Methodology and Research Strategy
This course Methodology and research strategy should be taken in the preparation for writing the Bachelor Thesis, in connection with SOS2001 Bachelor Thesis in Sociology and Social Science Analysis. In teaching, the emphasis is placed on linking the sociological knowledge from the previous theory- and method courses to research topics so that the students are prepared for practical research work. The students formulate a research question, research design, and outline for the thesis.
Sociological research design is emphasized, and special emphasis is placed on connections between theory, issues, methods, and analysis. The purpose is to provide a general overview of what research design is, and how different forms of design are linked to different theoretical and methodological devices. Some deal with stages in the research process, how research work is structured, various theoretical and methodological considerations that are made, and what possibilities and limitations characterize research work.
The course must be taken in connection with the SOS2001 Bachelor Thesis in Sociology and Social Science Analysis, or another social science Bachelor Thesis.
The student up to cohort 2022 will have to have completed the following courses in order to be registered for ME223S Methodology and research strategy:
SO114S Introduction to Sociology,
ME118S Introduction to Research Methods in Social Sciences,
SOS1001 Classical and Modern Sociological Theory
For students starting in cohort 2023 and further, the following prerequisites applies:
SOS1002 Introduction to Sociology - Analysis and Presentation
ME118S Introduction to Research Methods in Social Sciences,
SOS1001 Classical and Modern Sociological Theory
The student must:
- Have basic knowledge of different forms of research design
- Have a good understanding of what is mutual and what separates different research designs
- Have basic knowledge of theoretical and methodological basic principles and critical debates around them
- Have a good understanding of the opportunities provided for analysis approaches
- Have knowledge of requirements for resarch questions
- Have knowledge of sources used for the analysis of statistics on relevant topic areas
Skills
The student must:
- Be able to see the connection between theoretical and methodological choices in the research assignments
- Be able to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of scientific studies
- Be able to formulate different types of the research question
- Be able to discuss the relationship between quantitative and qualitative methods
- Be able to build up, and structure, a professional argumentation
- Be able to obtain and interpret statistically-based knowledge from various sources.
General competence
The student must:
- Be able to plan a small research project
- Be able to describe different research designs, and identify strengths and weaknesses in building research projects
- Have knowledge of how sociological work is included in more extensive professional debates
- Be able to practice independent and critical thinking
- Be able to obtain, produce, analyze and summarize statistically-based knowledge
Work requirements: Oral presentation at a seminar. Assessment: Approved / not approved. The work requirement must be approved in order to sit for the exam.
Hand in exam. Graded A - F, where A-E gives a passed result. The assignment counts for 100% of the grade.