodological approaches to the topic.
5. RENT A RESEARCHER
   “Rent a Researcher” is an opportunity to meet researches in an interesting, engaging and approachable way: a number of Italian scholars are available for peer-to-peer one-to-one meetings with a limited number of PhD candidates and young academics for exchange and tutoring activities.
6. PhD SOCIAL CLUB
   PhD SOCIAL CLUB is thought of as a free peer-to-peer discussion among young scholars, held by PhD students and former PhD and PhD students. The PhD SOCIAL CLUB runs parallel to the Rent a Researcher sessions

Registration:

The Winter School will be held in English and will provide students with 4 credits (to be agreed with the sending universities). Participants from University of Florence will also be given of an additional certificate of attendance of activities related to the “Complementary Skills”, issued by the IUSAFF (Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori dell'Ateneo di Firenze) equivalent to 4 credits (1 credit every 6 hours). Participation grants are not available

Important Dates and Programme:

Please check the winter school dedicated website where the dates and programme will be available soon.

Venue:

University of Firenze – Department of Architecture, Santa Teresa, Via della Mattonaia 8, Firenze, Italia

If you have any question, please do not hesitate to contact the organisation at: winterschool.rmflorence@gmail.com