Course content

The course teaches how to plan, design, carry out and report on relevant research projects. The course has a practical approach to the subject. Through their own project work, the students will design research questions, produce, process and analyze data and present the findings from the analysis.

Thematically, the subject deals with:

• Intro to key research paradigms and traditions
• Qualitative and quantitative research method
• Research design, issue and ethical considerations
• Data collection, processing, analysis and dissemination

Students have to start early reflecting upon research design and choosing a topic for the research project that is relevant to other semester courses.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

Through the course the students will gain

• basic insight into key research paradigms
• knowledge of different types of research questions and how these influence the research design
• knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research designs
• knowledge of basic methods for collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data
• knowledge of criteria for assessing the quality of empirical studies
• knowledge of key aspects of research ethics
• knowledge of dissemination of research results

Skills

Through the course the students will be able to

• explain the choice of methodological approach for carrying out research projects
• define research questions that form the basis for carrying out research projects
• prepare a research design
• plan, carry out and report a confined research project using quantitative and / or qualitative methods

Generell competence

Throughout the course, the student should have the developed the competence

• to reflect upon and assess methodological approaches to the design of research projects
• to plan, design, carry out and report confined research projects in line with current research ethics and within relevant subject areas
• to understand the course's usefulness for further study progression and profession.

Learning methods and activities

The teaching plan includes student-active forms of learning such as «flipped classroom», fellow student assessments, group exercises, project work, supervision and lectures. It is presupposed that the students through self-study acquire the curriculum. The students will work on research projects in groups of 2-3 throughout the semester, culminating in the research report that is the exam of the course. Student participation is important, and some elements of the teaching plan will be mandatory.

Compulsory activities

In groups of 2-3, the students will draft a research design for their project as well as assessing fellow students' research designs according to given guidelines.

Seminar preparation and participation required (80%).

Compulsory assignments

• One counselling and fellow student assessments
• Compulsory seminar preparation and participation (80%)

Required previous knowledge

Admission to a master programme.

Students admitted to other master’s programs have access to the course, but must clarify with their department whether it is approved as part of their degree.

Course materials

To be announced at the start of the semester.