User talk:Ashima.goyal

2009-12-19T12:55:05Z

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Hi, welcome to International Development! Thanks for your edit to the Talk:Dissertation page.

Please leave a message on [[User talk:Sannse|my talk page]] if I can help with anything! -- [[User:Sannse|Sannse]] ([[User_talk:Sannse|Talk]]) 12:55, 19 December 2009

User:Ashima.goyal

2009-12-19T12:55:05Z

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Talk:Dissertation

2009-12-19T12:54:59Z

Dissertation topic & RQ:

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	more ...		more ...
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		+	--
		+	Hello! I'm new to this wiki thing but I hope I'm writing at the right place.. So the vacations have just started. I still don't feel refreshed after one week of it :p I started reading for the RD essay and soon realised there is a Dissertation topic to think of and also a Project Planning Essay to think of!
		+	Anyway sticking to the topic.. "Dissertation topic & RQ". I'm interested in the topic of technology for the poor.. I'm not thinking about scientific researches like GR or GMO but more like internet for the poor or mobile marketing/banking, or use of distant education techniques. I'm not sure if I even have a viable topic there related to Social Policy (which was stressed again and again in all the talks about Dissertation writing) let alone a question.
		+	Any thoughts?
		+
		+	-Ashima
		+	(haven't been able to figure out the signature thing! :o )

	==Revising for the SA452 exam: Some advice (please ignore this until March 2010!)==		==Revising for the SA452 exam: Some advice (please ignore this until March 2010!)==

User:Ashima.goyal

2009-12-19T12:33:51Z

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Talk:Dissertation

2009-12-17T15:20:34Z

Some useful questions on aid, social integration, and reading:

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	--[[User:Davidlewis\|Davidlewis]] 11:02, 6 January 2009 (UTC)		--[[User:Davidlewis\|Davidlewis]] 11:02, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

-	==Some useful questions from Bushra: on aid, social integration, and reading==	+	==Some useful questions on aid, social integration, and reading==

-	Helloo everyone...I am sure you are all excited about the end of term but before that we have an exam (though nothing to worry as it is only MOCK, but as I have reluctantly started preparing for it, I am actually finding it a v useful way of revising all that we have studies in the last ten weeks!!) After receiving David's advice (which was v useful and thanks for that), I intend to attempt the exam by immediately engaging with the exact question, hopefully in a very focused way. Though, I have a few more questions about the methodology of attempting the exam and I sure David and of course you all would be happy to answer/comment:-	+	Helloo everyone...I am sure you are all excited about the end of term but before that we have an exam (though nothing to worry as it is only MOCK, but as I have reluctantly started preparing for it, I am actually finding it a v useful way of revising all that we have studies in the last ten weeks!!) After receiving David's advice (which was v useful and thanks for that), I intend to attempt the exam by immediately engaging with the exact question, hopefully in a very focused way. Though, I have a few more questions about the methodology of attempting the exam and I sure David and of course you all would be happy to answer/comment:-. B.


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-	==Revising for the SA452 exam: Some advice (please ignore this until March 2009!)==	+	==Revising for the SA452 exam: Some advice (please ignore this until March 2010!)==

	We will give you detailed advice about preparing for the exams next term - in the meantime, for those of you who are already thinking about this, here are a few tips:		We will give you detailed advice about preparing for the exams next term - in the meantime, for those of you who are already thinking about this, here are a few tips:
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	(OK, you can ignore this for now ...!)		(OK, you can ignore this for now ...!)

-	== A useful question from Jesus: 'What is the difference between an "Academic paper" and a "White paper"?' ==	+	== A useful question from J: 'What is the difference between an "Academic paper" and a "White paper"?' ==

	While I was doing my final essay for the Rural Development I found that the DFID says that they published in 1997:		While I was doing my final essay for the Rural Development I found that the DFID says that they published in 1997:
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	Thanks,		Thanks,

-	Jesus	+	J


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	I would like to know the academic definition between a Developed and a Developing Country?		I would like to know the academic definition between a Developed and a Developing Country?

