MAHAB4070 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.

Tone Holt Nielsen

The aim of the course is to provide the students both with the theoretical basis of cross-cultural communication and to develop their practical skills in dealing with cross-cultural encounters in the global workplace.

Language of instruction is English.

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 pedagogical approach includes:

• Lectures, group work, discussions, case work
• Student presentations
• Independent study

Regular attendance and active participation in classroom activities are expected.

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

• compulsory attendance and participation at seminar days for your own specialisation
• presentation of own student’s project description for the master’s thesis with subsequent discussion in a plenary session
• held the role of opponent, providing feedback on one or more fellow students' project plan (peer assessment/opponent)

The following coursework requirements must have been approved for the student to take the exam:

• Coursework 1: An oral presentation on an assigned topic, 2 or 3 students together (10-15 minutes per group)
• Coursework 2: An individual written assignment - application of theory to a specific case (2-3 pages)

Feedback will be given on both assignments.

The purpose of these assignments is to make the students reflect on and use the syllabus actively and help them prepare for the exam in Cross-Cultural Communication.

All required coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadline for the student to take the exam. If one or more coursework requirements have not been approved, the student will be given one opportunity to submit an improved version by a given deadline.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Pass/fail.

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.

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