PHVIT9530 Assessment and Methods of Measurement Course description

On completion of the course, the PhD candidate has achieved the following learning outcomes, defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

The PhD candidate:

• is at the forefront of knowledge of methodologies related to the development of concepts and theories
• has an in-depth understanding of the relationship between human experience, concepts, and theories in a health science context

Skills

The PhD candidate can:

• develop a conceptual and/or theoretical framework related to their own research
• identify relevant clinical phenomena to develop concepts and theories
• analyse and interpret research findings related to concept and theory development
• address complex scientific issues and challenge established knowledge and practice in concept and theory development

General competence

The PhD candidate can:

• argue in favour of particular methodologies in concept and theory development based on scientific theory
• participate in discussions on concept and theory development

Work and teaching methods consist of lectures, seminars, and self-study. The outcomes of the seminars are presented and discussed in plenary sessions.

Phase 1 of the master's thesis lays the foundation for conducting a successful master project and writing the master's thesis. In this phase, you will study the relevant literature, map out the area of your master project, find and formulate problem statement and research questions, and plan the research you will conduct in your master project.

In addition, there will be a series of workshops on the academic writing and effective communication of the thesis project. Students will develop an awareness of the conventions of academic writing and the writing process and use a range of analytical tools and methods to develop their writing and writing practices as part of writing their thesis.

Guildelines for master's theses at the Faculty of Technology, Art and Design can be found here: Retningslinjer for masteroppgaver ved Fakultet for teknologi, kunst og design - Student - minside (oslomet.no).

Candidates must write an essay based on a concept and/or theory of their choice and apply principles from the methods of concept and theory development presented in the course. The essay must consist of up to 5,000 words and must be submitted no more than 2 weeks after the end of the course.

On completion of the course, the PhD candidate has achieved the following learning outcomes, defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

The Phd candidate

• can describe complex stimulus control by accounting for

• how combinations of stimuli or relations among stimuli rather than simple stimuli influence behavior
• how individuals react to multiple stimulus dimensions
• how contextual control and relational control guide behavior
• how transfer(formation) of function influence behavior

Skills

The PhD candidate can

• describe the research strategies and main findings of the initial research on complex stimulus control
• discuss symbolic behavior
• describe and discuss the evolution of the field of equivalence research, with emphasis on theoretical explanation
• discuss motivational operations
• discuss attending properties of stimuli
• design and execute experiments within stimulus control
• describe motor and sensory systems
• perform data analysis and interpretation

General Competence

The Phd candidate

• understands how multiple features, contexts, or relations among stimuli influence behavior
• has competence about identifying stimulus features and relations
• can apply discrimination and generalization principles
• can use Matching-to-Sample (MTS) and conditional discrimination techniques
• understands the importance of stimulus equivalence and relational frame theory
• can apply knowledge about emergent relations in applied settings

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

1. a draft text of the Phase 1 submission
2. a peer review of another students draft text of the Phase 1 submission
3. a Process memo (reflection on the feedback received).

The examination is an essay focusing on stimulus control. The essay could be based on papers from the reading list and/or presentations at the course. The paper should be maximum 10 pages, double space, front page and references included.

Assessment is pass or fail.

Master thesis coordinator: assistant professor Nikola Holm

Writing workshop coordinator: professor Pavel Zemliansky

This phase is the beginning of a longer research project. The content will be relative to the student's project.

The academic writing workshops will cover topics such as

• Variations in academic style
• Audience, purpose and style
• The writing process
• Disciplinary identity
• Academic language
• Vocabulary, grammar, sentence, paragraph and text
• Coherence and cohesion
• Directness and formality
• Avoiding common errors: e.g. digression, lack of thesis statement, misunderstanding one’s audience
• Analysing, discussing and responding to academic texts
• Article structures, including IMRAD