Masterstudium i atferdsvitenskap - spesialisering i innovasjon og implementering Programplan

The Master's Program in Behavioral Science comprises 120 ECTS credits in accordance with § 3 of the National Regulations Relating to Requirements for a Master’s Degree, appointed by the Ministry of Education and Research on December 1st, 2005. A successfully completed program leads to the degree Master of Behavioral Science /master i atferdsvitenskap.

The study program is established in accordance with the Act Relating to Universities and University Colleges of 1 April 2005 and Regulations Relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University 26 June 2012.

A specialisation in one of the two specialisations; in Concepts and Applications and in Innovation and Implementation forms part of the master’s degree program. The name of the specialisation will appear on the diploma alongside the name of the degree: Master of Behavioral Science. The specialisation in Concepts and Applications is taken full-time over two years, while the specialisation in Innovation and Implementation is taken part-time over a maximum four years.

The program teaches modern behavioral science. The term behavioral science has no agreed-upon definition and may refer to different things in different settings. When used as part of the current program, the term should be understood in the context of the idea that a natural science approach to human behavior is both interesting and important to explore. Aspects of natural science relevant for this master´s program in behavioral science include a focus on empirical investigation, the use of experimental methods, and resulting empirically defined units of analysis. Behavioral science aims to explore and develop a natural science approach in several domains, including in conceptual development and philosophy, in experimental analysis and other parts of basic science, and in the application of scientific principles to generate desirable change. A type of behavioral science called behavior analysis is central to the program. Behavior analysis is concerned with investigating systematic relationships between the environment and behavior and considers both public and private events. Behavior analysis may be viewed as a selectionist science taking into consideration both phylogenetic, ontogenetic, and cultural phenomena.

The knowledge, skills and competence from the program are useful when designing, implementing, managing and documenting processes of change for individuals and in systems. Interventions taught in the program are empirically based and well suited for measuring and assessment of outcomes.

The program comprises compulsory common courses, compulsory specialisation courses and elective courses, in addition to the master’s thesis. While the specialisations share the overarching learning outcomes, the specialisation in Concepts and Applications contains more compulsory theoretical courses, and the specialisation in Innovation and Implementation emphasizes practical implementation and reporting skills to a greater degree. A more detailed overview of the program’s structure for each specialisation is given under the section Content and structure.

Students and faculty share the goals of OsloMet for sustainability and environmental friendliness.

Master’s Program in Behavioral Science - Specialisation in Innovation and Implementation (BSII)

The specialisation in Innovation and Implementation aims to provide students with an overview of basic concepts in behavior analysis, and to prepare them for implementing an innovative practical project in a workplace, organization or institution, which will serve as the basis for the master’s thesis. The objective of this project is to introduce what are the best practices in the chosen field. This specialisation has a 40 ECTS compulsory course package, with 20 ECTS elective courses (two courses each worth 10 ECTS) and a master’s thesis worth 60 ECTS.

With a lighter load of compulsory courses, students must seek out and study the scientific literature that will be most relevant for their project work. The thesis will be a project report of the work they have done, describing in details the whole process including evaluation, and written in such a way that the project can inspire and guide others with similar challenges in their work. Projects reports, including an executive summary, will be available to the public in a project bank.

Career opportunities and post-graduate studies

Graduates of the program will usually have a set of professional skills from their undergraduate studies, and the program enhances and adds value to those skills. Graduates have found rewarding work in a variety of settings both in the private and public sector. Former students are working in the fields of:

• general, special, and higher education
• health and social services
• leadership an human resource management
• scientific research

(The list is not exhaustive)

The program prepares the graduates for Ph.D. studies.

The master program is accredited by Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI).https://www.abainternational.org/accreditation.aspx

The media field is developing at a rapid pace. New media platforms and forms of communication are introduced, while traditional ones are changing, or disappearing. The structural conditions for media practices including journalism, communication, non-fiction and media production are changing, due to technological, economic and cultural developments.

