In this module, you’ll build on the interests and understanding you developed in Understanding global development (DD870) and Key challenges in global development (DD871) in order to develop your own independent research project.
In Block 1, you’ll reflect on the key challenges and issues in global development that you've previously explored. You’ll also think about your own personal and professional experiences and objectives, and how these might inform your dissertation. The materials in this block support you in refining your broad interests to identify a researchable topic through reviewing literature and scoping available data. You’ll be able to network with other students to identify areas of shared interest.
During Block 2, you’ll develop a comprehensive research proposal. You’ll learn about research methodology and principles of research design, as well as specific methods of data collection and analysis and how to use them. Throughout this block and the module, you’ll be engaging with debates about what constitutes ethical research in global development. We’ll encourage you to reflect on the politics of knowledge production in global development, as well as consider how to put key ideas, such as informed consent, into practice as you conduct your own research.
In Blocks 3 and 4, you'll have more time for independent research, supported by one-to-one discussions with your tutor. At the end of Block 3, you’ll be able to submit some of your work for feedback.
At the end of the module, you’ll submit your dissertation. The module has been designed so that by the time you submit the dissertation, you’ll already have received feedback on key aspects, such as the methodology and research design. You will have had the opportunity to discuss your research and the dissertation writing process with your tutor, other members of the module team, and your peers.
Research skills are valued in many careers in global development and related fields. In addition to research-focused roles, understanding research processes and outputs is important in making, implementing and evaluating policy and planning, managing and implementing projects in a wide range of fields. The skills you’ll learn in this module and the experience of conducting independent research are also essential for students who wish to pursue further postgraduate research.
You'll be a member of a tutor group and have a tutor who will work with you and your group while completing the module. Your tutor will also act as your dissertation supervisor. You'll have one-to-one online meetings with them throughout the module, and they will mark your tutor-marked assignments and provide feedback on them.
You can stay in touch with your tutor by email, phone and through the tutor group forum. This forum allows you to meet the other students in your group and to discuss key issues arising from the module. Your tutor may also flag issues to the whole group, whether about module content or points of information about the study process.
In addition to individual meetings with your tutor, you will have the opportunity to attend regular online drop-in sessions in which you can ask questions and discuss aspects of the research and dissertation-writing process with academics.
Course work includes:
You'll have access to a module website, which includes:
The activities in the teaching material will often ask you to reflect on your own experiences. At certain points, you will be asked to share your comments and views with other students and your tutor.
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
DD872 is a compulsory module in our:
Researching global development starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2033.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
This is a compulsory module for Stage 3 through the MSc in Global Development and will be the final module that you study. You need to have successfully completed the modules at Stages 1 and 2 unless you choose to study Stages 2 and 3 simultaneously.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of this module and the best time to start, please speak to an adviser.
As you'll be developing a research project shaped by your interests and objectives, before starting, you may want to reflect on what you found particularly interesting in the previous modules and on your personal and professional experience and interests.
Written transcripts of any audio components, Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), and Microsoft Word versions of online material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. Other alternative formats of the module materials may be available in the future.
| Start | End | Register by | England fee |
|---|
| 03 Oct 2026 | 30 Jun 2027 | 17 Sep 2026 | Not yet available* |
| *This start date is open for pre-booking, which means you can reserve your place ahead of the fees being confirmed. We’ll publish updated 2026/27 fees and funding information on the 25th of March. |
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
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If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to help with your tuition fees. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Scotland.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Wales.
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