Course Code INFM03
Main field of study Informatics; Information Systems
Course Title Master (One Year) Degree Course – Research Methods and Degree Project Essay
Higher education credits (hec) 30
Level Advanced
Progression level A1E
Language of instruction English
This syllabus was approved by the board of the Department of Informatics on 2011-10-21, 2011-11-18, 2012-06-08, 2012-11-16. It is valid from the spring semester of 2012.
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Course objectives and content
On completion of the course, students shall have acquired in-depth knowledge and skills in the theories and methods of research. Furthermore, students shall have acquired in-depth knowledge and skills in planning, implementing, reporting and defending a degree project essay.
Learning outcomes
On completion of the course, the student shall have achieved the following:
Knowledge and understanding
For a pass on the course, students must demonstrate knowledge about and understanding of
K1 - fundamental factors behind qualitative studies K2 - different methods used in qualitative research
K3 - interaction between qualitative and quantitative methods in a research study K4 - claims about quality of scientific research
Skills and abilities
For a pass on the course, students must demonstrate the ability to
F1 - describe and justify a research plan
F2 - make informed selection of methods for collecting, analyzing and reporting F3 - independently design research instrument
F4 - collect and process data as well as make a scientifically informed interpretation of the findings F5 - conduct statistical analyses using statistical software-packages
F6 - select and formulate a research question that can provide a clearly discernible contribution to the main area of the programme of study
F7 - select and apply scientific research method(s) F8 - plan and carry out a research study.
Judgement and approach
For a pass on the course, students must demonstrate the ability to
V1 - critically review and assess scientific claims to knowledge V2 - critically review and assess ethical aspects in research
V3 - assess the relevance of different research questions in the main area of the programme of study.
Course content
The following topics will be covered:
- qualitative methods of investigation and assessment
- design, analysis, interpretation and reporting of qualitative studies in practice
- concrete examples of the significance and importance of empirical research and field studies - quantitative methods of investigation and assessment
- design, analysis, interpretation and reporting of quantitative studies in practice - statistical research methodology and sampling
- basic statistical probability theory - statistical inference theory - conducting a research project
- objectivity, generalizability, validity and reliability in scientific studies - reporting and presenting a research project
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Grading scale
At the School of Economics and Management grades are awarded in accordance with a criterion-based grading scale A-U. Students have to receive a grade of E or higher in order to pass a course.
Grade Characteristic Points (% out of maximum)
Criteria
A Excellent 85-100 A distinguished result that is excellent with regard to the following aspects – theoretical depth, practical relevance, analytical ability and independent thought. B Very good 75-84 A very good result with regard to the above
men-tioned aspects.
C Good 65-74 The result is of a good standard with regard to the above mentioned aspects and lives up to expectations. D Satisfactory 55-64 The result is of a satisfactory standard with regard to
the above mentioned aspects and lives up to expecta-tions.
E Sufficient 50-54 The result satisfies the minimum requirements with regard to the above mentioned aspects, but not more. U Fail 0-49 The result does not meet the minimum requirements
with regard to the above mentioned aspects.
Grading rules
Test grading
a) For tests that are gradated and given a number of credits the grading scale A-U is used in accordance with the table above.
Grading of tests where a question is missing or found incorrect:
Irrespective of the sum total of the exam credits, this sum always equals 100 percent. If a question should be incorrect or missing, the teacher must re-calculate the grade intervals, still counting the remaining questions as 100 percent.
Any decimals will be rounded off to whole numbers.
b) For tests that are gradated but not given a number of credits the grading scale A-U is used.
c) For tests that are not gradated the grading scale U-G (Fail or Pass) is used .
Final course grading
The test values are multiplied by the number of hec for each test and added together. The result is then divided by the total number of hec of the A-E tests, and any decimals will be rounded off to whole numbers.
This final figure indicates the final grade in the table above.
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Teaching and examination
Teaching includes lectures, seminars, supervision and laboratory exercises. The degree project is carried out in teams of two students. Students are entitled to supervision for their degree project during the term, when the degree project starts and the next term (i.e. for two consecutive terms). Then a renewed application for doing the degree project must be submitted.
Examination comprises the following required tests:
Test Group or individual Higher education credits, HEC Grades Qualitative Method, Seminar assignments
Individual 4.5 Fail - Pass
Qualitative Method, Research plan
Individual 3 Fail - A
Quantitative Method Seminar assignments
Group 3 Fail - Pass
Quantitative Method Written Examination
Individual 4.5 Fail - A
Degree Project Essay (incl. peer review of another master thesis)
Teams of two students 15 Fail - A
30,0
The grade on the degree project essay is awarded by examiners for degree project essays, who must not be the same teacher who was the supervisor. The degree project essay must be written in Eng-lish (interview transcripts may be in some other language). Furthermore the degree project essay must be published in LUP Student Papers.
