MAPD5800 Preparatory Master Thesis Emneplan

In this course students will develop a project plan for their master’s thesis. This involves identifying and defining a research area by utilising key literature and professional practices, formulating a preliminary research question and creating a plan for how it can be investigated methodically. The project plan should show how ideas, data and findings can be documented, analysed and tested in a systematic manner, leading to one or more innovative design solutions or results. The project plan should contain data collection and/or data generation procedures and a project activity calendar.

Facilitation, training and supervision is provided for:

• defining a research area, research topic and formulating a research question
• evaluating and selecting appropriate methods
• initial planning and data collection, trials, practical work and establishing relevant networks of collaborators
• initial planning of how potential findings and data can be documented, analysed and tested
• handling personal privacy and RRI according to own master's project

Language of Instruction: English

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:

• has in-depth knowledge of the chosen topic for their master’s project
• has in-depth of knowledge regarding personal privacy and data protection in relation to their master’s project work

Skills

The student:

• can define a research area with potential for sustainable innovation by evaluating and assessing relevant collaborations, methods and analytical approaches
• can communicate and present a comprehensive project plan for the master’s project work

General competence

The student:

• masters critical source evaluation, the use of references and literature searches
• has competence in the use of AI in a master’s project work
• has competence in socially responsible design through Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)

The learning activities in the course are:

• seminars: The seminars feature introductions, dialogue and discussions around specific examples and challenges
• self- studies: It is expected that the students work independently
• individual supervision: Each student or group will during the course be assigned a supervisor for the master's project
• student presentations: During the course the students will present their own project and evaluate their fellow students’ projects
• feedback: There will be formative assessment on the development of the project plan from fellow students and supervisors

• Participation in student presentations.
• Two supervision meetings initiated by the students with the assigned supervisor processed and documented with two written reflection notes in Canvas.

Each student is required to submit a project plan in the form of a pdf-document of between 1000-3000 words and an optional number of visualisations. If working in a group the pdf-document has the same requirements as for an individual project.

References should be included in the text, but are not a part of the word count.

Students who choose to collaborate on the master’s project may submit a joint project plan. All projects should be in accordance with the Vancouver guidelines for co-authorship.

Maximum student group size: 3 students

The exam result can be appealed.

No restrictions.

All resources are permitted as long as the rules for source referencing are followed. The student is required to indicate if and how AI has been used to answer the exam.

Pass/fail.

Two internal. External examiner is used periodically.