The master's program in media development provides in-depth knowledge, specific skills, and new competencies to better understand, analyse and practice various tasks and roles in the media field. The "media field" must be understood in a broad sense and includes journalism, communication, non-fiction and media production.

The programme consists of three sub-fields of study: journalism, media and communication, and non-fiction. The fields of study have a common orientation towards development, meaning:

• Development in the media field at a structural level, including political, economic, social, cultural, and technological developments (historical and in the present/future, nationally and internationally)
• Development of new genres, formats, work areas and working methods in the professions and practices of the media field (historically and in the present/future).
• Development in an educational sense: the students develop their own media productions and academic projects where it is the actual development process that provides learning (process-oriented learning / project-based pedagogy)

The programme emphasizes practical production and facilitates cooperation with the sector. Students are encouraged to develop practical and/or analytical projects both in courses and in the master's thesis. The latter constitutes the main form of specialization during the master. At the same time, the program offers knowledge about scientific methods and research ethics.

The master's programme is interdisciplinary and is based on humanistic and social science approaches.

The students achieve the degree Master of Media Development. It will be stated in the diploma which field of study the graduate has chosen.

Journalism

Internationally, the journalism profession has gone through significant changes due to technological and economic developments. The sub-field of study is both practical and research-oriented and represents an important contribution to the industry and to journalism research through emphasis on innovation, development and a combination of theoretical and practical knowledge.

The course offers students teaching in more specialized subjects, with an emphasis on development, digitalisation, globalisation, ethics and the importance of journalism in society.

Media and communication

Media, information, and communication technology constitute significant cultural, social, and political resources in society and are important frameworks for the exercise of many different professional and professional functions. Within media and communication, there is a great technological development, and it is a field that is constantly changing. The sub-field of study is both practical and research-oriented and represents an important contribution to the industry through emphasis on innovation and a combination of theoretical and practical knowledge.

The sub-field of media and communication provides insights into theoretical, analytical, and practical-aesthetic approaches, and represent an opportunity for in-depth study of cultural, social, technological, and political aspects of new and traditional media expressions. Throughout the course of study, emphasis is placed on creativity, innovation. and development. The field of study offers teaching in more specialized subjects, with emphasis on media design, media production and project development, strategic management of organizational communication, media use, user participation, digitization and media and the importance of the communication field in society.

Non-fiction

Quality-assured non-fiction is a cornerstone of the democratic public. It contains a multitude of genres and publication channels, from journalism to the research monograph, from the essay to the website. The field of study shall provide students with knowledge of the field of non-fiction and its development in a Norwegian and international context. The student develops knowledge and skills in academic writing, as well as about the most relevant methods in the subject, both for research assignments and production assignments. The methods must be able to be used actively both in own non-fiction work and in research on non-fiction. During the study, students must have acquired broad knowledge of the field of non-fiction both in Norway and internationally, including genre theory, which is very important both theoretically and as a skill. They must also have solid skills in source criticism and relevant qualitative and quantitative methods, and they must be able to prepare longer texts within the subjects the study provides. After completing their studies, students must have broad competence in non-fiction and in the development of non-fiction.

Relevance to working life and further studies

Work in the media field is characterized by little stability, loose boundaries between different professions, a large degree of interdisciplinarity and a constant need for new knowledge, skills and competencies. The need for education at master's level is therefore increasing, and in-depth knowledge and skills in and about "development" are central. Developments in the media field also create a need for the formulation of new policies and for new competence in public administration related to media regulation, media information, media analysis, media use and other relevant areas. The master's program in media development will educate students for work in public administration and related areas. The major changes in the media field combined with the media's significance for the public and thus for the development of democracy and society, creates an increased need for research on changes in the media field's social significance. The master's program in media development is also relevant for further studies at PhD level in media studies and other, relevant subject areas.

Admission to this study program is processed in accordance with current Regulations Relating to Admission to Master’s Degree Programs at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University.

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree or the equivalent from an accredited university or university college. The Admissions office makes the decisions on applications for admission.

