EPN-V2

MAVIT4050 Theory of Science and Research Methods Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Vitenskapsteori og forskningsmetode
Weight
10.0 ECTS
Year of study
2023/2024
Course history
Curriculum
FALL 2023
Schedule
Programme description

  • Introduction

    Language of instruction: English (Norwegian if no English-speaking students have registered for the course)

    Development and changes in the health and social care field are often based on new research. To become a good professional practitioner within health sciences, it is necessary to understand and apply research literature and to see it in conjunction with clinical experience and professional development. Theory of science is an important part of the basis for understanding scientific activity. The course stimulates students to take an inquisitive and critical approach to knowledge development in order to make them better equipped to assess the grounds on which health-related decisions are made. The course also provides an overview of the most commonly applied methods in qualitative and quantitative research, and of key principles of research ethics. Insight into the various methods means that as professional practitioners, they will be able to identify research literature that is suitable to answer questions related to the health sciences.

  • Recommended preliminary courses

  • Required preliminary courses

    Admission to the programme.

  • 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 identify and compare the most common methods used in qualitative and quantitative research
    • can discuss the most common theories of science and the relationship between theory of science and research method

    Skills

    The student

    • can identify different types of clinical questions, such as questions about effect and prognosis, and knows which study design is most suitable for answering different clinical questions
    • can critically assess research articles 
    • can understand the choice of different qualitative and quantitative analysis methods and can interpret the results
    • can identify and discuss issues related to research ethics 

    General competence

    The student

    • can analyse relevant academic, professional and issues related to research ethics and propose solutions
    • can disseminate research results of relevance to the discipline
    • can analyse academic problems on the basis of the history, traditions, distinctive character and place in society of the health sciences

  • Teaching and learning methods

    The course will use varied, student-active work methods. The teaching will be digital, including blended learning.

    Work and teaching methods include digital lectures, digital group assignments, in-depth and reflection assignments at seminars on relevant topics, and self-study. The students will give oral presentations at the seminars, and receive oral feedback from fellow students on their group work and oral feedback from the lecturer.

  • Course requirements

    None

  • Assessment

    Individual home examination (multiple choice test), two hours.

    The examination will be in English.

  • Permitted exam materials and equipment

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

  • Grading scale

    Grade scale A-F.

  • Examiners

    Two internal and two external examiners control the exam questions. Each examination paper will be assessed by one internal examiner.

  • Overlapping courses

    The course overlaps 100% with MAABI4050, MASYK4050, MASYD4050, MAPO4050, MAPSD4050, ABIO6050, KREFT6050, KREFT6200, KARD6050, PSY6050, VPSYD6050, PSYD6050, HEL6050, and BIT6000.