MAEMP4070 Research Design and Project Description Course description

Language of instruction: Norwegian and English

This course covers the research process from the planning phase until completion of the master’s thesis, including literary searches and referencing, formulation of research questions/hypotheses/issues, choice of research method and development of a project description, as well as ethical assessments relating to the student’s own work. Formal requirements for the project description are also covered to enable the student to complete the project description for their master’s thesis by the end of the course.

The course consists of several e-learning modules, which include videos, lectures and knowledge tests based on the written syllabus. There will also be four compulsory teaching days where the subject matter will be presented in plenary lectures with subsequent discussions. The sessions also include seminars for student presentations.

In the first session, the students choose their in-depth assignment from a selection of topics, and then work on this independently or in groups until the next and last session. The assignments are presented to the other students as oral or poster presentations.

The student must have been admitted to the Master’s Programme in Health Sciences.

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 develop a research question for their master’s thesis
• can independently describe relevant academic frame of reference and/or context as a foundation for a project plan for the master’s thesis

Skills

The student

• can plan a research project and write a project description in a precise scientific format and language
• can carry out extensive and systematic literature searches relating to their own project description, summarise and discuss the findings of others, and cite sources correctly
• can reflect upon ethical issues related to the project

General competence

The student

• can analyse and deal critically with various sources of data and use them in scholarly arguments
• can critically assess relevant ethical norms and values related to the chosen method in the project plan
• can assess whether a research project requires various forms of registration or approval in accordance with the applicable legislation

The course will use varied, student-active work methods. The teaching will be given digital and physical, in addition to blended learning with seminars on campus during the course. Work and teaching methods include digital and physical lectures, individual literature studies and written work, oral presentations, group discussions and supervision. Up to two hours of guidance is given on the project description.

The student must have been admitted to the Master’s Programme in Health Sciences.

A project examination in the form of a project description for the student's master’s thesis, individual or in groups, depending on whether the thesis will be written individually or in a group. Scope: 3,000 words (+/- 20%). For group assignments, one overall grade is awarded for the whole group.

Resit examination: If the student fails the assignment, he/she will be given opportunity to submit a reworked version.

If the course is taught in English, students can also choose to write/conduct the examination in a Scandinavian language (Norwegian, Swedish or Danish).

The course will use varied, student-active work methods. The teaching will be given digital and physical, in addition to blended learning with seminars on campus during the course. Work and teaching methods include digital and physical lectures, individual literature studies and written work, oral presentations, group discussions and supervision. Up to two hours of guidance is given on the project description.

The purpose of this course is to enable students to contribute actively to research in bacterial diagnostics and combating antimicrobial resistance in the health services and society at large. The course provides a broad theoretical basis in medical bacteriology and comprises history, technology and future health-related challenges. Emphasis is placed on the most common bacterial infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance. The introduction of new diagnostic tools in clinical microbiology entails an increasing need for health personnel with extensive knowledge of new areas of application for technology and changed practices. The course therefore also focuses on the relationship between clinical practice, diagnostics and epidemiology to better be able to face future technical changes and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.

All answers are assessed by one examiner.

An external examiner is used regularly, at a minimum of every third completion of the course. When selecting answers for external evaluation, a minimum of 10 percent of the answers shall be included, with no fewer than 5 answers. The external examiner’s assessment of the selected answers shall benefit all students.

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

• minimum attendance of 80% at sessions
• presentation (poster or lecture) of their own in-depth assignment, individually or in groups of 2-3 students. If the course is taught in English, the presentation must be given in English.