Course syllabus spring 2013
Course syllabus spring 2013
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
2012-08-30
Syllabus valid from
2013-01-21
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
This course, together with IM241L IMER III: Project Work, constitutes the 61-90 level (IMER III) within the main subject of International Migration and Ethnic Relations.
Course contents
The aim of the course is to provide the student with basic knowledge of both qualitative and quantitative research procedures. The course begins with lectures on philosophy of science, focusing on how science is different from other types of knowledge. The issue of establishing boundary lines between qualitative and quantitative research methods is addressed. Students will also be introduced to sampling procedures, and will learn how to collect, analyse and interpret empirical material. They will also carry out group exercises in method.
Learning outcomes
After finishing the course, the student can:
- in-depth understanding of key methodological procedures within the field of IMER;
- demonstrate a deeper ability to analyze and critically assess the academic progress within the research field of IMER;
- describe and explain different qualitative and quantitative research designs can be used in the research field of IMER;
- describe and explain advantages and disadvantages with different data collections and analytical methods can be used in the research field of IMER
- generate an appropriate research topic and link it to an appropriate research design and
- can work on and present the methodological discussion of a project.
Learning activities
Lectures, seminars, exercises, and a group project work. Moreover, students have access to the university’s computer rooms and library.
Assessment
The course is assessed through the production and presentation of a written paper.
Re-sit examinations
Students who do not pass the regular course exams have the minimum of two re-sit opportunities. Re-sits follow the same form as the original exams, apart from re-sits for group work, which take the form of individual written and oral assignments.
Course literature and other study material
Clanchy, John & Brigid Ballard, 1998, How to Write Essays: A Practical Guide for Students. Melbourne: Longman.
May, Tim, 2001, Social Research Issues, Methods and Process. Buckingham: Open University Press. 250pp.
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 evaluation
Oral, informal evalutation is carried out throughout the course. A formal, written evaluation is carried out at the end of the course and published on the course homepage