ORI2100 Theory of Science and Research Methods Course description

The course covers quantitative and qualitative research methods that are relevant to prosthetics and orthotics. The students will learn about research design, data collection and analysis and research ethics. The themes reliability, construct validity and internal and external validity as a basis for critical reading of research articles and other sources will be emphasised. These themes are followed up in subsequent courses and provide the students with a basis for their work on the bachelor’s thesis at the end of the programme.

The student must have passed the first year of the programme or equivalent.

After completing the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• can explain different types of research design
• has knowledge of the use of systematic literature reviews and relevant quantitative research methods (RCT, repeated measures, cross-sectional etc.)
• can describe interviews as a qualitative research method and other qualitative research methodology
• can explain hypothesis testing, credibility, reliability, validity, normal distribution, p-value and probability calculation
• can describe univariate and bivariate statistical methods

Skills

The student

• can collect and analyse quantitative individual data, both descriptive and inferential, from questionnaires/experiments/statistics
• can collect and analyse qualitative individual data
• can reflect on the collection and analysis of individual data
• can present analysis results
• can search for research articles and other sources and take a critical approach when reading them

General competence

The student

• can identify potential research ethical issues in research articles

The work and teaching methods include self-study, group work, seminars, lectures and skills training.

The following must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

• minimum attendance of 80 % in seminars, literature search classes, computer labs and group work.

Portfolio assessment:

Part 1) Individual written home exam, 750 words (+/- 10 %)

Part 2) Group assignment: Written assignment in groups of 2-3 students. Scope of 2,500 words (+/- 10 %).

Weighting: One overall grade is awarded based on the portfolio. Both assignments in the portfolio count equally with respect to grading, but if an F is awarded for one of the assignments, the overall grade will also be an F.

Resit exam: Students will be given one opportunity to submit a reworked version of the portfolio assignment(s) for which an F was awarded.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Parts 1 and 2: Grade scale A-F.

All exams are assessed by two examiners. At least 20% of the exam papers will be assessed by an external examiner. The remaining papers will be assessed by two internal examiners. The external examiner's assessment should benefit all the students.

• 5 credits overlap with the course ORTO2300 Theory of Science and Research Methods in Prosthetics and Orthotics.