-	Regards,

-	Jesus

-	Hi Jesus - this is a good question and a difficult one. There is no precise academic definition as far as I know.	+	[from David] This is a good question and a difficult one. There is no precise academic definition as far as I know.

	This is from the OECD web-site:		This is from the OECD web-site:
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	Some readings regards developed countries as the West.		Some readings regards developed countries as the West.
-	As OECD included, Japan is thought as a developed nation in many articles. From the geographic point of view, Japan cannot be said as the western nation. In some points, we share the idea with North America and Western European countries especially in terms of Economic policies; however, the cultural aspects are different and I see it affects the welfare state system, which is not categorised by either American, Scandinabian or Continental European way.	+	As OECD included, Japan is thought as a developed nation in many articles. From the geographic point of view, Japan cannot be said as the western nation. In some points, we share the idea with North America and Western European countries especially in terms of Economic policies; however, the cultural aspects are different and I see it affects the welfare state system, which is not categorised by either American, Scandinanian or Continental European way.

	If somebody uses the term 'West' inclusively, does it mean the shared norm among nations against the former Soviet Union in the context of Cold War?		If somebody uses the term 'West' inclusively, does it mean the shared norm among nations against the former Soviet Union in the context of Cold War?
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	Regards,		Regards,
-	Bushra	+	B.


-	Good question - it means people's capacity to take action, and in social sciences is usually contrasted with the idea of 'structure', which is what helps determine or constran people ability to act. Basically we need to understand both agency and structure in any situation ...	+	Good question - it means people's capacity to take action, and in social sciences is usually contrasted with the idea of 'structure', which is what helps determine or constrain people's ability to act. Basically we need to understand both agency and structure in any situation ...

	e.g. a person working in an NGO has agency to make decisions and do things, but at the same times is constrained/facilitated by structures of rules, laws and hierarchies of authority. A poor person has agency to improve their life, but only within a complex set of structures. If you change structures, you can increase people's ability (agency) to act positively. If you empower people, you increase their agency, but this may not be useful unless structures are also changed.		e.g. a person working in an NGO has agency to make decisions and do things, but at the same times is constrained/facilitated by structures of rules, laws and hierarchies of authority. A poor person has agency to improve their life, but only within a complex set of structures. If you change structures, you can increase people's ability (agency) to act positively. If you empower people, you increase their agency, but this may not be useful unless structures are also changed.

-	Anthony Giddens is a key social scientist to read on agency/structure isses:	+	Anthony Giddens is a key social scientist to read on agency/structure issues:

	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Giddens		http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Giddens
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	Regards,		Regards,
-	Kana	+	K

-	Thanks Kana. Great question. Principal-agent theory is one way of theorizing accountability relationships drawn from 'new institutional economics'. It is concerned with the relationships between information assymetries, decisions and incentives. It is therefore a little different and narrower than the broader sociological idea of 'agency' to which we refer above. But it is extremely useful for thinking about organizational relationships.	+	Thanks K. Great question. Principal-agent theory is one way of theorizing accountability relationships drawn from 'new institutional economics'. It is concerned with the relationships between information assymetries, decisions and incentives. It is therefore a little different and narrower than the broader sociological idea of 'agency' to which we refer above. But it is extremely useful for thinking about organizational relationships.

	I don't think your example of Kenyan government/DFID quite works. In PA theory, the principal 'hires' the agent and requires it to do certain tasks. I don't think the K govt hires DFID exactly - it may almost be the other way around. Where PA theory is more useful in analysing social policy is where a government department hires an NGO to deliver a service on its behalf. There is an excellent article by E Brett in Development and Change (Vol 29, pp269-303, 1993) on this topic which gives a very clear explanation of PA theory and how to apply it in social policy and development.		I don't think your example of Kenyan government/DFID quite works. In PA theory, the principal 'hires' the agent and requires it to do certain tasks. I don't think the K govt hires DFID exactly - it may almost be the other way around. Where PA theory is more useful in analysing social policy is where a government department hires an NGO to deliver a service on its behalf. There is an excellent article by E Brett in Development and Change (Vol 29, pp269-303, 1993) on this topic which gives a very clear explanation of PA theory and how to apply it in social policy and development.

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