For more information, see Forskrift om opptak til studier ved OsloMet(in Norwegian) or Regulations related to Admission to Studies at OsloMet (in English).

Admission to individual courses

Many of the courses in the programme are available for students outside the programme and can be applied to individually. Applicants to freestanding courses in the master’s program must have a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent from an accredited university or college. The grade C requirement does not apply to admission to individual courses. Applicants to freestanding courses do not have to document proficiency in the Norwegian language in order to be eligible for admission. For courses with progression requirements those have to be approved before admission to the course. More information about admission to individual courses can be found on the programme’s website.

Studieretning journalistikk

Målgruppen for studieretning journalistikk er personer som har bachelorgrad med fordypning i journalistikk, fotojournalistikk eller mediefag, med faglig interesse for forskning og utviklingsarbeid innen journalistikk. Studiet vil være et tilbud til personer som arbeider innenfor journalistikk, og som ønsker profesjonsfaglig utvikling på høyere nivå enn det en bachelorgrad tilbyr.

Studieretning medier og kommunikasjon

Målgruppen for studieretning medier og kommunikasjon er personer som har bachelorgrad med fordypning i medier og kommunikasjon, medievitenskap, journalistikk, fotojournalistikk eller lignende med faglig interesse for forskning og utviklingsarbeid innen medier og kommunikasjon. Studiet vil være et tilbud til personer som arbeider innenfor medier og kommunikasjon, og som ønsker fordypning og utvikling på høyere nivå enn det en bachelorgrad tilbyr.

Studieretning sakprosa

Målgruppen for studieretning sakprosa (master i medieutvikling) er personer som har en bachelorgrad og to års relevant yrkespraksis og som ønsker å oppnå spesialisert teoretisk og metodisk kunnskap om sakprosafeltet, samt å utvikle evne til refleksjon og kommunikasjon rundt historiske, etiske og metodiske sider ved sakprosafeltet. Dette kommer i tillegg til den generelle kunnskapen om mediefagenes teorigrunnlag, vitenskapsfilosofi, forskningsetikk og forskningsmetode som ligger i masterprogrammets fellesdel. Studieretningen retter seg mot personer som ønsker å skrive masteroppgaven som en forskningsoppgave om sakprosa eller å lage en produksjonsoppgave i sakprosa med tilhørende teoretisk og metodisk analyse.

Varied and student-active teaching methods are used in the program. The languages of instruction are Norwegian and English. Textbooks, reading packages and digital course sequences are in English.

Good learning outcomes primarily depend on the students’ own efforts. Student effort includes benefiting from teaching and academic supervision; following this up with independent work in the form of theoretical studies, and, when relevant, practical skills training. The program is demanding, and requires consistent effort during the whole semester. The most important work and teaching forms used in each course in the program are described below. Individual course descriptions state which work methods each course employs.

Web-based work and teaching methods

Several forms of digital learning resources are used in the program, such as digital textbooks, digital lectures, video clips, tests, and assignments. These resources can be used to prepare for teaching sessions, during seminars using Interteaching, and as part of self-study. This form of teaching requires the students to meet prepared for the scheduled teaching sessions. Interaction can also take place digitally. Students from both specialisations will have access to digitalised versions of the course content. For the digital course sequences, feedback on details of course content, and supervised discussion groups will be available during pre-determined time periods.

Personalized System of Instruction (PSI)

The Innovation and Implementation specialisation provides students with digital course sequences constructed from the principles of Personalized System of Instruction, PSI. This is a teaching program that builds verbal/conceptual repertoires by going from basic to advanced concepts with no gaps in between, and where student progress is contingent on mastering previous learning units at a certain level before the next unit is made available. This will, with required readings matched to the course content and dedicated sessions for teacher’s response to student questions, allow for a certain degree of self-pacing, making this suited for part-time students with different demands on their time than full-time students. The complete content of each course will be broken down into course sequences that build upon the previous one, with a mastery test at the end of each sequence. A success rate of 80% allows the student to continue to the next sequence.

