ACIT4100 Understanding and Communicating Research Course description

This course offers an introduction to the practice of writing and reading academic literature. Communicating properly, both in written and oral form, is a cornerstone of research. This course therefore also contains an element of rhetoric and writing techniques. The course will cover common concepts from research methods, such as qualitative and quantitative methods. A brief introduction of the philosophy of science helps us put the vast variations of research in context. Finally, the course introduces research and professional ethics.

Kunnskap

Studenten har

• inngående kunnskap om organisasjon- og ledelse med relevans for forvaltning, tjenesteyting, styring og omstilling i offentlig virksomhet
• inngående kunnskap om endringsbehov og endringsatferd i organisasjoner
• kjennskap til nasjonale og internasjonale drivkrefter og forutsetninger for stabilitet og endring i offentlige virksomheter

Ferdigheter

Studenten kan

• reflektere over organisasjon og ledelse som virkemiddel i offentlig sektor
• analysere organisasjonsforhold og identifisere utviklingsbehov i offentlige organisasjoner
• anvende kunnskap om organisasjon og ledelse for å vurdere endringsstrategier og aktuelle organisatoriske løsninger

Generell kompetanse

Studenten kan:

• anvende kunnskaper og ferdigheter på nye områder for å gjennomføre avanserte arbeidsoppgaver og prosjekter innen administrasjon, styring og ledelse
• ha en aktiv rolle i fornyings- og omstillingsarbeid og bidra med kritiske perspektiver i slike prosesser
• anvende kunnskaper og ferdigheter i innhenting og bruk av aktuelle kilder, litteratur og annen informasjon, kan henvisnings- og sitatteknikk, og kan definere hva som er plagiat og fusk

A student who has completed this course should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

On successful completion of this course the student:

• has thorough knowledge of writing in research processes
• has advanced knowledge of forums and channels in which research results are published
• has an introductory knowledge of the philosophy of science related to falsificationism, paradigms and research programs
• has thorough knowledge of the ethical basis for professional codes of conduct
• has advanced knowledge of writing styles related to research
• has thorough knowledge of structural templates for essay texts
• has thorough knowledge of the Toulmin model and its applications

Skills

On successful completion of this course the student:

• can find research literature in literature databases
• can analyse and critically evaluate various information sources
• can write summaries using his/her own words
• can use electronic reference tools
• can identify the research method used in a scientific text
• can explain the application of a research method in a research project
• can organize research literature in such a way as to identify patterns and commonalities
• can communicate a research-related topic using digital media
• can write texts using classic style

General competence

On successful completion of this course the student:

• can reflect and discuss plagiarism
• has a thorough knowledge of responsibility for author and co-authorship in accordance with the Vancouver Convention

The course will guide the student through a series of topics related to research and how research is communicated. The topics range from debate and rhetoric, philosophy of science, writing genres, narrative templates to professional ethics and plagiarism.

Throughout the course, the student will also search for and collect research literature on a topic of their own chosing. This literature will be organized and categorized in such a way that it allows the students to look for patterns and commonalities. The literature will also form the backbone of a popular science essay, which the student works on throughout the course.

The weeks are organized so that the students own search for material is combined with relevant topics and training on how to read, understand and summarize it. Towards the end of the course, more emphasis will be on writing and communication, where the students will look for ways to best communicate their findings. Each student will record a video presentation of their chosen topic in order to test the outline of their essay.

The role of the expert, either as a professional expert or a researcher in academia, will be discussed at several points in the course. In addition, we look at the interplay between the public and the impact technology has on society.

All modules will be taught as lectures / seminars with assignments for students. Throughout the course, students will work on an individual essay from their own specialization topic. The essay will contain:

• a literature survey
• a discussion on the methods applied by the researchers in the material reviewed in their survey
• a discussion on the ethical challenges related their topic both with regard to the research applied and relative to uses in society

The essay will give the opportunity for the student to tie together all modules in this course into a cohesive document.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

Two mandatory assignments:

• One recorded presentation of between 5 and 10 minutes.
• A spreadsheet containing results of a research survey including columns for relevant meta-information with at least 7 relevant research papers

Alle hjelpemidler er tillatt, så lenge regler for kildehenvisning blir fulgt.

Vurderingsuttrykket er en gradert skala med fem trinn fra A til E for bestått, og F for ikke bestått.

Agnete Vabø

Two internal examiners. External examiner is used periodically.

Associate Professor Kyrre Begnum