MED4100 Introduction to Research Methods Course description

This course is a practical training course that contains the second of two practical training periods in the third year of the programme. The practical training is carried out at locations affiliated to OsloMet - Metropolitan University (OsloMet) through signed cooperation agreements. These are primarily institutions in the municipal or specialist health service. The student will develop the action competence needed to meet the requirements made of physiotherapists. On the basis of ethical reflection and critical thinking, the student should provide professionally sound, person-centred and knowledge-based physiotherapy rooted in research, evidence-based knowledge and user knowledge, and participate in the daily activities at the practical training establishment. The practical study is carried out on all weekdays for ten (10) consecutive weeks, with a workload of 40 hours per week.

Passed first and second year of the programme or equivalent.

Passed FYBPRA1 Clinical Placement - I.

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• has in-depth knowledge of methods in both social science and humanities and types of analysis in journalism, media, communication and non-fiction research
• has in-depth knowledge of theory of science and research ethics
• understands the connection between research topic and choice of research design

Skills

The student

• can independently plan and carry out data collection and analysis
• can make research ethics assessments
• can develope a project design, which can be employed in the project outline for the master's thesis

General competence

The student

• can critically evaluate own and others' research method
• have an understanding of the scientific process, including the relationship between theory and data

The teaching consists of lectures and seminars. In the seminars, the student will receive practical training in reflection on method and academic writing. The approach is interdisciplinary and examples will be given of how different methods can be combined. The course presupposes a high degree of student activity in the form of presentations, critical reading of other people's texts, problem solving and student work.

The work and teaching methods include self-study, interprofessional cooperative learning and external practical training under supervision.

The student has ten (10) weeks of supervised practical training in the municipal or specialist health service. During this period, the student must twice demonstrate an examination and/or provide treatment in practice and give grounds for the clinical choices made and reflect on their own professional practice.

During the practical training, the students must comply with the clothing regulations in force at all times at the relevant practical training establishment.

The following must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

• Individual subject note in accordance with set criteria, 1000 words (+/- 10 %) The coursework will be subject to assessment.
• Two practical demonstrations: Carrying out an examination and/or treatment in practice, justifying clinical choices and reflecting on one's own professional practice, as well as discussing their choices with the practical training supervisor and the contact lecturer and possibly fellow students. The first demonstration is prior to the midway assessment. The second within the last two weeks of the practical training period. Both with a duration of up to two hours.

Assessment of practical training: The assessment is based on the learning outcomes for the course and the continuous assessment that students are subject to throughout the practical training period.

The student’s practical training can only be assessed if their attendance is sufficiently high (90%). For more information, see the general part of the programme description about practical training assessment.

Resit assessment: Students who fail a period of practical training normally have to retake the whole practical training period.

Not relevant.

Pass/Fail

The midway and final assessments are made by the practical training supervisor and the contact lecturer at the university. The final decision on whether to award a pass or fail grade is made by the university.