Examination arrangement

Course content

The course takes up different perspectives in health promotion research. The course gives historical background for the development of Health Promotion Research, the theoretical approaches that are most evident and the empirical methods that make up the foundation for the research.

The course aims to provide a background for critical discussions both on the theoretical approaches as well as the empirical research, and challenges the students to be innovative in their translation of research results to make research understandable for to medical practicians, and how to implement and evaluate this knowledge in practical settings.

The course will focus on the development, implementation and evaluation of health promotion procedures and research in the health service and in society. This and other health theoretical approaches will be the basis for discussions in a salutogenic framework. The areas that the course addresses will typically be global health research, health promotion among the ill, health promotion in the life span, health promotion in the work place and Best Practice in health promotion.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, the student will have the following:

Knowledge

• have knowledge concerning new theoretical and empirical research on health promotion.

Skills

• be able to develop critical thinking toward theoretical approaches and empirical research in the course's subject matter. Students are also given the opportunity to give feedback on other people's research and to critically evaluate their own research. It is a goal to develop a deeper understanding for different methods used in the research area, both quantitative as well as qualitative methods.

General competence

• understand that there is much to gain from studying bordering research areas and possible contributions theoretically as well as methodologically. The course also focuses on the implementation of research results.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, student presentations of papers with feedback from the teachers and audience. The sessions focus on student activity, complemented by traditional lectures. The course is taught in English. If less than 5 persons are registered for the course, the course may be cancelled. Participation is mandatory. The course coordinator may approve up to 20% absence from the mandatory lectures.

Compulsory assignments

• Participation, presentation of paper and paper discussions

Further on evaluation

The students are required to submit a paper (10-15 pages double line spacing, including references), which must be submitted two weeks before the course starts (you will receive an invitation from the course administrator to submit your paper). The content of the paper may be theoretical or empirical material you are working with in your research project or thesis, but the material must be 'work in progress'.

The submitted paper should be presented during the course, and fellow students will be appointed as discussants to act as opponents; the student opponents must be well-prepared.

Required previous knowledge

The student must be enrolled in PhD programs in Medicine and Health Sciences or PhD programs in Social Sciences.

Course materials

Will be provided at the start of the course. Usually a compendium.