EPN-V2

MAKLI4070 Research Design and Project Description Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Forskningsdesign og prosjektbeskrivelse
Study programme
Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Nursing; Clinical Research and Professional Development
Weight
10.0 ECTS
Year of study
2025/2026
Course history

Introduction

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.

Recommended preliminary courses

MAVIT4050 Theory of Science and Research Methods, 10 ECTS credits or equivalent. MAVIT4060 Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methodology, 10 ECTS credits.

Required preliminary courses

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

Learning outcomes

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

Teaching and learning methods

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.

Course requirements

Individual school examination, 5 hours.

Assessment

None

Permitted exam materials and equipment

Grade scale A-F.

Grading scale

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.

Examiners

10 ECTS credits overlaps with MAPO4400 Health Pedagogy, 10 ECTS credits.

Overlapping courses

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