MALKD5920 Master's Thesis Course description

The master’s program final exam is an independently written thesis in the form of a scientific article. Ideally, this work should be in preparation from the time when the student starts in the program. The candidates choose their own topics for the thesis. Theses may be written about topics from research projects run by faculty or initiated by the student. The thesis should be on a topic relevant for the field of behavioral science as the term is used in the context of the current degree. For theses concerned with theoretical perspective from fields other than behavior analysis, the thesis should include an account of a behavior analytic perspective on the topic of the thesis.

All courses included in the specialisation must be completed with pass grades and all coursework requirements must be approved before the candidate may submit the master’s thesis.

On successful completion of the course, the student has the following learning outcomes classified as knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The student can

• analyze and critically assess the scientific work of others

Skills

The student can

• demonstrate working knowledge of the ethical and technical principles that govern scientific research and publication, including international citation and reference standards
• demonstrate that they can conduct a supervised research project in accordance with research ethics guidelines and regulations, and guidelines from relevant governmental bodies (i. e. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority, relevant Norwegian Research Ethics Committees)
• choose and apply relevant methods of data collection for research or scientific inquiry
• write a thesis according to criteria determined by the university
• write a thesis according to the APA 7th standard and other reporting standards
• critically assess the results of his or her own work
• critically assess various sources of information

Competence

The student can

• participate in the development of the behavioral sciences
• justify their professional behavior with reference to ethical guidelines, general ethical considerations and their own assessment of the situation
• analyze and critically assess various sources of information with relevance for the thesis.

The course includes seminars on research ethics, how to write a project outline, and requirements for the master thesis.

Otherwise the thesis outline and thesis are individual works. Submission of thesis outline is required before a supervisor is appointed. Thesis outline must be submitted the semester before thesis submission at the latest. Students are advised to conduct their project in collaboration with researchers at the department.

Thesis supervision is compulsory. Each candidate gets a maximum of 30 hours of supervision during the thesis work, supervisor preparation included. If a non-faculty supervisor is appointed, resources are divided by 2/3 of the time for the main supervisor and 1/3 for the internal second supervisor.

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

a. Research ethics seminar 1 and 2 must be fully attended.

b. Approved thesis outline.

c. A signed contract with the appointed supervisor.

Comprehensive thinking, collaboration and implementation ability are important in the public sector. For several decades, the public sector has attempted to become more 'strategic' than before and the strategy concept is currently used by many public institutions in different contexts. This course studies what strategy is and how strategic thinking, management and leadership can be used in the public sector.

The course examines different definitions of strategy and various related traditions and tools, and studies how this can elucidate strategic management and leadership in the public sector. The course also examines how policy and the public sphere influence strategic management and leadership. Great emphasis is placed on using the international and Norwegian research literature on strategy in the public sector, and on studying how strategy is used and works in the public sector.

Through studies of basic problems relating to strategy and the characteristics of the public sector, as well as practical skills training in the use of strategy tools such as internal and external analysis, competitive analysis, value chain analysis and stakeholder analysis, the course defines grounds for using strategic management and leadership in planning, cooperation, reorganisation and renewal in the public sector.

Language of instruction is Norwegian.

None

Grade scale A-F.

One internal and one external examiner will assess each exam.