The course sequences replace lectures and workshops for those who are in the Innovation and Implementation specialisation, but students are welcome to participate in all teaching and learning activities, irrespective of their specialisation.

Lectures

Lectures are primarily used to introduce new subject matter, provide an overview and highlight main elements and links within different topics, and also to communicate relevant issues.

Seminars

Seminars emphasize dialogue and discussion between the subject teacher(s) and students in order to stimulate the student's academic development. Verbal presentations by students and discussions are emphazised. In connection with MALK5900: Master's thesis (60 ECTS), seminars are held where scientific and methodological aspects of the master's theses are presented and discussed. The students receive feedback from their fellow students and teachers, which enables them to learn from each other. Research-related issues, methods and academic supervision are among the topics discussed in the seminars. Seminars for MALK5900 will be conducted on digital collaboration platforms.

Interteaching

Interteaching is a technology of classroom instruction based on the principles of behavior analysis. The Interteaching method includes pre-session reading; discussion of pre-determined questions in pairs with perambulating instructors; summarizing lectures based on questions from the discussions, and data collection including student evaluation of each session.

Written assignments

Written assignments vary according to learning outcomes, course content and work methods. The assignments usually consist of written work, in the form of essays, reaction papers or reviews of literature, or multiple-choice tests. The coursework requirements ensure steady academic progress and stimulate the students to acquire new knowledge; testing their knowledge, skills and competencies against the standards of the course outcomes. Coursework requirements get feedback from instructors and are specifically designed to give students practice in academic writing and prepare them for thesis work.

Simulation/laboratory exercises/skills training

Simulation/laboratory exercises/skills training is used to design and execute learning experiments, giving hands-on experience with basic learning processes and experiments.

Self-study and student cooperation/group work

Learning requires a high degree of self-paced activity and self-study, including both individual work and cooperation with fellow students. Through activities such as exchanging ideas, presentations, discussions, writing assignments and problem-based assignments, students will be stimulated to learn by communicating knowledge and experience, expressing their own opinions and, together, reflecting on their own attitudes, actions and understanding of the field. Students are encouraged to take initiative to schedule and actively participate in study groups to promote learning. Information about the activities in the institute’s research groups is presented at the start the program, and students are encouraged to take part in the lab activities in the research groups. For each course, the students are responsible for readings.

After completing a master's degree in media development, the graduate is expected to have acquired theoretical and empirical knowledge of the media field's structural conditions, practices, professions and development. Furthermore, the graduate is expected to have acquired specialized skills within the field of study, as well as in research methods and dissemination. The graduate is also expected to have the necessary knowledge, skills and competencies to develop independent projects within the field of study, as well as to critically evaluate their own and others' work.

After completing the program, the graduate must have the following total learning outcomes defined as knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

In general, for all fields of study in the master's program in media development, the graduate:

• has in-depth knowledge of media structures, actors and development nationally and internationally.
• has in-depth knowledge of research methods, research ethics and theory of science
• has knowledge of media research's different traditions and theories nationally and internationally
• has developed a critical understandings of the media and media's role in society

Within the field of study journalism, the graduate must acquire:

• in-depth knowledge of various theories related to the development of journalism, such as theories of various media systems and media platforms, genre and discourse theory, globalization theories, democracy theory, theories og professionalization, and/or theories of technological development and innovation.
• in-depth theoretical insight into both national and international processes that shape journalism and how journalism affects society
• in-depth knowledge of the development of specific journalistic methods, genres and disciplines, such as climate journalism, foreign journalism, investigative journalism or literary journalism
• in-depth knowledge of various quantitative and qualitative methods in journalism research
• advanced knowledge of academic issues and journalistic texts based on the history of journalism, contemporary developments, uniqueness and place in society

Within the field of study in media and communication, the graduate must acquire:

• in-depth knowledge of various theories related to the development of the media and communication field, for example theories of various media systems and media platforms, communication, media design and production, user participation, interpretive theories or theories of technological development and innovation.
• in-depth theoretical insight into processes that shape development in the media and communication industry and how it affects society
• in-depth knowledge of the development of specific media and communication methods, genres and / or strategies

