SIW5901 The Master's Thesis Course description

The student submits a thesis that investigates a research question using one or several relevant research methodologies.

All other courses within the master's degree must be passed before submitting the master's thesis.

A student who has completed his or her qualification has the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has advanced knowledge of

• research designs relevant to the investigation of a particular research question
• a particular area of social or health policy of relevance to their degree
• relevant research literature on the subject matter of the master-s thesis
• theories and methodological approaches relevant for the chosen subject matter
• basic conceptual tools applied to the discussion of critically examining, explaining and understanding a social or health research questions

Skills

The student can

• conduct a review of the state of scientific knowledge related to a research question in social and health policy
• conduct a limited, independent research project under supervision
• choose a methodology that is relevant for a specific health and social welfare research question
• apply research methods in a reflective manner
• critically evaluate relevant quantitative or qualitative methods used in reports, books or articles investigating a particular social welfare or health policy problem

General Competence

The student can

• read and critically assess academic literature
• present specialised knowledge and research findings in the form of academic writing
• apply advanced skills and knowledge in the field of social welfare and health policy
• evaluate issues related to the academic, professional and research ethics

All exam papers are assessed by two examiners. An external examiner will assess at least 20% of the papers together with an internal examiner. Other exams are assessed by two internal examiners. The external examiner’s assessment shall benefit all students.

A supervisor will be appointed by the programme director. Supervision is a crucial component in the preparation of the thesis. The supervisor is to assist the student when he or she is acquiring the necessary and relevant knowledge, as well as, when collecting and analysing data. The supervisor must ensure that the student-s research activity comply with accepted ethical standards within social research, including standards defined by the Norwegian Data Protection Official and the National Committees for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities .

Every student is entitled to approximately 10 hours of face-to-face consultation, individually or in groups, or the equivalent if part of the supervision is conducted via email.

A contract between the student and the supervisor must be agreed upon and signed by both parties to ensure that rights and obligations are understood. The student and the supervisor may request a substitute if either party fails to meet the obligations outlined in the contract.

The research work (analysis of qualitative and/or quantitative data or systematic literature review) is conducted during the fourth semester. Norwegian students are encouraged to carry out their data collection abroad. International students often collect their data in their home countries.

The student must have been admitted to the study programme.

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

Knowledge

The student is capable of

• describing the structure and functioning of the musculoskeletal system
• describing the structure and functioning of the circulatory and respiratory system
• describing the structure and function of the nervous system
• describing the structure and functions of the sensory apparatus
• shedding light on the connections between movement, sense, perception and cognition in the performance of daily activities (human movement science)
• describing psychological theory and the connection between motivation and learning
• describing the main features of psychosocial, cognitive and motor development
• explaining the significance of play and learning for the development of children and adolescents
• explaining the significance of work in adulthood
• describing what promotes the elderly population’s mastery of everyday activities

Skills

The student is capable of

• planning and using activities in a therapeutic and adequate manner in relation to a given user group
• carrying out an activity analysis of motor, process, communication and
• interaction skills as well as an analysis of the body’s structures and functions
• applying functional anatomy and biomechanics in the analysis of everyday activities

General competence

The student is capable of

• teaching fellow students and lecturers about a topic related to the course
• showing respect and care for fellow students in interactions relating to examinations that include touching and intimacy

In order to be permitted to sit the exam, the following must have been approved:

• a minimum of 80 per cent attendance in scheduled teaching
• supervised individual, digital multiple-choice test in anatomy, physiology and psychology, up to one hour.

If the test is not approved, it must be retaken. The students have a right to two attempts to pass the coursework requirement before the ordinary exam, and one further attempt before a resit/rescheduled exam.

Individual oral exam, up to 30 minutes.

Individual oral exam, up to 30 minutes.