MAJO4200 Research Theory and Methodology Course description

*The course is also offered to students who have already taken midwifery training as a further education programme under the national curriculum and regulations of 2005, and who have been admitted to the Master's Programme in Midwifery and granted exemption from parts of the programme. These students will follow a separate course of study, and will start the programme in August.

Introduction

The course consists of two parts, and it focuses on the philosophy of science basis of midwifery and research methodological approaches to practice-based research and development in the field. The student will be given an introduction to research relevant to midwifery, both quantitative and qualitative designs, and the consequences of different theoretical perspectives on midwifery and midwife practice (part A).

The course also provides a theoretical background to the different parts of the research process, and the student will gain practical experience of different research designs, research methods, formulating research questions, and presenting and discussing research results (part B).

Evidence-based midwifery will be a common theme. Part A is taught over a ten-week period in parallel with MAJO4000 Midwifery Care during Childbirth and Starting a Family 1. Part B is taught over a period of three to four weeks period during the second semester.

Admission to 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 advanced knowledge about the philosophy of science traditions on which the discipline of midwifery is based
• has advanced knowledge about qualitative and quantitative methods relevant to the field
• is capable of identifying and analysing relevant research ethics issues
• has advanced knowledge about evidence-based practice in the field

Skills

The student is capable of:

• analysing and taking a critical approach to different sources of information
• applying relevant research and development methods in the planning of an independent project

Competence

The student is capable of:

• analysing different perspectives on midwifery and understanding their implications for clinical midwifery practice
• analysing and making critical assessments of research-based knowledge in the field

The course varies between lectures, studying relevant specialist and research literature individually and in study groups, analyses and written and oral presentations in study group meetings and seminars.

Coursework 1 must be completed before coursework 1 in MAJO4000.

The following required coursework must be completed and approved before a student can take the exam:

1. Article study with presentation at a workshop (4200A): The purpose of the study is to develop the ability to analyse and assess research. In groups, the students will critically examine two articles which have been published in a relevant English-language journal. One of the research articles must be qualitative and the other quantitative. Use checklists for the method in question as a tool. Explain the reflections on which the review is based. The results are presented and discussed with the lecturers at a workshop. If a group fails, the group must give another presentation to the lecturer(s). The group is entitled to one more attempt. If one or more members of the group are absent, they must give the presentation prepared by the group to the lecturer(s).

2. Data processing (4200B): The purpose of the coursework is to acquire an understanding of how to analyse, summarise and discuss qualitative and quantitative data. Data processing is organised as a two-day workshop in qualitative and quantitative methodology, respectively (four days). The students will work in groups. The persons responsible for the course are responsible for selecting data for the students to work on and will supervise the workshop. The workshop concludes with an internal seminar where the students present their work. A separate programme is being developed for the seminar. If a group fails, they must give another presentation to the lecturer(s). The group is entitled to one more attempt. If one or more members of the group are absent, they must give the presentation prepared by the group to the lecturer(s).

Exam content: The learning outcomes

Exam form:Home exam in the form of an individual digital multiple-choice test. The test is unsupervised and will be given at a set time with a time limit of 30 minutes.

All aids permitted

Grade scale A-F

All answer papers are assessed by one internal examiner.