MEST4312 Research Theory and Method 1 Course description

This course provides an overview of relevant philosophy of science perspectives in the aesthetic field as well as different scientific methods. Particular emphasis is placed on elucidating research methods of relevance to the distinctive nature of the aesthetic field and research in this field. This is, in turn, put into a philosophy of science perspective. The course will present basic concepts and methodology perspectives that are key to assessing and carrying out research and development work in the aesthetic field.

No requirements over and above the admission requirements.

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

• has thorough knowledge of the field's scientific theories and methods and the distinctive nature of the art subjects as a research area
• is capable of analysing and reflecting on academic questions with a basis in research method perspectives and scientific traditions relating to the academic field’s history, characteristics and place in society
• has in-depth knowledge of different forms of knowledge acquisition and source criticism in scientific publishing.

Skills

The student is capable of

• analysing and using philosophy of science and research methods of relevance to the aesthetic field in an independent manner
• remaining critical to different perspectives in the fields of philosophy of science and research methods, and applying this knowledge to structure and formulate academic lines of reasoning
• remaining critical to different information sources as the basis for the research process
• assessing different ethical perspectives relating to the research process

Competence

The student

• is capable of working independently in his/her own field and masters the field's forms of expression
• is capable of communicating with various target groups about professional issues and angles of discussion in the aesthetic fields

Undervisningen vil veksle mellom forelesninger av faglærere og gjesteforelesere. Studentene deltar aktivt i undervisningen og i gruppearbeid. Masterstudiet er basert på individuelle studier med deltagelse i grupper, forelesninger og seminar. Det legges vekt på både teoretisk og praktisk arbeid som studieform.

Teaching methods vary between lectures given by both lecturers and guest lecturers. Students must actively participate in teaching and group work. The master’s programme is based on individual studies with participation in groups, lectures and seminars. Emphasis is placed on both theoretical and practical work as forms of study.

This course provides the fundamental base for geotechnical assessments by introducing the whole investigation cascade from field investigations to laboratory experiments, and ground modelling with the acquired data. A range of field techniques to obtain soil and rock samples and perform in situ testing is introduced. Students are familiarized with laboratory testing, from basic index test to the most advanced stress path apparatuses, together with the interpretation of the data obtained. The knowledge of soil behaviour will be reinforced, allowing students to understand practical problems when deriving geotechnical parameters. The compilation and integration from field and laboratory data into a geotechnical ground model will be discussed. This includes challenges and advantages of 3D ground modelling in general and in the context of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in particular.  

After completing this course, the student will gain the following knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

Students have in-depth knowledge of:

• Desk study resources, understanding your site and the conditions
• Onshore and offshore site investigation techniques related to drilling, in-situ sampling, and testing,
• Geotechnical index and advanced laboratory tests,
• Experimental data assessment and interpretation,
• Basics of 3D ground modelling with and without BIM.

Skills

Students can:

• distinguish different drilling, sampling and field techniques to be used to obtain high quality samples, and to derive geotechnical parameters in the field,
• select adequate laboratory tests for a range of geotechnical design problems and know how to interpret geotechnical laboratory tests results,
• provide a ground model for further geotechnical assessments.

General competence

Students:

• are familiar with drilling, sampling and testing field techniques, and can decide which technique to use in the field depending on the specific soil conditions,
• can understand the basic principles of geotechnical testing apparatuses and are able to conduct index and advanced tests.
• Students can interpret geotechnical tests results and critically identify advantages, and disadvantages of different testing techniques,
• Students can translate geotechnical test results into a ground model and familiar with different ground modelling techniques

Lectures, exercises, laboratory and field visits, and written project report. Practical laboratory experiments and field visits will be coordinated with the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, NGI. Parts of the lectures will be covered by relevant international and national guest lecturers. 

The following work requirements are mandatory and must be approved prior to the exam:

3 group exercises of 2-4 students: 1 exercise on laboratory testing, 1 on site investigation, and 1 on ground modelling. All exercises are linked and part of an applied engineering problem.