Course syllabus autumn 2025
Course syllabus autumn 2025
Title
IMER Research Methods and Minor Thesis
Swedish title
IMER forskningsmetoder och uppsats
Course code
IM150L
Credits
30 credits
Grading scale
UA / Excellent (A), Very Good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Pass (E) or Fail (U)
Language of instruction
English
Decision-making body
Faculty of Culture and Society
Syllabus approval date
2024-02-14
Syllabus valid from
2024-09-02
Entry requirements
General entry requirements + English 6
A minimum of 30 credits in Social Science or Humanities and English 6
Level
Basic level
No main field.
Progression level
G1F
Progression level in relation to degree requirements
This course is not part of a main field of studies
Course contents
The aim of the course is twofold. The first half of the course aims to introduce the students to two core research fields within IMER research. Main theoretical and methodological perspectives within the fields are presented and discussed. The modules will also include a more general discussion on issues relating to the questions of what constitutes a research field and how to review a field.
The first half also includes a generic discussion on how to write an overview of a defined field of research through a literature review.
The aim of the second half of the semester is to introduce the students to research methods, academic writing, and independent research, first with a module covering the most common research methods, and second, by writing a minor thesis within one of the research fields presented during the first half of the course. The aim with the minor thesis module is to make the students transform the knowledge given in the course into a minor individually written thesis, through problem formulation, study of previous research, choice and application of relevant method and theory, analysis of material and presentation of findings.
The course consists of four modules á 7.5 credits.
Module 1 and 2
Two core research fields within IMER research are presented. The two fields can change between semesters. During the modules the main theoretical and methodological perspectives are presented for each field. In this way a variety of perspectives are presented each semester. The main activities during these modules are lectures and seminars.
Module 3
The aim of the module is to introduce the students to the essentials of methodology and methods in the social sciences and humanities. The course combines a theoretical approach to general questions of research and knowledge, with practical hands-on investigation. The course prepares the students for the minor thesis that follows immediately after this course.
Module 4
This is a thesis module where the student shall write an individual independent work. The module is organized around group supervisions where the students get supervised by a teacher at the same time as they will engage in peer learning. At the end of the course the students will defend their thesis in an opposition seminar. They will also oppose on another student’s thesis.
Learning outcomes
Module 1 & 2
At the completion of this module the student shall:
- Identify and define key research questions within a defined research field.
- Identify and define key concepts within a defined research field.
- Identify key theories and methods within a defined research field.
- Carry out a valid literature review of a defined research field.
Module 3
At the completion of this module the student shall:
- Define and apply key methodological concepts in the social sciences and humanities.
- Describe and compare different research designs and methods in the social sciences and humanities.
- Explain and assess how aim, theory, research design, method and results affect one another in a logically coherent sequence.
- Select and apply appropriate research methods to address different research questions.
- Carry out a small research assignment where method is applied to material/data.
- Assess the academic, social and ethical implications of research in the social sciences and humanities.
Module 4
At the completion of this module, the student shall:
- Show basic knowledge and understanding of how scientific problem formulation presupposes and coincides with the choice of method, theory and different kinds of empirical material.
- Show basic knowledge about, and ability to, apply different scientific methods on different kinds of material.
- Show basic knowledge and understanding of academic writing.
- Show good ability to engage in oral and written communication.
- Show ability to formulate and investigate a scientific problem.
- Show ability to write independently, and act as opponent on a minor thesis.
- Show ability to search for, critically evaluate and choose relevant source material and previous research for a minor scientific study.
- Show ability to finalize assignments and examinations within the stipulated time frames.
- Show ability to write academically correct texts
- Evaluate scientific work, give, and take criticism on presented work by assessing the relevance of problem, questions, methods, theories, and material.
- Evaluate the production of knowledge from an ethical perspective.
Learning activities
Module 1 & 2
Lectures, seminars and individual studies
Module 3
Lectures, seminars, individual studies and studies in groups
Module 4
Supervision, individual studies, peer learning and independent writing.
Assessment
Module 1
The module is assessed by an individually written literature review and obligatory active seminar participation.
Module 2
The module is assessed by an individually written literature review and obligatory active seminar participation.
Module 3
The module is examined through active seminar participation, oral and written presentations, and the submission of a research design for the minor thesis project.
Module 4
The module is examined through a minor thesis and active participation in opposition seminars (both as opponent and defendant).
Course literature
Module 1 & 2
- Booth, Andrew, Sutton, Anthea & Papaioannou, Diana (2016) Systematic Approaches to a Successful Literature Review, London: Sage Publication.
- Compendium of articles connected to each of the research fields (1000 pages for each field)
Module 3
- Halperin & Heath, 3rd ed (2020) Political Research. Methods and Practical Skill, Oxford: Oxford University press.
Module 4
- Birrell Ivory, Sarah (2020) Becoming a Critical Thinker, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Halperin & Heath, 3rd ed (2020) Political Research. Methods and Practical Skill, Oxford: Oxford University press.
Additional readings for the thesis in agreement with the supervisor.
Course evaluation
The university provides all students who are participating in, or have completed, a course to express their experiences and views on the course through a course evaluation which is organized at the end of the course. The university will collate the course evaluations and provide information about their results and any actions prompted by them. The results shall be made available to the students. (HF 1:14).
Interim rules
If a course is no longer offered, or has undergone significant changes, the students must be offered two opportunities for re-examination based on the syllabus that applied at the time of registration, for a period of one year after the changes have been implemented.
Additional information
he syllabus is a translation of a Swedish source text.
If a student has a Learning support decision, the examiner has the right to provide the student with an adapted test, or to allow the student to take the exam in a different format.