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PrincetonX: CaseStudies101x Writing Case Studies: Science of Delivery

Course Schedule

GETTING STARTED

INTRODUCTION TO THE SCIENCE OF DELIVERY

Readings: Process; Operationalizing the 'Science of Delivery' Agenda to Enhance Results; Slow Ideas.

Watch:

  1. Introduction (Jennifer Widner)
  2. Global Delivery Initiative (Maria Gonzalez de Asis)
  3. Science of Delivery (Kathy Bain, Michael Woolcock, Kartik Akileswaram)
  4. Practitioners' Perspectives (Melissa Bukuru, Gordon Evans, Maria Eugenia Boza, Rahul Chandran)
  5. World Bank (Nena Stoiljkovic)

Assignments: 

  1. The Elevator Pitch
  2. Development vs. Delivery Challenges Quiz
  3. Discussion Questions

TOPIC 1: METHODS

Readings: Why Case Studies?; Case Studies and Knowledge Structure; Learning from Failure?

Watch:

  1. Introduction (Jennifer Widner)
  2. Science of Delivery Cases (Jennifer Widner)
  3. Case Study Methods (Jennifer Widner)
  4. Story of a Case Study (Michael Woolcock)
  5. Case Study Methods and Common Mistakes (Michael Woolcock)
  6. Case Study Methods (Andrew Bennett)
  7. Standards for Process Tracing Case Studies (Andrew Bennett)

Assignments: 

  1. Alternative Plausible Explanations Quiz 
  2. Second Elevator Pitch

TOPIC 2: PROCESS & TEMPLATE

Readings: Empowering Operational Staff: Land Registration in Sarawak, Malaysia; ISS Country Experience Template; From Subsidy to Behavioral Change: Learning How to Scale Up Rural Sanitation Delivery in Indonesia; GDI Delivery Case Study Template.

Watch:

  1. Introduction (Jennifer Widner)
  2. The Process (Jennifer Widner)
  3. Comparing Templates (Pallavi Nuka)
  4. Researchers Talk About Using Templates (ISS Researchers)

Assignment: 

  1. Develop a Case Study Outline

TOPIC 3: RESEARCH & INTERVIEWING

Readings: ISS Pre/Post-Trip Briefing Report; Science of Delivery Preliminary (Annotated) Outline; Tips for Interview Scripts.

Watch:

  1. Introduction (Pallavi Nuka)
  2. Case Study Research (Jennifer Widner)
  3. Researchers Talk About Conducting Background Research (ISS Researchers)
  4. Conducting an Interview (Pallavi Nuka)
  5. Planning and Preparation (ISS Researchers)
  6. In the Interview (ISS Researchers)
  7. Asking Questions (ISS Researchers)
  8. Interview Tips (ISS Researchers)

Assignments: 

  1. Conducting an Interview 
  2. Stakeholder Mapping 

TOPIC 4: WRITING

Readings: Writing Tips for Case Study Authors; Signposting & Information the Reader Needs.

Watch:

  1. Introduction (Jennifer Widner)
  2. Writing and the Editorial Process (Jennifer Widner)
  3. Writing Tips (Jennifer Widner)
  4. Researchers Offer More Writing Tips (ISS Researchers)
  5. Operational Detail (ISS Researchers)
  6. An Editor's Perspective (Christian Caryl)

Assignments: 

  1. Understanding the ISS Template Quiz
  2. Understanding the GDI Template Quiz
  3. Eliminating the Passive Voice Quiz

TOPIC 5: ETHICS, INTEGRITY AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Readings: Whose Data Are They? Ethics in Case Study Research; The Belmont Report.

Watch:

  1. Introduction (Pallavi Nuka)
  2. Overview of Ethics, Integrity, & Conflicts of Interest (Pallavi Nuka)
  3. Ethics in Practice (ISS Researchers and Christian Caryl)

Assignment: 

  1. Ethics in Case Studies Research Quiz

TOPIC 6: BEGIN YOUR CASE STUDY

Readings: GDI Delivery Case Guidelines; GDI Checklists for Writers; GDI Peer Reviewer Form.

Watch:

  1. Getting Started (Jennifer Widner)
  2. Parting Words (Oliver Haas)

Assignment: 

  1. Describe a Case Study