PARA3910 Bachelor's Thesis Course description

Through the work on the bachelor's thesis, the students will study a topic they have chosen themselves and issues relating to the empirical and theoretical basis for the paramedic profession. The work on the thesis can be linked to ongoing research and development projects at the university or external environments.

Passed the first and second years of the programme, with the exception of the course PARAPRA1 Clinical Studies 1.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• has broad knowledge of prehospital work and recent research relating to the research question for the bachelor's thesis
• has knowledge of relevant theory of science and research methodology and can explain strengths and weaknesses of the method he/she has chosen
• is capable of explaining research ethics aspects of his/her own project

Skills

The student is capable of

• preparing a research question and conducting a study in line with guidelines for research ethics and the protection of privacy
• collecting, comparing, analysing and discussing findings from relevant research articles and other relevant sources in relation to a research question
• discussing issues in light of the unique features of the paramedic profession, relevant theory and recent research

General competence

The student is capable of

• exploring and discussing theoretical and clinical and/or operational issues in a systematic and reflective manner

Work and teaching methods include lectures, seminars, supervision in groups and self-study. The course starts with lectures and seminars supporting the students' work on their topic, research question and project outline.

The bachelor's thesis is written in groups of three students and is based on a topic chosen by the students themselves that can be linked to the learning outcomes for the bachelor's programme. The thesis is written in the form of a literature study. The students are offered;up to three hours of supervision for work on the bachelor's thesis. The project outline must be approved by the supervisor.

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

• minimum attendance of 80% at seminars
• project outline 1,000 words +/- 10%
• attendance at a minimum of 2 supervision sessions

Det gis en innføring i analyse av kvantitative data slik at studenten kan lese vitenskapelige artikler kritisk. Tema er: ulike design i kvantitative studier, forskjellige typer data, grunnleggende prinsipper ved univariat og bivariat analyse og hypotesetesting, tolking av deskriptive tabeller og figurer og etisk refleksjon om planlegging, gjennomføring og presentasjon av kvantitative studier. Det gis en anvendbar innføring i grunnleggende begreper i statistikk og sentrale statistiske metoder. PC-øvelser med statistikkpakken SPSS utgjør noe av undervisningen. Forskningsetiske prinsipper anvendes og ses i sammenheng med studiedesign, datainnsamling, resultatfremstilling og ved kritisk vurdering av forskningsresultater. Emnet MAPO4050 Vitenskapsteori og forskningsmetode bør være gjennomført og bestått før emnestart her.

Grade scale A-F

All bachelor's theses are assessed by two examiners. Twenty per cent are assessed by one external and one internal examiner. The remaining theses will be assessed by two internal examiners. The external examiner's assessment shall benefit all the students.