EPN-V2

SFV4800 Master Thesis Preparation Workshop - Quantitative Methods Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Forberedelse til masteroppgaven - kvantitativ metode
Study programme
Master Programme in Applied Social Sciences - Study Option International Social Welfare and Health Policy
Master Programme in Applied Social Sciences - Programme Option Child Care, part-time
Master Programme in Applied Social Sciences - Programme Option Child Care
Master in Programme Applied Social Sciences
Master Programme in Applied Social Sciences
Elective modules, Master Programme in Applied Social Sciences
Master Programme in Applied Social Sciences - Programme Option Social Work, part-time
Master Programme in Applied Social Sciences - Programme Option Social Work
Weight
10.0 ECTS
Year of study
2019/2020
Curriculum
FALL 2019
Schedule
Programme description
Course history

Introduction

SFV4800 The Ungdata Workshop is an interdisciplinary master's course that ties in research, teaching and the field of practice together, and that gives students the opportunity to work with "fresh" quantitative data.Each year, over one hundred municipalities and counties carry out a survey among pupils at the lower secondary level and at upper secondary level in their field (see www.ungdata.no for more information). The questionnaires used in these Undata surveys cover topics such as living conditions, parents and friends, school and the future, recreation, health and well-being, smoking, alcohol and drugs, and questions about criminal activity, violence and other at-risk behaviour. These surveys are relevant at an interdisciplinary level because they contain a wide range of variables, and the data are currently used as a basis for municipal planning and development work attached to public health and to preventative work directed at adolescents.The students will also have the opportunity to work with data from The Norwegian study on life course, ageing and generation (NorLAG). It is also possible for students to work on other data sets related to the master’s thesis.

The students taking the master's course Ungdata Workshop are given the opportunity to apply their knowledge of quantitative methods on "fresh" data about adolescents' life situations and living conditions. They learn to relate empirical analyses to thematic knowledge about the sociology of adolescents, get in touch with a research environment at the Department of Youth Research at NOVA, and experience the practical use of knowledge of quantitative methodology through cooperation with one municipality.

The master's course is a cooperation between the Institute for social work at the Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy and the research institute NOVA, but is open to other master's degree students affiliated to other faculties at OsloMet that meet the requirements for participation. Special emphasis is placed on the students acquiring in-depth knowledge about the methodological craft by translating their own research inquiries into research questions that can be analysed using quantitative data, independent adaptations of quantitative data, completion and interpretation of pertaining analyses in SPSS.

The lectures and guidance related to NorLAG will be given fully in English, while the lectures and guidance related to Ungdata will be given in Norwegian.

Required preliminary courses

For students taking the Master`s Programme in Applied Social Sciences, one of the courses SFF4100, SFF4110, SIW4200 or SIW4210 must have been completed and passed. Applicants from other master's degree programmes must have completed and passed quantitative methodology, worth a minimum of 5 ECTs.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course the students are expected to have achieved the following knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The student has:

  • advanced knowledge of different quantitative forms of analysis and practical implementation and quantitative analyses in SPSS
  • specialised knowledge of key concepts related to the sociology of adolescents, such as identity, individualisation, negotiations, and knowledge of recreation and family life, education and social inequality, health and risk
  • specialised knowledge of key concepts related to the sociology of the elderly, as well as knowledge of health, work quality of life, care, and family relations in the second half of life (40 year+)

Skills

The student is capable of

  • working independently on facilitation, analysis and interpretation of quantitative data
  • analysing empirical research about adolescents based on quantitative data
  • understanding quantitative research articles and interpreting figures

Competence

The student is capable of

  • linking theories about youth and quantitative methodology in an adequate manner
  • conducting, applying and disseminating quantitative research to the field of practice

Teaching and learning methods

Emnet omfatter sentrale områder i livskvalitetsforskning i forhold til barn, ungdom og voksne. Det gir et grunnlag for å kunne bruke livskvalitetsinstrumenter eller kvalitativ metode i kartlegging og dokumentasjon av hva som er viktig for at personen skal ha et godt liv og i evalueringen av effekten av iverksatte tiltak. Temaer som inngår i emnet: teoretiske modeller som ligger til grunn for begrepet livskvalitet, kontekstuelle og kulturelle rammer, livskvalitetsbegrepet på gruppe-, individ- og samfunnsnivå og ulike metodiske tilnærminger for å evaluere livskvalitet, både i helse- og sosial tjenesten og i forskning, hva fremmer og hemmer livskvalitet og sammenhengen mellom livskvalitet og helsei lys av et bærekraftig samfunn.

Course requirements

Admission to the programme or to the individual course.

Assessment

Etter gjennomført emne har studenten følgende læringsutbytte definert i kunnskap, ferdigheter og generell kompetanse:

Kunnskap

Studenten

  • kan redegjøre for teoretiske modeller som ligger til grunn for begrepet livskvalitet
  • kan identifisere betydningen av kontekstuelle og kulturelle rammer, individets verdier og perspektiver i livet
  • kan identifisere hva som fremmer og hemmer livskvalitet
  • kan identifisere i sammenhengen mellom livskvalitet og helse
  • kan kritisk vurdere bruken av livskvalitetsbegrepet på gruppe-, individ- og samfunnsnivå
  • kan kritisk vurdere ulike metodiske tilnærminger for å undersøke livskvalitet, både i helse- og sosial tjensten og i forskning
  • kan vurdere betydningen av brukermedvirkning og autonomi i helse- og sosial tjenesten og brukermedvirkning i forskning

Ferdigheter

Studenten

  • kan anvende ulike spørreskjemaer til kartlegging av livskvalitet
  • kan analysere og tolke livskvalitetsmålinger
  • kan vurdere livskvalitet hos ulike grupper av personer
  • kan anvende brukermedvirkning i vurdering av livskvalitet på alle nivå i helsetjenesten

Generell kompetanse

Studenten

  • kan formidle selvstendig arbeid om livskvalitetsrelaterte problemstillinger fra helse- og sosial tjenesten
  • kan kommunisere om faglige problemstillinger innen temaet på alle nivå i helsetjenesten

Permitted exam materials and equipment

Lectures, group work, role play, exercises and self-study.

Grading scale

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

Assignment:

  • Written assignment in groups of 3-4 students.
  • Scope: 1,500 words (+/- 10%)
  • Oral presentation of the assignment to fellow students and lecturer(s).
  • Oral feedback from fellow students.
  • Oral feedback from lecturer(s).

Documentation of literature selected by the student: 350 pages

Examiners

Individual written home exam over 3 days.

Scope: 2,500 words (+/- 10 %).

Admission requirements

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