Facts about the course
- ECTS Credits:
- 7.5
- Responsible department:
- Faculty of Business Administration and Social Sciences
- Lecture Semester:
- Autumn
- Teaching language:
- English
- Duration:
- ½ year
IDR710 Philosophy of Science and Research Methods (Autumn 2018)
About the course
The course aims at developing the students' knowledge about reseach designs and empirical analysis of organisational and social scientific research questions. Students will gain knowledge about the methodological assumptions of different research traditions as well as how to analyse empirical material.
The goal of the course is to equip the students with tools to be able to plan, facilitate and carry out empirical studies based on different research methods.
The course consist of the following four modules:
1. Defining a research problem and designing the research project
- Students will learn how to approach a research topic including: selecting a research question, planning a research design and strategy, the use of literature and theory, choosing and analysing data
2. Qualitative methods
- Students will learn about the uniqueness of qualitative research approaches, and when and where can they be applied. Topics such as research ethics and securing data will be addressed.
3. Quantitative methods
- Students will be intorduced to basic principles of quantitative methods, including survey design, secondary data and statistics analysis (SPSS).
4. From data to text
- Students will be introduced to how to present data in a thesis or an article, including: How to compose the entire thesis, How to describe the method(s) applied and How to present the findings of the study
The course is connected to the following study programs
Recommended requirements
Level 1 introduction to research methods course
The student's learning outcomes after completing the course
Knowledge
Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge about how research is conducted.
- understand current perspectives on social research.
- classify and evaluate scientific contributions from several social science disciplines.
Skills
Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:
- apply and analyse various theories of science.
- develop a research question and a research design
- understand the relevance of different research methods, both quantitative and qualitative.
- be able to participate in methodology discussions in empirical social sciences.
- be able to evaluate social science research.
General Competence
Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:
- relate critically to the choice and application of different research methods.
Forms of teaching and learning
3-6 hours of lectures per week consisting of regular lectures, seminars and in-class oral presentations individually and in groups.
Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam
- Mandatory coursework: Assignment(s)
- Courseworks given: 2
- Courseworks required: 2
- Presence: Required
- Comment: Written essay of max 1000 words.
Syllabus
Veal, A.J. & Darcy, Simon. 2014. Research Methods in Sport Studies and Sport Management. A Practical Guide. Milton Park, Abingdon: Routledge.
Additionally, a collection of articles will be presented at the start of the course.