MESTD4312 Vitenskapsteori og forskningsmetode 1 Emneplan

Etter fullført emne har studenten følgende læringsutbytte definert i kunnskap, ferdigheter og generell kompetanse:

Kunnskap

Studenten kan

• redegjøre for likheter og forskjeller mellom seleksjon i evolusjonsbiologi og atferdsanalyse
• forklare interaksjoner mellom seleksjonsprinsipper på de ulike nivåene
• redegjøre for grunnleggende prinsipper og teorier i moderne evolusjonsbiologi
• beskrive sentrale temaer innen atferdsøkologi
• beskrive sentrale temaer innen moderne genetikk og arvelighetsforståelse
• beskrive betydningen av naturlig seleksjon har for nervesystemets oppbygging og funksjon
• beskrive grunnleggende forskningsområder innenfor evolusjonspsykologi

Ferdigheter

Studenten kan

• anvende prinsipper om kulturell seleksjon ved endringer i organisasjoner og grupper
• finne eksempler på hvordan spesifikke atferder kan forklares fra et evolusjonært perspektiv
• reflektere over temaer og teorier innenfor evolusjon og atferd

Generell kompetanse

Studenten

• har innsikt i det biologiske grunnlaget for atferd hos dyr, inkludert mennesker
• kan formidle seleksjon som en forklaringsmodell både skriftlig og muntlig
• kjenner til nytekning og innovasjonsprosesser innenfor atferdsanalysen som en helhetlig disiplin basert på seleksjonsvitenskaper

Students must have the following requirements approved before examination:

Before the home exam:

Introductory assignment - literature review (approved/not approved)

This is a paper of 1800 words (+/- 10 %) that is to be completed by the student during the first period of home study. Relevant literature is available online, through Leganto, and set books will be identified for students to purchase. For the assignment, students should write 2-3 pages on development in Africa based on the readings, and a further 2-3 pages on a theme covered in the reading list. Students will have the possibility to contact the seminar leader during this period.

The purpose of the assignment is to develop background knowledge in order to prepare for the time in Ghana, to begin the process of identifying a topic for field-study, and to show evidence of academic conventions (a supported argument with a range of sources that have been referenced). The paper is to be submitted before the start of the course in Ghana, and will be assessed as approved/not approved by the seminar leader during the first two weeks. A student who receives a 'not approved' is entitled to maximum two new attempts to fulfil the course requirement. A new deadline for the revised assignment will be made by the seminar leader in relation to each individual case.

Before the field study report exam:

Research diary (approved/not approved)

It is a requirement of the course that students keep a diary of their experiences in Ghana, which starts at arrival in Ghana, and with particular attention to the periods of fieldwork. The diary should include plans, methods and daily thoughts on the experience of doing research, by being reflective on the processes, successes and limitations. It could also include such things as interview questions, notes on focus groups, drafts of questionnaires, and links to ideas and debates in the literature. The guiding principle is that it is useful to the students as researchers as it will be an essential source when it comes to preparing the assignments. A requirement is that students write down some reflections each day during fieldwork, and the diary is assessed as approved/not approved by the seminar leader.

Oral presentation on field study findings (approved/not approved)

Oral presentation on field study findings (approved/not approved). This will take place during the last week in Ghana, when each group will present their field study. The focus is on the methodological experiences and empirical results of their fieldwork, but it should be related to ideas from the literature and issues and debates raised in the course. The purpose of the assignment is to consolidate the students' learning from both their own field study and the academic literature, assessing similarities and differences, and being aware of possible reasons for such comparisons. The format - an oral presentation - gives students experience in a useful skill, as well as providing a learning opportunity for other members of the course. The oral presentation will be of approx. 30 minutes, and is assessed as approved/not approved by the seminar leader.

Course work requirements must be met within fixed deadlines. Lectures and seminars are mandatory, due to field preparations and group activities. Students who, due to illness or other valid and documented reasons (such as a medical certificate), do not meet the work requirements within the fixed deadlines, may be given a new deadline, in each individual case given by the seminar leader. Students who, due to the same reasons, have less than 80% attendance at lectures and seminars, will by the seminar leader be given a written assignment of 2000 words (+/- 10 %) over a fixed topic and with a fixed deadline. Students who do not comply with this lose the right to take the final exam (i.e. submit their field study report).

