SFV4500 Applied analyses workshop - qualitative method Course description

The course provides an in-depth look at various methods of qualitative analysis and is suitable for students who wish to use qualitative methods in their master's thesis. A central theme is the power of language, and how various texts in the welfare state can be said to exercise power over the welfare state's "users". How a "client", "resident" or "patient" is presented in medical or social records can, for example, have a decisive impact on the person's future life. Students will receive training in practical analysis of concrete research material, either texts of various kinds, or qualitative interviews. The aim is to build up competence in research analysis, which will also be a useful preparation for the analysis process in the master's thesis.

Language of instruction is Norwegian.

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

• different traditions in textual analysis
• different theories about power and language
• different genres of text of importance to the welfare state

Skills

The candidate is capable of

• discussing how different methods of textual analysis can be applied in practice
• conducting analysis of all types of text material
• reflecting over language and text as forces in the welfare society and in his/her own academic work

General competence

• The student is able to reflect critically on the ethical consequences of qualitative research and analysis

The teaching takes place with in-person attendance on campus, and is organised as a combination of lectures and practical analysis work in groups and through plenary discussions. The student will acquire a reflective attitude towards the tools of analysis through independent work with different texts.

The practical analysis work takes place in the form of two writing seminars. Prior to the first seminar, the student must submit the draft of an essay. Feedback from the person responsible for the seminar will be given in the first seminar. Prior to the second seminar, the student must submit a reworked draft of the essay, and read the first draft of two fellow students. During the second seminar, the student must provide written and oral opponent feedback on the drafts. Attendance is required at both seminars in order to receive opponent feedback and comments from the seminar tutor.

No coursework requirements or compulsory activities.

The exam in the course is an individual essay based on a text of their choice. In this essay, the student must analyse the chosen text based on one of the methods of analysis included in the syllabus. The chosen method of analysis must be substantiated on the basis of how applicable it is in relation to the chosen research question and text.

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

Students awarded a fail grade are given one opportunity to submit an improved version of the essay for assessment.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Grade scale A-F.

Risk management has become an indispensable tool for the management of non-financial and financial corporations alike. This course will make students familiar with risk measurement and management techniques, their advantages and deficiencies. We will cover different sources of risks and how to measure and manage those risks, with a particular focus on financial risks and value at risk. The course will also discuss the economic rationale for risk management, the regulation of banks, and analyze the role of risk management in the last financial crisis and in connection with famous bankruptcies like Long Term Capital Management and Lehman Brothers.

In risk management, we make heavy use of derivative securities to hedge against risks. For that reason, it is recommended that the student has completed ØABED4200 Derivatives. The class is quantitative and will employ spreadsheets.

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

• a broad overview of different sources of risks and how they affect the cashflows and the value of the corporation
• knowledge about how to quantify those risks with popular risk measures
• knowledge of how to mitigate or eliminate the risk exposure with standard derivative contracts
• understanding of when risk management adds value to a corporation

Skills

The student can

• identify different sources of risks and quantify a corporation's exposure to them  
• calculate the impact of different risks using popular risk measures, e.g., Value-at-Risk, for individual positions and for entire portfolios or the entire corporation
• employ appropriate financial instruments to mitigate or eliminate the impact of the different sources of risks.

Competence

The student

• is able to quantify and manage the risk of a corporation and
• has a critical understanding of the limitations of the various techniques discussed in the course.