Action Research (discontinued)

This course in the minor 'The Healthy Inclusive City' (THIC) consists of applying an action research approach in a neighbourhood in Delft, Rotterdam, or another nearby city. Action research is a research approach that aims to simultaneously investigate real-life problems and provide practical solutions, usually in a collaborative way together with practitioners and community members. Using a range of research techniques (secondary data analysis, field observations, street interviews, in-depth interviews), students will collect data and findings that enable an integrated, multidisciplinary analysis of a neighbourhood. This analysis focuses on socio-spatial inequality, diversity, and resilience in the broad domain of health and well-being. The exact assignment will differ every year and will be based on current policy questions, societal challenges, and local needs. The collected data and findings will be synthesised and visualised in an action research report, which forms the basis of the collaborative strategic plans that will be developed in the Design Strategies course (BK7565).

This course is part of the 15 ECTS THIC minor intended for students who are highly motivated to develop an interdisciplinary perspective on socio-spatial inequality and urban health, and to design healthy and inclusive cities. Students from different backgrounds will acquire a thorough understanding of these concepts and learn how to analyse related questions from the academic disciplines of urban geography, sociology, urban planning and design, and public administration. You will also be trained to apply this knowledge in designing socio-spatial strategies in Dutch planning cases aimed at mitigating urban inequalities.

THIC Minor participants must have a passion for social scientific research and combine a strong academic curiosity with a determination to apply interdisciplinary knowledge in real-life situations of complex urban challenges in the Netherlands.

You will receive weekly instructor feedback on the research process and collected findings (formative assessment). The summative assessment consists of a combination of the final grading of the action research report (80%) and the presentation delivered in the Knowledge Exchange Workshop at the end of week 5 (20%). You should achieve a minimum grade of 5.8 for both the action research report and the presentation.

If your group fails to achieve the pass mark of 5.8 for the presentation, you have an opportunity to present again before the end of the course. In this case, the maximum score for the presentation will be ‘sufficient’ (5.8).

If your group fails to achieve the pass mark of 5.8 for the report, you have an opportunity to resubmit an improved version of the action research report within four weeks from the last workday of quarter 1. In this case, the maximum score will be 'sufficient' (5.8).

In order to participate in the resit for either the presentation or the report, you must have taken part in the first examination. If the resit for either of the two deliverables is unsuccessful, the whole module needs to be followed again.

While a group grade is the default, deviations are possible on a case-by-case basis (e.g. in case of freeriding).