Kunnskap

Studenten:

·;;;;;;;; har inngående kunnskap om fagområdets vitenskapelige teorier og metoder og kunstfagenes egenart som forskningsområde

·;;;;;;;; kan analysere og reflektere over faglige problemstillinger med utgangspunkt i forskningsmetodiske perspektiv og vitenskapelige tradisjoner knyttet til fagområdenes historie, egenart og plass i samfunnet.

·;;;;;;;; har inngående kjennskap til ulike former for kunnskapsinnhenting og kildekritikk i vitenskapelig publisering

;

Ferdigheter

Studenten;

·;;;;;;;; kan analysere og anvende vitenskapsteori og forskningsmetode som er relevant for det estetiske fagfeltet på en selvstendig måte

·;;;;;;;; kan forholde seg kritisk til ulike posisjoner innen det vitenskapsteoretiske- og forskningsmetodiske feltet og anvende disse kunnskapene til å strukturere og formulere faglige resonnementer

·;;;;;;;; kan forholde seg kritisk til ulike informasjonskilder som grunnlag for forskningsprosessen

·;;;;;;;; kan vurdere ulike etiske perspektiv knyttet til forskningsprosessen

;

Generell kompetanse

Studenten

·;;;;;;;; kan arbeide selvstendig med eget fagfelt og beherske fagområdets uttrykksformer

·;;;;;;;; kan kommunisere med ulike målgrupper om faglige problemstillinger og drøftingsperspektiv innen de estetiske fagfeltene

Grades are given according to a scale ranging from A (outstanding) to F (not approved).

Grading scale will be according to the ECTS-grading scale, with A-E as pass grades and F as fail grade.

Criteria for the different grades

A, Outstanding: An outstanding performance. The assignment paper/performance documents outstanding subject knowledge and an outstanding degree of independence and ability in relating subject knowledge to the educational goals of the course.

B, Very good: A very good performance, well above the average. The assignment paper/performance documents very good subject knowledge and a high degree of independence and ability in relating subject knowledge to the educational goals of the course.

C, Good: An average performance. The assignment paper/performance documents a fair level of subject knowledge and some degree independence and ability in relating subject knowledge to the educational goals of the course.

D, Fairly good: A performance below average. The assignment paper/performance documents a level of subject knowledge with some deficiency, and shows a lesser degree of independence and ability in relating subject knowledge to the educational goals of the course.

E, Adequate: A performance satisfying the minimum requirements. The assignment paper/performance documents low degree of subject knowledge, and shows a low level of independence and ability in relating subject knowledge to the educational goals of the course.

F, Not approved: The assignment paper/performance does not satisfy minimum requirements

One internal and one external examiner.

Development Studies II is intended for

• students who wish to include development studies as a part of a bachelor's degree
• professionals (teachers, nurses, journalists, engineers etc.) and others who seek further education in international, development and multicultural issues.

Admission requirement

Applicants must qualify for university admission in Norway. Development Studies II is a second level course and builds on Development Studies I (offered in Vietnam) or UTVB1100 Introduksjon til utviklingsstudier and UTVB1200 Regionalkunnskap og globalhistorie at OsloMet. The requirement is that students have done at least 30 credit units in development studies, or 60 credit units in social sciences. Be aware that students who are granted admission on the basis of 60 credit units in social sciences, with no development studies, will not be granted admission in the second year in the bachelor programme in Development Studies at OsloMet.

• Individual student presentation (20 %)
• One individually written evaluation of another student presentation (1-2 pages) (10%)
• Individual final project report (between 25 and 35 pages) (70 %) All exams must be passed in order to pass the course.The assessment of the presentation cannot be appealed.

All printed and written aids and a calculator that cannot be used to communicate with others.

For the final assessment a grading scale from A to E is used, where A denotes the highest and E the lowest pass grade, and F denotes a fail.