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.

Knowledge

The candidate has gained knowledge of:

• Basic research questions and an overview of theories that address relationships between the body, society and knowledge
• Research ethics
• The conditions, possibilities and limitations of various methodological approaches.

Skills

The candidate:

• Can give an account of and problematize the relationship between theory, methodological approaches, results and conclusions in empirical research
• Can position their own and others’ research contributions in relation to theory, research traditions and knowledge within the field
• Has developed, through the methodology component, a suitable and well-founded design for their Master’s thesis and has mastered the appropriate methodological techniques; in addition, has developed skills in related approaches within the chosen methodology
• Has developed the ability to evaluate ethical aspects of their own and others’ research.

General competence

The candidate:

• Has gained epistemological and methodological expertise that enables him/her to carry out and critically evaluate empirical research in the areas of sport, physical education and outdoor recreation.

Course Description

Part 1. Research theory

The theme of humans’ physical nature comprises a very broad and complex problem area related to basic philosophical questions and to a variety of specialist disciplines in natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities. The following theoretical perspectives from various research traditions include:

• The meaning of body, soul and consciousness
• The body: experiences and learning
• Knowledge through action and reflexive thinking
• The body as a product of evolution, and the socio-cultural body
• The body as a vehicle for experience, meaning and communication
• Gender and the body
• The body, processuality, various aspects
• The encounter between the individual and institutions of society related to the body, such as physical education, outdoor life and sport
• The body and health from a social perspective

Part 2. Methodology

Students will choose two of four lecture series for the following courses in methods:

• Observation, fieldwork and interviews
• Quantitative methods, measurement and statistics
• Experimental methods and intervention studies
• Document, image and discourse analysis

Teaching and Learning Methods

About 30 lectures each of four hours’ duration in the autumn semester. Parts of the lectures will be arranged as field seminars and course literature seminars. 75% compulsory attendance.

Assessment Methods

Essay: graded marks, external assessment.
Students must have fulfilled the compulsory attendance requirement (75%) in order to sit the examination.

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