SIW4500 Literature Review and Research Training Emneplan

The main purpose of this course is for the student to gain research experience through pedagogical interaction with a professional researcher or faculty. As a research assistant, the student will perform a defined and limited research task under supervision. Equally, a group of students can perform a defined and limited research task in collaboration and deliver a joint scientific outcome, while submitting individual reports. Through empirical studies and theoretical reflection, the students gain insight and skills, enabling them to undertake research tasks of a scientific standard.

The student will be participating in a project on a relevant research topic as a research assistant at the Faculty of Social Sciences or the Centre for Welfare and Labour Research (SVA).

Call for research assistant must be given by Qualified supervisors at the Faculty of Social Sciences or the Centre for Welfare and Labour Research (SVA). The supervisor decides who will be the research assistants, based on the student's application and previous qualifications. A call for assistants will normally be published at the OsloMet homepage before July 31st. Students can motivate potential supervisors to call for research assistants of this kind.

If others than the assistant is going to use the work the assistant has produced through the course, the assistant must be credited for the work. The use of the work by others than the assistant, however, cannot be closely related to the analytical framework of the assistant’s thesis unless it is published after the assistant has submitted the thesis.

The student must have passed the first year of master's courses that are required for their specific degree.

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

Knowledge

The student

• has acquired thorough knowledge of the academic literature on strategic leadership in organizational communication in different types of organizations in the media and communication field, both in the public and private sector, nationally and internationally
• has reached a deeper knowledge of cross-disciplinary perspectives on strategic leadership in organizational communication
• has a solid overview of the main challenges and issues pertinent to strategic leadership in organizational communication from external and internal forces

Skills

The student

• is able to navigate independently and critically in the academic literature and in other relevant sources relating to strategic leadership of organizational communication in the media and communication field
• can plan, lead and implement sustainable organizational change in both public and private sector organizations, nationally and internationally.
• can use in an independent way relevant theory and methods in research on strategic leadership in organizational communication applicable to the media and communication field

General competence

The student

• is competent to be part of the leadership team in a public or private sector organization in the media and communication field, both nationally and internationally
• can discuss professionally strategic leadership in organizational communication with co-professionals in the media and communication field and can contribute to ethical decision-making processes and sustainable development.

When students have been accepted in a project they are expected to produce the following:

1. The student will choose about 500 pages for a reading list that are thematically, methodologically and scientifically relevant for the scientific outcome.

2. A scientific outcome. A relevant scientific outcome for the project may be:

• a paper produced as a working paper
• a paper, poster, film or exhibit for presentation in a scientific conference
• an independent or co-authored publication
• a presentation of results for stakeholders
• an integrated part of a larger publication from the project. In this case, the student and the supervisor must indicate which part of the publication the student is responsible for.
• a policy-brief, summarizing the main findings as well as suggesting the implications and recommendations of these findings
• or other output approved by the course coordinator and the supervisor

The scientific outcome can be submitted as an individual or as a joint work.

3. In addition to the scientific outcome from the project participation, each student will deliver an individual report. This report should contain a critical reflection of the learning process as well as the student's individual contribution, uses of method or implication of the produced knowledge.

The work should amount to the equivalent of 6 weeks of full time studies.

The following coursework requirements must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

Coursework 1: An individual paper (8-10 pages) written in English based on the syllabus and course lectures as well as other relevant sources must be handed in within a set deadline and presented in English in a plenary class session with an assigned respondent. All students will be assigned the role of respondent.

Coursework 2: Presentations should include 5-7 Powerpoint slides or similar with highlights from the paper and last max. 6 minutes plus 4-5 minutes for the respondent.

The purpose of the course requirements are to encourage and motivate all students to engage in active dialogue and discussion in order to reinforce the learning outcomes of the course.

The paper with the presentation attached must be handed in/completed within the deadline and approved before the student can sit for the exam. If the paper is not approved, the student may hand in a new, improved version within a set deadline. If the presentation is not approved, the student may give a new, improved presentation within a set deadline. If the student does not meet the set deadline(s), the student loses the possibility to hand in the paper/hold the presentation, and thereby loses to right to sit for the exam.

In the event of illness or other valid reasons of absence, an individual deadline can be set by the teacher.

The exam in the course consists of a portfolio containing:

1. An individual written report (the report must have a scope of between 4 - 9 pages, tables and references are not included. Font and font size: Calibri 12 points. Line spacing: 1.5).

2. A scientific outcome from the participation (a paper, an article, a policy-brief or other relevant output).

3. A reading list of around 500 pages.

Students awarded a fail grade are given one opportunity to submit an improved version of the report for assessment

Pass / fail

The submitted exam will be evaluated by the course coordinator and training supervisor.

Simon Innvær