ØAMET4200 Research Methods for Social Sciences Course description

The assessment consists of an individual course assignment: a 3,500 word (+/- 10%) written research project description that demonstrates a well reasoned methodological design and appropriate application of course contents.

Resit/rescheduled exam:

The resit/rescheduled exam is organised as a revision and resubmission of the course assignment, according to feedback provided in the initial assessment.

Course assignment support material is permitted.

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

Knowledge

The student has

• knowledge of various scientific theoretical positions
• in-depth knowledge and understanding of how the research process takes place and which different methods are used in the social sciences

Skills

The student is capable of

• formulate suitable topics and research questions
• be able to connect research questions to theory and earlier research
• choose a suited method to be able to analyse and answer the research questions
• be able to handle research ethical considerations
• plan and write a master’s thesis in strategy, organization and management under supervision

General competence

The student has

• is familiar with theory abouth knowledge and able to evaluate knowledge claims

The grade scale Pass / Fail is used.

The course assignment will be assessed by two internal examiners.

In accordance with the Guidelines for Appointment and Use of Examiners at OsloMet, the mode of assessment will periodically be reviewed by an external programme supervisor.

The exam in the course consists of two parts:

1) A project description, i.e. a plan for a potential research project, for example in preparation for the master's thesis. The project description is individually or in groups of maximum three students. The project description must have a scope of 10-15 pages. The project description counts for 60% of the grade awarded for the course. Font and font size: Arial / Calibri 12 points. Line spacing: 1.5.

2) A supervised exam of 4 hours. The exam counts for 40% of the grade awarded for the course.

Pass grades must be awarded both for the project description and for the written exam in order to pass the course. If a student has to resit the exam, the student can retake each part separately. It is not necessary to take both parts.

The course consists of two parts, covering central aspects of social science research methodology and methods as appropriate for international development, education, and sustainabilities:

1. Consolidation of ‘theory of knowledge’ introduced in course FLKM4210, which, among other things, covers:

• fundamental issues of scientific explanation and their manifestation in the social sciences.
• an introduction to the social roles of science and the political, cultural and ethical grounds for and functions of knowledge, with particular reference to the interdisciplinary field of this program

1. Research methodology which, among other things, covers:

• concepts in social science research methodology
• research design in the master’s thesis, including selecting a project topic, formulating research questions, understanding the role of theory, and selecting specific methods, including:
  • Case-study/ies.
  • Interviews.
  • Document / text / policy analysis.
  • Observations and participant observations.
  • Analysis of qualitative and quantitative data.
  • Questions of quality, reliability and validity in social science research.

Grade scale A-F

An internal and an external examiner will grade the project description and the written exam.

A selection of at least 25% of the exam papers will be assessed by two examiners. The grades awarded to exam papers assessed by the external and internal examiner will be used to determine the level of all exam papers.

Aagoth Storvik