Within the field of study non-fiction, the graduate must acquire:

• in-depth knowledge of academic writing - theory, genres, genre development and history in-depth knowledge of non-fiction as a field and institution
• in-depth insight into the relationship between subject matter and dissemination (research communication, textbook, research journalism, popularization, the biography genre)
• in-depth insight into how the media and publishing industries and the journal field work, and what professional writing entails in practice.
• in-depth knowledge of the boundaries between journalism and other non-fiction, and how these boundaries have developed and are evolving both nationally and internationally

Skills

In general, for all fields of study in the master's program in media development, the graduate must acquire:

• can develop independent research projects and apply relevant theory
• can apply relevant research methods with a high degree of independence
• carry out an independent research or development project of a practical and / or theoretical nature under supervision and in accordance with current research ethics norms and source criticism

Within the field of study journalism, the graduate must be able to:

• orientate oneself independently and critically within journalistic and media professional literature and find relevant material for a research project
• develop journalism at a practical and / or academically advanced level and thus guide other colleagues in the field
• conduct studies of journalism on different media platforms
• identify both analytical and practical needs for development in journalism and in editorial environments

Within the field of study in media and communication, the graduate must be able to:

• orientate oneself independently and critically within media and communication subject literature and find relevant material for a research project
• develop media and communication projects at a practical and / or academically advanced level and thereby guide other colleagues in the field conduct comparative studies of different media and communication practices
• identify both analytical and practical needs for development in the media and communications industry

Within the field of study non-fiction, the graduate must be able to:

• prepared good and publishable non-fiction texts through process-oriented writing apply the most relevant methods in the subject, both for research assignments and production assignments
• apply source criticism to one's own and others' work provide and receive guidance in groups, both to raise awareness of one's own writing process and development, and to be able to guide others.
• orientate oneself independently and critically within media subject literature and find relevant material for a research project
• draw their own conclusions and discuss these critically on the basis of a large amount of material

General competence

In general, for all fields of study in the master's program in media development, the graduate:

• can reflect critically and ethically on developments in the media and the public both nationally and internationally.
• has the ability to work interdisciplinary can analyze and handle a research material critically and has the ability to think and reflect independently - also around his/hers own research role and profession
• is able to analyze professional, professional and research ethics issues

Within the field of study in journalism, the graduate must have:

• competence in presentation of both academic and journalistic material, and have developed the ability to give and receive constructive criticism and feedback
• developed his journalistic skills through increased knowledge of the subject's research area and own practice
• competence for innovation and to apply their knowledge and skills in new areas of journalism
• ability to see new issues in journalism so that the graduate can ask original and fruitful questions

Within the field of study in media and communication, the graduate must have:

• competence for development and to apply their knowledge and skills in new areas within the media and communication field
• have developed the ability to give and receive constructive criticism and feedback
• developed skills in media production and communication practices through increased knowledge of the research area and own practice
• ability to identify critical issues in the media and communication field so that the graduate can ask original and relevant questions
• competence to enter the role of a professional in the field of media and communication at an advanced level.
• ability to reflect critically and ethically on the role that media and communication play in a societal perspective

Within the field of study non-fiction, the graduate must have:

• competence in the presentation of both academic and practical non-fiction material, and have developed the ability to give and receive constructive criticism and feedback
• competence for innovation and to apply their knowledge and skills in new areas of non-fiction
• developed her skills in non-fiction production through increased knowledge of the subject's research area and own practice
• ability to see new issues in the field of non-fiction so that the graduate can ask original and fruitful questions.

All courses except MALKA213 and MALKA218 have one or more coursework requirements. Each assignment is graded Approved/Not approved. All assignments must be approved before the student can sit for the exam in each course.

Written assignments

The assignments are submitted digitally, and written feedback is delivered in the same electronic platform. When the coursework requirement is delivered according to deadlines in the course schedule the student has the right to receive feedback on the assignment. Assignments not submitted within the set deadline will be considered failed.

