PMED3900 Bachelor Thesis Course description

Through the work on the bachelor’s thesis, the students will delve into a chosen topic. The research question must be related to the paramedic profession Professional development and developing new knowledge jointly is a key topic in the course. The work on the thesis can be linked to ongoing research, improvement and development projects at the university or external environments.

The student must have passed the first and second years of the programme or equivalent, with the exception of the courses PMED1050, PMED1060 and PMED1070.

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 how knowledge from research can be used in clinical practice
• can explain how to critically assess national and international research relating to the clinical paramedical field
• can describe basic research methods and philosophy of science
• is familiar with the most important ethical and legal framework for health research and quality improvement work
• can explain ethical and legal dilemmas relevant to their chosen research topic
• can describe the process of looking up sources to find relevant research knowledge and/or evidence-based procedures in a self-chosen topic
• is familiar with research and development work in the paramedical discipline

Skills

The student

• can formulate a research question in a self-chosen topic
• can carry out independent professional research and quality improvement or development work in accordance with legal, ethical and academic guidelines
• can apply different health research databases and other evidence-based academic sources
• can carry out a critical and systematic assessment of research articles and other sources
• can present relevant findings in an academic and structured manner
• can present and discuss findings in comparison to other discipline and research literature
• can discuss the reliability and transferability of the findings to the paramedic profession
• masters basic assessments of personal data protection, consent and the use of sensitive information

General competence

The student

• can reflect on the findings by explaining them in relation to clinical experience-based knowledge in order to answer the research question
• can reflect on the use of research knowledge and experience-based knowledge in a paramedical context
• shows an understanding of the connection between research, clinical training, society and health

Work and teaching methods include lectures, seminars, study groups, supervision, group work and self-study. The course starts with lectures that will support the students’ work on the chosen subject, formulating the research questions 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 groups are offered one hour of supervision in connection with the project outline (group) and up to three hours for work on the bachelor’s thesis. The students are assigned a supervisor after they have submitted a project outline describing the topic of the thesis. The project outline must be approved by the assigned supervisor.

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

• Minimum attendance of 80% at seminars and study groups
• Written group assignment in the form of a project outline, 1,000 words (+/- 10%).
• Attendance in at least two supervision sessions.

A written bachelor’s thesis in groups of three students* over a period of 9-10 weeks. Scope: 10,000 words (+/- 10%).

* In special cases, students can be granted dispensation to write the assignment individually or in groups of two students.

Resit exam: If the bachelor’s thesis is awarded an F, the students in the group will be given one more chance to submit a reworked version for the exam. Students who retake the exam are offered up to three hours of supervision. If the students keep the same research questions as they used for the ordinary exam, they do not have to resubmit the project outline. If the research question changes, a new project outline must be completed and approved before the students can submit the bachelor’s thesis for assessment.

All aids are permitted.

Grade scale A-F.

All answers are assessed by two examiners. An external examiner is used regularly, at a minimum of every third completion of the course. When selecting answers for external evaluation, a minimum of 10 percent of the answers shall be included, with no fewer than 5 answers. The external examiner’s assessment of the selected answers shall benefit all students.

This course adopts a critical perspective of the empirical and theoretical basis for the significance of health for people as individuals and as participants in society, and will elucidate health as a means and as an end. Health can be regarded as a good in itself, but it can also be regarded as a key premise for quality of life and social participation. Looking at how health and illness are constructed through interaction between health sciences, health service actors and professions, and members of society opens for important discussions that can raise awareness within multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary fields of health sciences. The course covers the development of different views of health and illness, and places these concepts in a complex physical, psychological, and social context. The ethical and health policy challenges posed by new biomedical technology are also discussed.