ERGO3900 Bachelor Assignment Course description

The bachelor´s thesis is a research and development work in the field of occupational therapy and occupational science. Philosophy of science and research methodology knowledge and skills are recurrent topics in the bachelor´s thesis work.

The course consists of the following subject areas from the national curriculum, specified below as the number of credits:

• Ideas, theory and experience (3 ECTS)
• Philosophy of science and research methodology (3 ECTS)
• Research and development in occupational therapy (6 ECTS)
• Health-promoting and preventive work (1 ECTS)
• Rehabilitative work (1 ECTS)
• Ethics (1 ECTS)

Passed the second year of the programme.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The student has

• knowledge about philosophy of science, research ethics and research methodology
• has broad knowledge of new research relating to the occupational therapy topic of the thesis

Skills

The student is capable of

• preparing a research question and project outline
• preparing an abstract and bachelor's thesis based on traditions in research dissemination
• applying a relevant scientific method and conducting data compilation and analysis
• obtaining, applying and discussing relevant research articles and other specialist literature from national and international R&D work in the chosen topic
• discussing, evaluating and reflecting on results and what has influenced the results' reliability and validity

Competence

The student is capable of

• planning and carrying out relevant projects with complex tasks that take place over time and contribute to the development of new knowledge in collaboration with others
• critically reflecting on research ethics issues and guidelines
• communicating in written form, discussing and presenting the results of his/her own project

The bachelor's thesis is an independent academic work that is written in pairs of students. It can be an independent work or be included as a delimited, but independent part of an ongoing research project linked to internal or external environments. The students are assigned supervisors who guide the groups throughout the process. Two different types of supervision are provided: one where student groups work together and one ordinary group supervision. Up to 5 hours of supervision is available per group.

A minimum attendance of 80% is required in the introduction to the course, supervision and seminars.

Students must meet the compulsory attendance requirements in order to sit the exam.

Exam content: Learning outcomes

Exam form: A written assignment of up to 7,000 words. The assignments are written in groups of two students.

Time: Sixth semester

All

The course describes the daily life and health of children and adolescents. Health is attached to the understanding of children and adolescents' right to activity and participation. Children´s right to participation and influence, protection and access to services can be traced back to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Knowledge of child development is a central topic.

Opportunities for and limitations to activity is seen in an individual, group and social perspective. The home, kindergarten, schools and leisure activities are arenas that can promote development through play and learning. The health of children and young people is affected by many factors. The child could have an illness or a disability. Other factors, such as cultural background, lack of facilitations in society, growing up in a home with little care or experiences from war-torn countries, could also have an impact on activity and participation. Knowledge of habilitative work is part of the course and describes the occupational therapist´s cooperation with the child/adolescent, care providers, and the personal and the professional network.

The occupational therapy programme is part of OsloMet´s initiative `Interact`, the aim of which is to meet society`s demands for a better coordination of services aimed at children and adolescents, a better interaction between professionals and a better cooperation between children/adolescents and professionals. The interprofessional programme INTER1100, `The same child - different arenas`, is part of this course. This is intended to form a common platform for all the students involved. Some of the work is carried out in interprofessional student groups. For further information about Interact, see: https://interact.hioa.no/

Learning outcome descriptions marked with * cover INTER1100

The course consists of the following subject areas from the national curriculum, specified below as the number of credits:

• Ideas, theory and experience (2 ECTS)
• Habilitative work (4 ECTS)
• Health-promoting and preventive work (1 ECTS)
• Illness and disability (2 ECTS)
• Sociology and social anthropology (1 ECTS)
• Psychology and pedagogy, communication, interaction and conflict work (4 ECTS)
• Ethics (1 ECTS)

The student must have been admitted to the study programme.