EPN-V2

MAEN5300 Research Methods and Ethics Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Forskningsmetoder og etikk
Weight
5.0 ECTS
Year of study
2024/2025
Course history
Curriculum
FALL 2024
Schedule
Programme description

  • Introduction

    The course is based on social theories that challenge the immediate and common ways of understanding human actions and social situations. The course focuses particularly on the 'person in the situation,' which is a central concept in social work theory. What does this complex sentence entail? How much free will does a person have? How significant is the structural context? What is meant by the term 'social'? The course reflects on these questions using many different social science theories. During the course, students will acquire knowledge and understanding of various contributions from classical and modern social science theory that are particularly relevant for understanding the placement of social work within a broader academic tradition.

    The language of instruction is Norwegian.

  • Required preliminary courses

    No formal requirements over and above the admission requirements for the programme.

  • Learning outcomes

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

    Knowledge

    The student has:

    • knowledge of induction, deduction and abduction as scientific approaches
    • knowledge of the structure and content of scientific articles and dissertations
    • knowledge for assessing research ethical issues related to one’s own project
    • knowledge of the characteristics of situations that can be considered plagiarism and corruption

    Skills

    The student is capable of:

    • applying relevant methods for research or development work in one’s own work
    • using online search technology to find relevant information
    • applying relevant resources for clarifying and finding solutions to ethical issues
    • using relevant technological knowledge and scientific methods and principles when planning and conducting the research

    General competence

    The student is capable of:

    • conducting an independent, limited research or development project under supervision and in line with current research ethics norms
    • evaluating research ethical issues in connection with the planning and implementation of a master's thesis

  • Teaching and learning methods

    The teaching takes place with in-person attendance on campus, and the format alternates between lectures and seminars. It is recommended that students participate in study groups.

  • Course requirements

    No coursework requirements or compulsory activities.

  • Assessment

    Group work, written project report of 20 pages.

    Each group should be between 3 - 4 students. Possibility of individual grading.

    Students can appeal against the grade awarded for the report.

  • Permitted exam materials and equipment

    The exam in the course is an individual supervised exam of 6 hours.

  • Grading scale

    No aids are permitted.

  • Examiners

    Graded scale A-F.

  • Course contact person

    Internal and external examiners are used for the assessment of the answers. A sample of at least 25% of the answers is assessed by two examiners. The grades on these jointly assessed answers shall serve as the basis for determining the level of the remaining answers.