SYKP2000B Theory of Science and Research Methods Course description

The course builds on SYKP/SYKK1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care. This course teaches students how to work in a scientific manner. They should be able to read research articles and gain insight into methodical strengths and weaknesses of said articles. Qualitative and quantitative methods, or a combination of these are part of the course. Students will study the research process and basic scientific methods through practical exercises. The course contributes to understanding how scientific methods lay the basis for research results.

Portfolio examination comprising four tests and a supervised written examination lasting four hours. All four tests must be approved before the student can take the digital, supervised written examination. All the components must be awarded a pass grade before the examination as a whole can be passed.

If the student fails one test, the student can retake this test. Resit/rescheduled attempts at the four tests can be taken once before the ordinary, digital, supervised written exam. Before the resit/rescheduled digital, supervised written examination, students will be given a third and final attempt at one or more of the tests.

Admission to the programme.

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

Knowledge

The student is capable of

• explaining the stages of the research process
• describing the connection between the theory of science and research methods
• understanding the interpretation of and the background for key effect estimates and dispersion measures used in scientific studies

Skills

The student is capable of

• describing methods for the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data
• reflecting on the concept of quality in qualitative versus quantitative methods such as validity, reliability, soundness and trustworthiness
• describing differences between the humanistic and natural sciences research traditions

Competence

The student is capable of

• reflecting on how research results are influenced by choices of method and interpretation during the research process
• assessing research ethical aspects

Lectures, group work, seminars with presentations and self-study.

The course provides an introduction to how general learning principles are relevant in connection with developmental psychology concepts, such as social, emotional and cognitive development.

The course places particular emphasis on modern theories in developmental psychology, where development is seen as an interaction between biological preconditions, learning history and different environmental conditions.

Admission to the programme.

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

Knowledge 

The student can

• explain developmental psychology and modern development theories
• explain behaviour analytic approaches to developmental psychology and modern development theories
• describe development in the prenatal/birth/postnatal periods

Skills 

The student can

• give an account of and reflect on key developmental theories related to cognitive development, communication, personality, social and emotional development
• give an account of and reflect on the development of antisocial behaviour and behavioural disorders

General competence 

The student can

• describe and reflect on their own presentation technique
• describe and reflect on central theories in developmental psychology
• discuss nature and nurture

Work and teaching methods used in the course are lectures, seminar with presentations and coursework related to teaching parts of the syllabus to fellow students. The seminar presentations will be assessed according to given criteria.

In order to sign up for the final examination the following has to be approved:

• Minimum 80 % participation at the seminars
• Present 1-2 seminar assignments
• Identify an area with room for improvement in presentation techniques and evaluate this in the students’ own presentations
• Evaluate 1-2 presentations by fellow students (both academic content and presentation technique)

None