Course content

The course provides students with a platform to plan and prepare for the master’s thesis (IDS4100), which is conducted in the following semester. The course centers around the development of an extended project description, serving as a detailed plan for the thesis and ensuring a structured approach to the research work.

Central themes are:

• Research question and research design: Students are expected to develop a research question and a research design that is relevant to the thesis project.
• Empirical context, research field, and theoretical framework: Description of empirical context based on the organization that the master’s thesis will focus on, if applicable, along with relevant research fields and theories that provide a foundation for the thesis.
• Research ethics and data privacy: Students should identify and reflect on ethical considerations, including requirements for data privacy and informed consent. This also involves evaluating and applying for necessary approvals, such as SIKT approval, and developing a data management plan and a risk assessment.
• Timeline: The project description must include a detailed timeline for the thesis, outlining milestones and deadlines for data collection, analysis, and writing.

A well-prepared project description that meets academic standards at the master’s level lays the foundation for an effective and goal-oriented completion of the thesis in the following semester.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The candidate:

• has in-depth knowledge of how research projects are planned and described.
• has advanced knowledge of relevant literature for their own project.

Skills

The candidate:

• can analyze and critically assess various sources of information to structure and formulate academic arguments and research questions, and, where relevant, ethically and responsibly apply generative AI tools in work with the project description, including critical evaluation of the results generated by AI models.
• can design and plan an independent, limited research or development project under supervision and in accordance with applicable research ethics standards.
• can collaborate to identify relevant data sources suitable for illuminating a given research question.

General Competence

The candidate:

• can apply their knowledge and skills from previous courses to design and plan research and development projects.
• can communicate academic issues and research design within the relevant field.

Learning methods and activities

The course is conducted through supervision, self-study, and seminars which provide practical tools and skills for developing the project description.

Learning activities include:

• Supervision: Each student or group is assigned a supervisor who will provide supervision in working on the project description and continue to supervise the thesis in IDS4100. Supervision is a mandatory and central part of the course, and students are expected to play an active role in collaboration with their supervisor.
• Seminars: The seminars provide practical guidance on generic topics such as research design, literature review, ethics, and data privacy.
• Self-study: Students are expected to actively use NTNU resources, such as library services and courses, online resource pages, and resources available in the course’s Blackboard room. They are also encouraged to apply knowledge from research methodology courses, such as IDS4000. Students will independently work with relevant literature related to the project description. Self-study is necessary for producing a well-prepared project description.
• Collaboration with organizations: Where relevant, students are expected to maintain necessary contact with a related organization, as agreed with the supervisor, to provide a practical and empirical foundation for the project.

Obligatory activities

Students must submit a mature draft of the project description to their supervisor for feedback within given timeline, so that changes can be made before final submission.

Students must present the project description orally in a plenary setting. The presentation may be conducted digitally in real-time by arrangement with the course coordinator.

Compulsory assignments

• Oral presentation of project description
• Draft project description.

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

Admission to the master's program MIIDS

The student must have 52,5 study points completed in the study program, including IDS4000.

Course materials

TBL