MSB203 Applied Methods and Research Design

Contents and structure

The course consist of two interconnected parts. The first part starts with a broad overview of the theory of science and the methodologies associated with different social science research methods. The second part focuses on qualitative research methods. The aim of this course is to enable students to develop good research designs and conduct good qualitative research, which will enable them to write sound research reports and excellent master thesis.

Part 1: Research design and academic writing

The course offers an introduction to the philosophy of science; what knowledge is and how knowledge is formed. Various research designs will also be discussed. Ethical considerations regarding data collection, treatment, and storage, as well as the legal framework surrounding applied research, will be considered. A subsidiary aim of this course is to teach students how to develop a research design (which is also an obligatory learning activity). This paves the way for the second part of the course (as the two parts are naturally connected).

Main objectives in part 1

• To give students a basic introduction to the most central ontological and epistemological positions within the philosophy of science.
• To give students a good understanding of the ‘methodology’ term, and how methodology is expressed in different designs (experiments, statistics, comparative methods, historical studies, and case studies)
• To give students an introduction to the genre of academic writing, as well as rules regarding research ethics.

Part 2: Qualitative research methods

The course will provide knowledge of qualitative research designs and methods that will prepare the students to complete an independent research project and/or the master’s thesis. The course includes advanced knowledge regarding qualitative research designs and qualitative methods, including observations, interviews, and case-study research. The course offers insights into central problems in the theory of science and links this to qualitative methods.

Main objectives in part 2

• To give students a good understanding of different qualitative methods.
• To provide students with a sound foundation for understanding how a qualitative research design should be developed.

Learning Outcome

Learning outcomes in part 1

Knowledge

After having completed this course, the students should:

• Have advanced knowledge of central ontological and epistemological positions.
• Have knowledge about the most important principles behind a good research design.
• Have good knowledge about methodologies associated with different social science research methods.
• Have knowledge about the ethical framework and judicial regulations regarding the gathering and storage of data.

Skills

After having completed this course, the students should be able to:

• Argue for a particular epistemological and ontological approach in a research design for a given context.
• Discuss the benefits and limitations of their choice of methodology.
• Interpret and analyse academic literature and choose relevant publications for their own literature reviews.
• Defend research designs that will be employed in research projects.

General competencies:

After having completed this course, the students should be able to:

• Analyse and weigh the benefits and limitations of different methodologies for their research.

Learning outcomes in part 2

Knowledge

After having completed this course, the student should:

• Have advanced knowledge about problems in the theory of science and understand how these relate to their choice of qualitative methods and the way the research is conducted.
• Have advanced knowledge about how a qualitative research design is developed for an independent research project.
• Have deep knowledge about central methods and techniques in qualitative research.

Skills

After having completed this course, the student should be able to:

• Develop and implement an independent qualitative research project.
• Apply central methods and techniques in qualitative research.

General competence:

After having completed this course, the student should be able to:

• Apply knowledge regarding qualitative research designs and methods and critically evaluate the appropriateness of different qualitative research methods for concrete research projects.
• Develop and implement an independent research project that is based on a deep understanding of the theory of science and different methodologies.

Entry requirements

None

Recommended previous knowledge

None

Teaching methods

The teaching occurs as a combination of lectures and practical training related to qualitative research methods and through the writing of an obligatory research design that must be handed in. Self-study and participation in lectures/workshops comprise important parts of this course.

Compulsory learning activities

Students must hand in a research design (8-10 pages, including reference list but excluding the front page and any appendices, text Times New Roman size 12, line spacing 1,5). The design shall be handed in by groups comprising no more than 3 students and should be based on an explicit variable analysis that can be explored through qualitative methods or an exploratory qualitative study. The research design must include a limited and clearly defined problem, research questions/expectations/hypotheses, explanation of relevant theory of science and methodologies, description and justification for choice of qualitative research method as well as a plan for the research project. To be eligible for the exam the research design must be approved.

Assessment

Four hour written individual school exam: grades A-F, where F is failed.

Examination support material

None

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