Learning outcome

After successfully completing the course, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence.

The candidate:

- Is able to formulate a range of questions on the basis of a research topic and understand the difference between them

- Understands how the type of the question will determine the appropriate choice of methodology in a study

- Understands the difference between an intensive and extensive study design

- Has an overview of ethical issues in social science research

- Can formulate different study designs

- Understands the limitations of knowledge and range in social reality

- Can analyse qualitative and quantitative information

- Can avoid making erroneous inferences on the basis of a study’s findings

Course Description

The course is divided into three thematic sections:

Methodological reflections:

- What characterises social science methodology?

- How can one best formulate good and relevant questions?

- The importance of theory for a study

- The relationship between theory and empiricism

- Choice of investigative methodology

- Practical implementation of a study

Qualitative methods:

- How can one best collect data using observations?

- How can one best collect data through interviews?

- What are the appropriate procedures for using qualitative data?

Quantitative Methods:

- What is quantitative data?

- How can one best collect quantitative data using a structured questionnaire?

- How can one best conduct simple analysis of quantitative data?

- How can one best conduct more complex analysis of quantitative data?

Teaching and Learning Methods

3 hours of lectures per week during the autumn semester. Work on answering previous exam questions.

Assessment Methods

• Written examination, 4 hours, graded mark
• Work requirements, 1 mandatory assignment that must be approved in order for the student to take the written examination

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean