PSYK2600 Research Methods 3 - Research Designs and Statistics Course description

Upon completing the course, the candidates are expected to have gained the following learning outcomes (knowledge, skills and general competence).

Knowledge;;The candidate

• has in-depth knowledge of and insight into the study of the safety of journalisms internationally and have a good overview of the main lines of argument in central theoretical and professional debates in the field.
• has in-depth knowledge and understanding of key theoretical approaches and is familiar with cutting edge knowledge including aspects of digital safety, self-censorship, gender issues, investigating sensitive issues, covering protests, war and conflict, journalistic collaborations, financial and legal security of journalists.
• has knowledge about measures that can improve the situation for journalists and journalism, including the role of UN, UNESCO and NGOs in the field of freedom of speech and journalism.

;Skills;The candidate

• can compare, analyse and contribute to developing concepts and ideas in the field of the safety of journalists
• can reflect on and communicate the research in the field and its development in abroader conceptual context

;General competence

• assessing and identifying new research questions in the field.
• taking part in collaborative learning methods such as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL).
• taking part in debates in national and international fora.

The course consists of lectures, discussions, presentation of candidates’ own research, and commenting on others' work.

Teaching is organised as a combination of lectures, discussions and presentations by the candidates in which selected classic texts (books and/or articles), literature reviews and meta- analyses are discussed, and topical research presented. The seminar form supports the candidates’ practical training in presenting their own research and commenting on others’. An Online International Learning approach will be used to create equitable team-taught learning environments emphasizing collaborative candidate learning.

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

Knowledge

The student can

• describe general research methodology
• describe basic research designs and the different types of validity
• explain the application of descriptive statistics
• describe the general principles of statistical hypothesis testing
• explain Type l and Type II errors
• explain different types of basic statistical analyses and their application

Skills

The student can

• assess research results from published studies and the validity of the findings
• design a good study and complete simple statistical analyses of his/her own data

Competence

The student can

• communicate the basic principles of research methodology, hypothesis testing and statistics

Work and teaching methods used in the course are seminars, self-study and group work. Students are given practical exercises in using simple statistical analysis and interpreting results.

To prepare for the examination must the following obtain approved:

• participation in compulsory teaching activities (100%)
• complete four digital tests that must be passed by the specified deadline.

Written examination with invilgation, 3 hours.

None

Grade scale A-F.

All answers are assessed by one examiner.

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.