VERNL3900 Written Research Project Course description

This course presents key concepts and analytical models used in comparative analyses of social welfare policies.

None.

The objective of the course is to develop a critical and analytical way of thinking about the child welfare service’s activities, and to seek a deeper understanding of the basis and context of one’s own professional practice, role and function. The course is based on the students’ experience of child welfare work, and the students work methodically on critical reflection and analyse concrete experiences from their practical training in seminar groups.

The practical training comprises four weeks of work in the child welfare field, and can be carried out at the student’s own place of work or other practical training establishment. Cooperation agreements must be signed with the practical training establishments to regulate responsibilities and roles and, where relevant, development and innovation collaboration.

The language of instruction is Norwegian.

Bestått VERN1400/VERND1400/VERNL1400

Godkjente arbeidskrav i VERN2110/VERND2110/VERNL2110

Teaching takes place in parallel with the practical training and varies between lectures and seminar work. In the seminars, students will use a model for critical reflection as a basis for systematic work with their experiences from their practical training. Critical reflection should contribute to a deeper understanding of the foundation and context of child welfare work and promote understanding of how given norms and values, as well as cultural, structural and organisational framework conditions, guide and influence practice. Critical reflection will also help students to increase their awareness of the importance of their own norms and values and their role as professionals in a cultural, political and institutional context.

The written examination is assessed by an internal and an external examiner. The external examiner grades a random sample consisting of 25 per cent of the written exams. The grades given for this sample provide a basis for internal examiners who will be grading the other exams. The external examiner will also grade papers where there is doubt about giving a grade of pass.

Alle

To sensorer

This course is designed to inform and enrich the material learned in the research methods courses. It combines a descriptive and a normative approach to reflection on social science. In addition, the course contains a master thesis preparation seminar leading to a master thesis design proposal which supports the master thesis work process. The thesis preparation seminar runs in collaboration with the two courses on methods (SIW4210 and SIW4220).

Among topics covered in philosophy of science are the role of values in research, objectivity, realism, social constructivism, social ontology, feminist philosophy of science, evidence-based policy, models, and causality. The master thesis preparation seminar covers research design.