EPN-V2

MAVIT4060 Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Kvalitative og kvantitative forskningsmetoder
Study programme
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Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Public Health Nutrition
Master’s Programme in Health Sciences – Interdisciplinary Specialisation in Mental Health and Addiction, part-time
Master's Programme in Health Sciences
Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Occupational Therapy
Weight
10.0 ECTS
Year of study
2025/2026
Curriculum
FALL 2025
Schedule
Programme description
Course history

Introduction

Language of instruction: Norwegian and English

The course provides an introduction to qualitative and quantitative methodology, enabling students to understand and use scientific methods critically. Students will receive a practical introduction to basic statistical concepts and key statistical methods, including relevant statistics programs. The students will learn when and how to use qualitative methods as interviews, focus group discussions, participant observation, and discourse analysis.

Through critically assessing research methods, the students will develop an advanced knowledge of credibility and validity in research and understand similarities and differences between the research methods as separate and complementary approaches. The course has an emphasis on the analysis and interpretation of data through digital lectures and exercises. The researcher role and the importance of reflection on one’s own preconceptions will be discussed. The course also highlights ethical challenges of particular relevance when planning and implementing qualitative and quantitative studies.

Recommended preliminary courses

MAVIT4050 Theory of Science and Research Methods, 10 ECTS credits.

Required preliminary courses

The student must have been admitted to the Master’s Programme in Health Sciences or the Master’s Programme in Health and Technology - Specialisation in Assistive Technology in Health.

Learning outcomes

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

Knowledge

The student

  • can identify suitable methods for a selected issue
  • can discuss strengths and weaknesses of qualitative and quantitative methods

Skills

The student

  • can plan the collection of qualitative and/or quantitative data
  • can apply the most important methods used in qualitative and quantitative research
  • can assess/discuss research ethics issues
  • can register and use quantitative data in statistics programs
  • can critically interpret the results of qualitative and quantitative analyses
  • can analyse quantitative data and develop systematic presentations of results, including in the form of tables and figures
  • can analyse and present qualitative data, such as different kinds of text material

General competence

The student

  • can decide which analysis methods are suitable for answering given questions
  • can communicate the importance of qualitative and quantitative research results

Teaching and learning methods

The course will use varied, student-active work methods to stimulate life-long-learning.

The teaching will consist of physical and digital lectures, groups work and exercises during seminars, oral presentations, peer assessment, exercises and supervision in the use of ststistical software and conducting an interviews/focus groups, independent groups work to solve assignedtasks, and self-study.

The lectures on campus are given in Norwegian, for English-speaking students digital lectures are published in English. In group work, mutual assessment, etc., the students will be divided into groups according to language. Most of the syllabus is in English, but there are good alternative syllabus books in Norwegian.

Course requirements

The following must have been approved in order for the student to take the examination:

  • An oral presentation in groups of up to four students, subject to given criteria
  • A peer assessment of a written assignment and/or a presentation in groups of up to four students, subject to given criteria

Assessment

Supervised individual written examination, five hours, comprising calculation and analysis tasks, interpretation tasks and a multiple choice test.

The exam is given in Norwegian and English and can be answered in either Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Permitted exam materials and equipment

A calculator prepared by the university is the only permitted examination aid.

Grading scale

Grade scale A-F.

Examiners

All answers are assessed by one examiner.

An external examiner is used regularly, at a minimum of every third completion of the course. When selecting answers for external evaluation, a minimum of 10 percent of the answers shall be included, with no fewer than 5 answers. The external examiner’s assessment of the selected answers shall benefit all students.

Overlapping courses

The course overlaps 100% with MAPSD4300/4310 Research Methods in Mental Health Care.