Aims

Participants at this course on practical research work will develop:
- their potential for practical experience and their knowledge of the professional world of research, its constraints and its way of operating;
- their ability to synthesise and integrate the theoretical and practical aspects of training;
- their ability to make sense of their research achievements, and to contribute to the development of methodological, conceptual and theoretical tools, and of the terms appropriate to scientific communication.

Main themes

With assistance from one or more teachers responsible for supervision and follow-up, participants at the DEA will define how they have engaged in the substantive practices of research, either individually, or in the framework of joint projects conducted at DEA level, or in teams working in the field, in the country or in the course of stays abroad.
While undergoing this introduction to current research activities practice and to the constitution of their products, participants will also, with assistance from their trainers, define the perspective of a synthesis that they slowly draw up. Unlike simple applied work, which establishes the ability to conduct substantive research using available tools, this synthesis will demonstrate a personal ability to be involved, in terms required for scientific communication, in analysing, criticising and producing conceptual, theoretical, problematical and methodological tools needed for substantive research. The synthesis will be drawn up during the course, and will eventually be presented according to the tenets of the scientific article that can be evaluated as such.

Content and teaching methods

Practical research work and the preparation of the synthesis will receive special DEA supervision and follow-up in the shape of individual tutoring and/or project management.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Participation in practical research work and completion of the synthesis will be assessed separately: the former by staff covering the practical work, and the latter by the DEA team when the synthesis is presented at the final DEA colloquium.
Follow-up by tutors and project management will be delivered in fractions of 120 teaching hours.

Other credits in programs