Level/category

Professional studies

Teaching language

English

Type of course

Compulsory

Recommended year of study

3

Total number of ECTS

5 cr

Competency aims

The aim of the course is to introduce theoretical perspectives and concepts in research on health and social services in order to help students to understand the importance of scientific reasoning, to evaluate why/how various interventions and research methods are appropriately chosen and used, and to see examples of the application of the scientific research process and to help students understand and evaluate different methods for gaining knowledge and writing a thesis work

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student is expected to be able to:
- formulate appropriate research questions in their own field of expertise
- understand the main differences in a qualitative and a quantitative research approach
- understand and apply the steps of a research process to their own thesis work
-is expected to be able to to choose methods for and under supervision do his/her thesis

Course contents

The philosophy, theory and practice of research, paradigms and perspectives. The scope of research and the research process.Working with texts (content analysis), designing questionnaires, interviews. Developing practice by action research,critcal incident- and case studies

Prerequisites and co-requisites

Introduction to scientific methods, scientific writing, information retrieval

Previous course names

Basics in and specific Research Methods

Recommended or required reading

Kumar, R. 1999. Research Methodology. A step-by-step guide for beginners. London: SAGE publications. ISBN 0 7619 62131

Study activities

  • Lectures - 50 hours
  • Exercise based learning - 20 hours
  • Individual studies - 60 hours

Workload

  • Total workload of the course: 130 hours
  • Of which autonomous studies: 60 hours
  • Of which scheduled studies: 70 hours

Mode of Delivery

Participation in tuition

Assessment methods

  • Exams
  • Essays

Teacher

  • Kimberley Nigel
  • Lejonqvist Gun-Britt

Examiner

Lejonqvist Gun-Britt

Group size

No limit

Course completion date

Date for course completion will be announced later

Assignments valid until

12 months after course has ended

The timetable of the course

3.9.08 Definitions, levels and forms of knowledge and research
5.9.08 The literature review
12.9.08 Formulating the research idea and the - questionsand research designs
17.9.08 Data collection, sampling
23.9.08 Analyzing and interpreting data and presenting the research results
25.9.08 Discussion, validity and reliability
30.9.08 WRITTEN EXAMINATION(Kumar, R. 1999)
1.10.08 Working with text and content analyses
8.10.08 Interviews
10.10.08 Observations
14.10.08 Questionnaires
16.10.08 Case studies
21.10.08 Action research
23.10.08 THESIS PLAN PRESENTATION (methoddiscussion)

Assessment methods

  • 2008-12-11 - Exams
  • Date will be announced later - Essays

Course and curriculum search