SIW4220 Qualitative Methods and Research Design Course description

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 

• in-depth knowledge of key knowledge discourses in child welfare and other welfare fields and of different criteria for evidence-based practice 
• advanced knowledge of the child welfare service’s heterogeneous knowledge base, interdisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration, and an understanding of the relevance of theoretical perspectives to professional practice  
• in-depth knowledge of theoretical understandings of children and childhood, categorisation processes in the child welfare service’s everyday practices  
• advanced knowledge of children’s right to participation and protection and the importance of children as participants in everyday life and in the professional practices of the child welfare service  
• advanced knowledge of different perspectives on children’s development 
• specialised knowledge and insight into research on care assessments and the importance of a holistic understanding of children and parents  
• advanced knowledge of how neglect and abuse occur and are manifested in different ways in children, young people and families in vulnerable life situations  
• in-depth knowledge of different perspectives on family work and milieu therapy within and outside institutions  

Skills 

The student can 

• analyse and take a critical approach to the child welfare service’s implicit and explicit knowledge base to make decisions and implement measures in the child’s best interests  
• analyse professional issues related to risk assessments and different explanations of children and children’s problems  
• take a critical approach to different sources of knowledge and carry out comprehensive care assessments by analysing and assessing the child’s best interest in light of relevant theories and methods  
• cooperate with children and parents and other services when obtaining information and assessing measures  

General competence  

The student can 

• apply knowledge and skills about children, young people and families in vulnerable life situations in new areas in order to carry out advanced tasks and projects  
• communicate about professional issues, analyses and conclusions in child welfare work with children, young people and families, partners and the general public  
• take a critical and analytical approach to explicit and implicit theories, measures and methods in child welfare practice   

Students may use a spelling dictionary, as well as a bilingual dictionary during the written school exam.

The following aids are permitted: Lovdata Pro.

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

A random selection consisting of at least 25% of the exam papers will be graded by both an internal and external examiner. This will inform the grading of the remaining exam papers.

The exam papers are assessed by a national corps of examiners.

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

The exam papers are assessed by an internal and an external examiner. A random selection consisting of at least 25% of the exam papers will be graded by two examiners which will form the basis for determining the level for all the exam papers.

Teaching methods vary between lectures and student-active learning methods. 

Oddbjørg Skjær Ulvik

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.