| Learning objectives |
- integrate the subjects taught during the 2nd year
- formulate, delimit and analyze a research problem with an
academic approach
- apply the theories and methods relevant to the 2nd Year Project
to explain aspects of the project
- ensure a logical coherence between problem statement, analysis
and conclusion
- present the 2nd Year Project in a clearly formulated, well
structured and accessible form
|
| Prerequisites for registering for the exam
(activities during the teaching period) |
|
Number of compulsory
activities which must be approved: 1
Compulsory home
assignments
Research Proposal. 5 pages. This is graded pass/fail by the course
coordinator. Having a "pass" grade for the research
proposal is a prerequisite for handing in the 2nd year project
report.
|
| Examination |
|
Second Year
Project:
|
| Exam
ECTS |
15 |
| Examination form |
Oral exam based on written product
In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product
must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The
grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and
the individual oral performance. |
| Individual or group exam |
Individual oral exam based on written group
product |
| Number of people in the group |
2-4 |
| Size of written product |
Max. 45 pages |
|
Regulations regarding the length of the 2nd Year
Project:
Number of
Students Max. number of pages
1 Student 20 pages
2 Students 30 pages
3 students 40 pages
4 students 45 pages |
| Assignment type |
Project |
| Duration |
Written product to be submitted on specified date and
time.
30 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade,
and informing plus explaining the grade |
| Grading scale |
7-step scale |
| Examiner(s) |
Internal examiner and external examiner |
| Exam period |
Spring |
| Make-up exam/re-exam |
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
1) For projects, where some of the
group members receive a grade 00 or below, these students must
submit, before the re-take, individual revised versions of the
report.
2) For projects where all members are awarded a grade of 00 or
below, the overall project is deemed unacceptable. Before the
re-take the project must be revised and
improved.
|
|
| Course content and structure |
|
The course is split into 2 sections that follow after
each other
a) Interdisciplinary Research Methods 2 (IRM2)
b) 2nd Year Project Workshops (2YP)
Contents and Structure part 1: – IRM2
The course revisits the foundations of scientific knowledge
creation to explore basic notions, concepts and ideas in more depth
as well as to further develop competencies of analytical thinking
and coherent argumentation according to the conventions of
scientific research. Against this backdrop, the course explores the
basic choices and their consequences every researcher has to face
in order to be able to establish a research rationale logically
linking epistemological concepts with methodological considerations
and research design.
This course should be seen as an introductory class to the
practical workshops on qualitative methodology accompanying the
work for the part “2nd Year Project” (2YP).
Contents and Structure part 2: – YP2
The 2nd Year Project is the second major independent work in the
BA(im) programme. Emphasis is on learning to perform at a more
advanced level of interdisciplinarity.This involves being able to
successfully integrate and link topics and theoretical
perspectives covered during the 2nd year, as well as consider
multiple relevant research methods. The students are expected to be
able to formulate, delimit and analyse a problem and
research questions, and, finally, critically reflect on and
evaluate the choices made during the project.
The project work will be accompanied by a series of workshops
introducing key concepts and practices of qualitative research in a
hands-on manner. The workshops are designed to guide through the
whole research process from research question and data collection
to data analysis and project report. These workshops are to be seen
as a continuation of the IRM2 part (Interdisciplinary Research
Methods 2).
|
| Description of the teaching methods |
IRM2 Part
Based on the principles of student-centred learning, the learning
methods will be a mix of interactive lectures, thought experiments,
practical exercises as well as group and class discussions.
YP2 Part
Based on the principles of student-centred learning, the learning
methods applied in the workshops, accompanying the work for the 2nd
Year Project, will focus extensively on practical exercises and
hands-on activities enriched by interactive lectures, group and
class discussions as well as student presentations. |
| Feedback during the teaching period |
Students receive feedback on the mandatory
assignment (research proposal) that will help them improve their
final project report.
Students will also have the chance to present their projects and
receive feedback before final submission. |
| Student workload |
| Lectures and workshops |
30 hours |
| Preparation for lectures and workshops |
90 hours |
| Mandatory assignment |
40 hours |
| Project work |
230 hours |
| Exam preparation |
22 hours |
| Total hours |
412 hours |
|
| Expected literature |
|
The literatue can be changed before the semester starts.
Students are advised to find the literature on LEARN before they
buy the books.
Oates, B.J. (2006). Researching Information Systems and
Computing. SAGE Publications: London, UK.
Academic journal articles.
|
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