Course syllabus spring 2016
Course syllabus spring 2016
Title
IMER III: Research Methodology
Swedish title
IMER III: Research Methodology
Course code
IM240L
Credits
15 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
2015-11-18
Syllabus valid from
2016-01-18
Entry requirements
Prerequisite courses for this course are: IM101E International Migration and Ethnic Relations I (passed) or IM101L International Migration and Ethnic Relations I (passed) IM236E IMER: Migration, Politics and Social Welfare (passed) or IM238L IMER II: Migration, Politics and Social Welfare (passed) and IM235E IMER: The Challenges of Ethnic Diversity (passed) or IM237L IMER II: The Challenges of Ethnic Diversity (passed)
Level
Basic level
Main field
International Migration and Ethnic Relations
Progression level
G2F
Progression level in relation to degree requirements
The course is part of the main field of study International Migration and Ethnic Relations 61-90 credit level and meets the degree requirements for the degree of Bachelor, main field of study International Migration and Ethnic Relations.
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to assure that students acquire knowledge, skills and understanding of the research process. IMER is a multidisciplinary subject which, among other things, means that IMER students have to be well acquainted with a variety of methods and techniques. The course is centered on research design and methodology, covering the philosophical foundations, theoretical assumptions and concrete methods and techniques of different methodologies. It also covers some of the ethical aspects involved in research. The aim of the course is to assure that student acquire an understanding of how these elements are contingent on one another; that they can make an informed choice of design based on research subject and aim; and that they have an ability to independently plan and reflect on small research projects.
Course contents
The course covers the most important research designs/methodologies in IMER research such as statistics, comparative analysis, case studies, experiments, text analysis and narrative analyses, both with respect to philosophical and theoretical foundations and concrete methods and techniques of data collection.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the student should be able to:
- Describe the main characteristics of different methodologies in IMER research.
- Describe the main philosophical and theoretical foundations of different methodologies in IMER research.
- Assess the strengths and weaknesses of different methodologies in IMER research.
- Assess the relevance and applicability of different methodologies in relation to diverse research aims and questions.
- Assess the relevance and reliability of different forms of data collection for a given research topic and aim.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the methodological implications of different philosophical and theoretical standpoints.
- Demonstrate a deeper ability to analyze and critically assess the progress within the research field of IMER.
- Formulate a delimited research topic and link it to an appropriate research design.
- Plan small research projects.
- Analyze, discuss and compare research projects in a critical and constructive manner.
Learning activities
Lectures and seminars.
Assessment
The course is assessed i) through active participation and presentation of written work in the seminars (5 credits) and ii) through the production of an individually written paper (10 credits).
Re-take examinations
Students who do not pass the regular course exams have the minimum of two re-take opportunities. Re-takes follow the same form as the original exams, apart from re-takes for seminar participation, which take the form of individual written assignments.
Course literature and other study material
- Clanchy, John & Brigid Ballard, 1998, How to Write Essays: A Practical Guide for Students. Melbourne: Longman.
- Moses, Jonathon W. & Knutsen, Torbjørn L. (2012) (2nd ed.) Ways of Knowing: Competing Methodologies in Social and Political Research. Hampshire: Palgrave.
- Okasha, Samir, 2002, Philosphy of Science: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press (144p.)
- Silverman, David (2006) Interpreting qualitative data: methods for analyzing talk, text and interaction.SAGE.
+ Course compendium
+ Course portfolios with extended reading on different methodologies and resources for data collection.
Course evaluation
The University provides students who participate in or who have completed a course with the opportunity to make known their experiences and viewpoints with regards to the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarize the results of course evaluations as well as informing participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures initiated in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).
Interim rules
If a course is no longer offered or has undergone major changes, students will be offered two re-take sessions based on the syllabus in force at registration during a period of one year from the date of the implementation of the changes.
Additional information
The Language of instruction is English.