EPN-V2

ACIT4100 Understanding and Communicating Research Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Understanding and Communicating Research
Study programme
Master's Programme in Applied Computer and Information Technology
Weight
10.0 ECTS
Year of study
2025/2026
Curriculum
FALL 2025
Schedule
Programme description
Course history

Introduction

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

Knowledge

The student will:

  • Recognize and understand the various sources from which financial data can be gathered, including government databases, company filings, etc.
  • Learn essential data science techniques such as data collection, data cleaning, and data visualization.
  • Gain a foundational understanding of key financial terms, jargon, and frameworks

Skills

The student will:

  • Learn how to use basic programming skills (i.e. Python, R or Excel), to collect and manipulate data for reporting.
  • Gain hands-on experience in using data visualization tools to make complex financial data more understandable to the general audience.
  • Acquire the skill of narrating complex financial stories in an easy-to-understand manner, including infographics, charts, and other visual aids.

General competence

The student will:

  • Understand and apply ethical guidelines in financial reporting
  • Develop the ability to critically evaluate financial data, statements, and sources for credibility, bias, and other potential issues.
  • Become proficient in communicating complex financial topics in a way that can be easily understood by the general public.

Required preliminary courses

Lectures Workshops Group work

The teaching takes place in person, on campus.

Learning outcomes

The exam consist of an individual analytical report, 6 - 8 pages where the students engage in a critical discussion and reflection on their findings in the group project. The project must be handed in as an attachment to the exam.

The students must write the exam in English. 

Font type and size: Arial / Calibri / Verdana 12 pt. Line spacing: 1.5  

Content

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.

Teaching and learning methods

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.

Course requirements

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

Assessment

Grade scale A-F

Permitted exam materials and equipment

All exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner.

Grading scale

Grade scale A-F.

Examiners

One internal examiner. External examiners are used periodically.

Course contact person

Associate Professor Kyrre Begnum