Course content

The course has two parts and runs across two semesters. The first semester provides an introduction to relevant research methods for examining socio-cultural relations and processes.Various techniques for collecting data, and for analyzing collected material will be presented; interviewing and use of written sources will be emphasized, but students are also introduced to simple survey methods. The practical aim of this part is to rehearse students to complete a research project, this is why a full semester is dedicated to this group project. In this way, the students get practice in developing their own "research problem", to define a thesis, and to analyze relevant material. The second part of the course is about research communication and dissemination. Here, students are to write a opinion peace, a blogg or a more academic essay, and practice on presenting their results orally.

Learning outcome

The objective of the course is to provide students with an introduction to relevant research methods by which to examine socio-cultural processes of change, and to disseminate this publicly.

Students have knowledge of:

• qualitative research methods including key methodological foundation problems
• implementation of a qualitative research process with emphasis on different techniques of data collection and analysis of collected material
• selection of data / source types to analyze various issues
• various narrative techniques that can be used in the dissemination of research results
• research Code of Conduct
• different genres for research communication/dissemination

Students have skills in:

• developing a research question
• finding, collecting and evaluating data / sources that illuminate the problem
• analyzing different data types / sources
• designing reports and research texts
• creating texts in other formats (opinion pieces, essay, blogg, poster, oral presentations)

Learning methods and activities

Teaching consists of lectures and group work, field work (data collection) and workshops. The mandatory activities include up to 10 minor submissions related to the group work and teaching, a written essay and an oral presentation, in addition to a minimum of 75 % attendance in teaching. Further information about the scope and requirements for the mandatory activities is given in Blackboard at the beginning of the semester.

Compulsory assignments

• 75% attendance at lessons and 100% completion of practical training

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

Requires admission to the Master's programme in STS.

Credit reductions