SBV4300 Knowledge perspectives in child welfarework Course description

None.

A student who has completed the course has the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge and skills:

Knowledge

The student has

• thorough knowledge of the research process 
• advanced knowledge of quantitative research designs: their appropriate use as well as strengths and limitations
• thorough knowledge of important concepts such as measurement, reliability, validity, and generalization.

Skills

The student can

• relate research processes to scientific theory and ethical principles
• apply research methods in a reflective manner and appropriately choose methods that are relevant for different kinds of research questions
• use relevant methods for producing, analyzing and interpreting diverse types of empirical data (e.g. surveys or register data)
• use univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis techniques  
• understand inferential statistics 
• evaluate research based on quantitative methods in terms of methodological quality and appropriateness

General Competence

The students are

• familiar with, and critically reflect on various consequences of research
• able to use ethical judgement regarding one’s own position as a researcher and how participation in research can intervene in people’s lives.
• familiar with and can adhere to ethical regulations such as: correct and complete source information, informant anonymisation, confidentiality, researcher responsibility.

The course consists of lectures, exercises with statistical software, e-lectures and assignments that the students work with on their own and receive guidance via e-based resources.

Students will work with an analysis project consisting of univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis (regression analysis).

The following aids are permitted: Lovdata Pro.

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

• Coursework 1: Participation in at least 80% of the seminars
• Coursework 2: An oral presentation, presented by the student project group, as well as peer feedback to another group's work. The presentation can be anything from a presentation of results from that group's work, to presenting the most interesting group discussion or reflection on course related topics.

Attendance during the group presentation is mandatory, and presentations and feedback must be approved by the course lecturer. Students who are not present or who have not provided input to the group or have not participated in providing feedback to a peer group, or have presentations that are not approved, will have to submit an alternative qualification to be able to sit for the examination.

Lack of an approved course work requirement will disqualify the student from taking part in the final examination.

The exam in the course is a semester course paper. The exam paper must have a scope of 10 pages (+/- 10 per cent). Font and font size: Calibri 12 points. Line spacing: 1.5.

The student will work with the course paper through work on and reflections about the practical exercises through the semester until delivery. The paper’s theme is defined or approved by the course leader.

None. 

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:  

Knowledge 

The student has 

• advanced knowledge of the child welfare service’s position and duties in the Norwegian welfare services, and the child welfare service’s social remit in a social policy context  
• in-depth knowledge of the main features of the child welfare service’s history at the national level and an understanding of child welfare in a comparative and international context  
• knowledge of international conventions and national immigration policy in light of child welfare legislation, as well as knowledge of the special rights of indigenous peoples and national minorities and their consequences for child welfare work 
• advanced knowledge of the role of the state in children’s upbringing. 
• advanced knowledge of what children’s and families’ living conditions and life experience mean for their everyday lives, practices, relationships and encounters with the support system  
• in-depth knowledge of basic social science concepts such as power, structure/actor, social inequality and marginalisation  
• in-depth knowledge of perspectives on children and families from minority backgrounds, including indigenous peoples and national minorities, as well as knowledge of the significance of living conditions, labour market participation, education, upbringing, marginalisation, racism and discrimination for how people exercise the role of parent   
• in-depth knowledge of how violence, crime, substance abuse, poverty, health issues and disabilities affect children and families’ living conditions, relationships and everyday life  

Skills 

The student can 

• analyse and discuss child welfare phenomena on the basis of social science theory and research  
• analyse problems relating to child welfare on the basis of the discipline’s history, traditions, distinctive nature and place in society  
• analyse and take a critical approach to the child welfare service’s position of power in society and its importance for cooperation with children, young people and parents   

General competence  

The student can 

• critically analyse and reflect on how power relations and political guidelines constitute conditions for child welfare work  
• analyse and reflect critically on how attitudes, language and cultural norms and values influence child welfare work  
• analyse relevant professional ethical issues in child welfare work  

The exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner. 

At least 25% of the exam papers will be assessed by two examiners. The grades awarded for the papers assessed by two examiners form the basis for determining the level for all the exam papers.

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

• Coursework requirement 1: An individual written assignment with a scope of 4-5 pages. The assignment will be read and assessed by two fellow students before the person with course responsibility assesses the assignment, with the enclosed comments by the fellow students, and decides whether or not it is approved.  

The purpose of the coursework requirement is to further develop the students’ academic writing skills and their ability to express themselves clearly and accurately in writing.  

The required coursework must be completed and approved by the stipulated deadline in order for the student to take the exam. If the coursework is not approved, the student will be given the opportunity to submit an improved version once by a given deadline.