PENG9200 Scientific Research Methods and Data Analysis in Engineering Science Course description

This course covers two central areas of scientific research: the construction and justification of a research plan, and the subsequent analysis and interpretation of its implementation and of the resulting data.

The course will be offered once a year, provided 3 or more students sign up for the course. If less than 3 students sign up for a course, the course will be cancelled for that year.

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 discuss theories, models and methods used in mental health care practice;
• can assess the purpose of and challenges relating to classification and diagnosis systems for mental health complaints;
• can identify key vulnerability and risk factors relating to mental health problems from a biopsychosocial perspective
• can describe and assess the development of mental healthcare services for users, patients and next of kin
• can critically assess the individual’s right to autonomy and user participation, and is familiar with important ethical problems and considerations in the development of equitable health services
• can assess the overarching conditions that are significant to improvement processes in mental health care

Skills

The student

• can disseminate core theoretical and research-based knowledge in the field in writing and orally
• can participate in academic and health and social policy discussions that promote knowledge about the field of mental health, and can communicate the user/patient's perspective
• can critically assess health and social policy, and legal and financial framework conditions for working in mental health care
• can analyse empirical data, theory and research that deal with development, vulnerability, protection and consequences of mental health complaints
• can demonstrate thorough professional insight and understanding of individual users/patients, families and networks
• can analyse their own profession’s contribution to interdisciplinary cooperation at various levels and can apply this knowledge in the coordination of user-oriented services
• can apply academic literature and research in their own development project

General competence

The student

• can integrate the UN Sustainable Development Goals on good health and well-being, and less inequality in ethical and professional problems related to mental health and mental health complaints, including substance abuse and dependency problems
• can analyse the relationship between the individual, service and societal levels when planning mental health care
• can reflect and contribute to discussions based on professional and research knowledge, user knowledge and experiential knowledge
• can disseminate relevant problems, analyses and research results in a way that meets research ethics requirements

None.

The student is expected to have the following outcomes on completion of the course:

Knowledge:

On successful completion of the course, the student:

• has advanced knowledge of the research process.
• has advanced knowledge of data collection techniques relative to his/her field of study within engineering sciences
• can critically assess the usefulness of using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methodologies in the engineering sciences.
• has a high-level command of qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis relative to his/her field of study.

Skills:

On successful completion of the course, the student can:

• construct a problem statement or research question and evaluate its soundness.
• create technically and scientifically sound research proposals.
• select a methodology to address a research problem.

General competence:

On successful completion of the course, the student can:

• distinguish and formulate research problems.
• develop and critically assess the components of a research proposal.
• critically reflect on the nature of research, scientific practice and knowledge

This course will feature lectures and practical work to provide both theoretical and hands-on content. The students will work in groups and complete various assignments related to the practical and theoretical aspects of the course. The students will supplement the lectures and group work with their own reading.

None.

Students have to write an individual report. An individual oral exam and the individual report will constitute the portfolio exam for the course. Both exams must be passed in order to pass the course.

The oral presentation cannot be appealed.

All aids are permitted.

Language of instruction: Norwegian

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the framework conditions, theory and research in mental health care.

Research, treatment, care and preventive work with people with mental health conditions requires an interdisciplinary understanding and approach. The course discusses basic concepts such as mental health, mental health complaints, substance abuse and dependency problems related to mental health care. It has an emphasis on a biopsychosocial model for individually-adapted prevention and care across disciplines and different mental health complaints, substance abuse and dependency problems. Ethical aspects and the relationship between mental health care workers and users/patients will be thematised throughout the course.

The whole course is taken together with students from the Advanced Programme in Mental Health Care.

The student must have been admitted to the Master’s Programme in Health Sciences - Specialisation in Mental Health Care.