An opportunity for retaking a test is provided a short time period after the regular examination op-portunity. Besides the regular finals seminars for the degree project essay, additional final seminars are provided at the end of the subsequent term.
Academic misconduct such as cheating, plagiarism, fabrication and falsification is considered a serious offence in higher education (please see Chapter 8 of the Higher Education Ordinance). The disciplinary measures that may be taken as a result of such offences are caution or suspension for a limited period of time from the university (and all the faculties of the university).
Relationships between tests and learning outcomes
Test Learning outcomes
Qualitative Method, Seminar assignments
K1- fundamental factors behind qualitative studies K2 - different methods used in qualitative research
K3 - interaction between qualitative and quantitative methods in a research study K4 - claims about quality of scientific research
K5 - ethical aspects and perspectives in scientific research V1 - critically review and assess scientific claims to knowledge V2 - critically review and assess ethical aspects in research Qualitative Method,
Research plan
F1 - describe and justify a research plan
F2 - make informed selection of methods for collecting, analyzing and reporting F3 - independently design research instrument
F4 - collect and process data as well as make a scientifically informed interpretation of the findings
V1 - critically review and assess scientific claims to knowledge V2 - critically review and assess ethical aspects in research Quantitative Method
Seminar assignments
K4 - claims about quality of scientific research
K5 - ethical aspects and perspectives in scientific research F1 - describe and justify a research plan
F2 - make informed selection of methods for collecting, analyzing and reporting F3 - independently design research instrument
F4 - collect and process data as well as make a scientifically informed interpretation of the findings
F5 - conduct statistical analyses using statistical software-packages V1 - critically review and assess scientific claims to knowledge V2 - critically review and assess ethical aspects in research Quantitative Method
Written Examination
K3 - interaction between qualitative and quantitative methods in a research study K6 - fundamental factors behind quantitative studies
K7 - different methods used in quantitative research K8 - statistical software-packages
K9 - influence of scientific approaches and perspectives on scientific issues and the selection of research issues and methods
V1 - critically review and assess scientific claims to knowledge V2 - critically review and assess ethical aspects in research Degree Project Essay
(incl. peer review of another master the-sis)
K3 - interaction between qualitative and quantitative methods in a research study K9 - influence of scientific approaches and perspectives on scientific issues and the selection of research issues and methods
K10 - ethical positions with regard to research studies.
F6 - select and formulate a research question that can provide a clearly discernible contribution to the main area of the programme of study
V3 - assess the relevance of different research questions in the main area of the programme of study.
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Specific admission requirements
To be admitted to the course, students must have successfully completed 120 higher education credits in Informatics or the equivalent. The credits must include a successfully completed Bache-lor degree project and 30 second-cycle credits.
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Further information
INFM02 may not be credited towards a degree together with INFM01 or an equivalent course.
Students who have previously completed one of the modules Master (One Year) Degree Project, Qualitative Method or Quantitative Method may transfer the credits for these sub-courses to INFM02.
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Amendments
2012-06-08: Change of literature for Quantitative method. 2012-11-16: Change of literature for Degree project essay.
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Reading list
READING LIST
Master (One Year) Degree Course – Research Methods and Degree Project Essay
Qualitative method, 7.5 hec
Creswell, J. W. (2007): Qualitative inquiry and research design – choosing among five traditions. 2nd ed., Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA, ISBN 9781412916073, 420 p.
Kvale, S. & Brinkmann, S. (2009): Interviews: Learning the Craft of qualitative research interviewing, 2nd ed. Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA, ISBN 9780761925422, 380 p.
Seale, C. (1999): The quality of qualitative research. Sage, London; ISBN 0761955984, 210 p.
Yin, R. K. (2008): Case study research: design and methods. 4th ed., Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA, ISBN 9781412960991, 230 p.
Compendium of articles.
Quantitative method, 7.5 hec
Sapsford, R. (2007): Survey Research, 2nd ed., Sage Publications, ISBN 9781412912327, 300 p.
Compendium of articles.
Degree project essay, 15 hec
Booth, W.C., Colomb, G.G., Williams, J.M. (2008): The Craft of Research. 3rd ed. University of Chicago Press, ISBN 9780226065663, 300 p.
Ford, N. (2012): The essential guide to Using the Web for Research. Sage, ISBN 9780857023650, 250 p.
