MASYK4070 Research Methods, Qualitative Approach Course description

MAABI4050, MASYK4050, MASYD4050, MAPO4050, MAPSD4050, ABIO6050, KREFT6050, KARD6050, VPSY6050, VPSYD6050, PSYD6050, HEL6050, BIT6000 overlap 100%.

Students should have completed and passed MASYK/D4050 Theory of Science and Research Methods before starting the course.

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

1. Plan for clinical training and self-assessment: The student must prepare a plan for clinical training based on the learning outcomes defined for the course and the available learning situations. The plan for clinical training forms the basis for the expectation clarification meeting that is held during the first weeks of the period of clinical training. The plan is used in the continuous supervision of the student. Before the final assessment, the student will prepare a self-assessment of competence achieved in relation to the assessment criteria. The purpose of the plan for clinical training and the self-assessment is to clarify and describe expected competence and to give the student the opportunity to plan his/her own learning process. The plan for clinical training must be submitted to the clinical supervisor and the university supervisor in the appropriate folder at least two working days before the meeting.

2. Academic assignment based on the student's master's thesis: The purpose of the assignment is to disseminate the results/knowledge produced from the master's thesis. The assignment can be aimed either at the professional community or the general public. It can be an opinion piece adapted to the requirements for opinion pieces in the newspaper Aftenposten or a popular science article for a specialist journal.

The assignment must be carried out by the same group of students who wrote the master's thesis together.

3. Documentation of completed clinical learning situations: The student must carry out at least 15-20 prenatal examinations, monitor and care for at least 10 women in labour during the dilation phase, at least 10 women with high-risk pregnancies, at least 20 women who have just given birth and their healthy newborns, deliver at least 13-15 children and conduct at least five post-partum interviews. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that the student attains a sub-goal so that he/she will meet the quantitative requirements for applying for authorisation as a midwife on completing the programme. Students who are assessed as 'not approved' are responsible for securing extra clinical training time to meet the quantitative criteria described above for the course.

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 in-depth knowledge of the research process and ethical challenges in qualitative studies
• is capable of using knowledge about the planning and execution of qualitative studies
• has advanced knowledge of the most commonly used analysis methods in qualitative research
• has in-depth knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of qualitative studies

Skills

The student is capable of

• analysing qualitative data, such as different kinds of text material
• taking a critical approach to the interpretation of qualitative data
• identifying and elucidating research ethics issues in their own projects
• systematically presenting findings from qualitative studies

Competence

The student is capable of

• presenting issues of relevance to qualitative design
• disseminating qualitative academic and research results of relevance to the health and social services
• communicating ethical considerations concerning the dissemination of health research

Lectures, group work, seminars and self-study.

All aids permitted

Pass/fail

The midway and final assessments are carried out by the clinical supervisor. The university supervisor will take part in the midway assessment. The final decision on whether to award a pass or fail grade is made by the university.

Grade scale A-F.

All exam papers are assessed by two examiners. An external examiner will grade 20% of the exam papers. The external examiner's assessment shall benefit all the students.

MASYK4070, MASYD4070 and MAPO4070 overlap 100%.