A student may submit the same obligatory assignment a maximum of three times. Failed assignments must be reworked before resubmission. If the second submission fails, the student is not eligible for the regular examination. The student is entitled to a third attempt before new/deferred exam.

If one or more assignments are not approved after three attempts, the student must attend the course the next time it is arranged, usually the subsequent year. Application for a fourth and final attempt to complete the assignment to sit for the exam are decided on an individual basis by the study administration in cooperation with the person responsible for the course.

All coursework in writing, including master’s theses, undergoes automatic plagiarism control on submission.

Attendance requirements

While there is no attendance required for lectures, this is a demanding program, and steady work is required throughout the courses.

Two research ethics seminars are 100 % attendance required before the thesis outline can be submitted. The seminars are taken place digitally and held annually, one each semester. It is recommended to complete the seminars during the first year of studies.

Students in the Innovation and Implementation specialisation must attend thesis seminars, for a total of six over the whole program. The seminars are wholly digital over two days each, and will include time to work on required submissions and student presentations of various aspects of thesis projects.

For all courses except MALKA213 Laboratory exercises – experimental analysis of behavior and MALK5000/MALK5900 Master’s thesis, there is a final individual written home examination. Exams are tailored to the learning outcomes, course content and teaching and learning methods.

The examination in MALKA213 is an empirical article based on experiments (project examination).

Exam questions are in English. Students may submit their exams in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English. All ordinary exams are held in the same term as the corresponding course.

All exams are evaluated and graded by two examiners, one from program faculty and one external to the program. The grading scale on all exams is: A (highest) to F (lowest) where A to E are the pass grades, and F is a fail grade.

All courses included in the specialisation are specified on the diploma, as is the title of the master’s thesis.

Assessments are carried out in accordance with the Act Relating to Universities and University Colleges, Regulations Relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet and Guidelines for Appointment and Use of Examiners at OsloMet.

In accordance with Regulations Relating to Appointment and Use of Examiners at OsloMet, external program supervisors are affiliated with this study program. The external program supervisors shall through feedback and advice contribute to ensuring that:

• the Master’s Degree program is a high-quality program judged by the standards for equivalent degrees at other national and international higher education institutions
• there is a coherence between the learning outcomes, teaching and forms of assessment
• there is a coherence between the different courses of the program
• the students’ knowledge and skills are tested and assessed in an impartial and satisfactory way.

The external program supervisors prepare a report that will be included in the department’s quality assurance work.

The teaching methods in most subjects consist of a combination of lectures, seminars, group work, and presentations. Traditional lectures are supplemented by student-active learning forms including discussions, collaborations and fellow student responses. A significant degree of self-study must be expected. Teaching methods are selected on the basis of meeting the expected learning outcomes.

The learning outcomes of lectures is to be introduced to important areas of knowledge and gain an understanding of the core areas of journalism, non-fiction and / or the media and communication subjects in general. Achieved learning outcomes of seminars and group work is to become independent and show the ability to innovate and reflect on one's own practice, be able to present own research in an understandable way, and show the ability for critical and constructive analysis of others' media productions and research.

Individual supervision will be the central form of work for the development of the master's thesis. Achieved learning outcomes of individual supervision will be to be able to carry out an independent, limited research or development project within the field of study in line with current research ethics norms, and be able to reflect on research ethics issues.

During the work on the master's thesis, students are encouraged to establish colloquium groups. Learning outcomes of such colloquium groups will be to be able to critically discuss with fellow students' and give and receive constructive feedback.

The master's program places considerable emphasis on the development of knowledge and skills through process-oriented project work, either individually or in groups. Several individual subjects, as well as the work on the master's thesis itself, provide opportunities for project work in collaboration with actors from the industry.

The syllabus is in Norwegian and English. Some subjects are taught in Norwegian, but an approximately equal proportion of the subjects are taught in English. Good English skills will therefore be an advantage.