MIED4010 ¨C Research Methods I

Course content

This course introduces you to a set of methodological issues and techniques that are essential for empirical research in the social sciences in general, and the two specialization areas of the programme more in particular.

The themes of this introductory course are:

• introduction to philosophy of social science
• introduction to quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research
• introduction to research traditions within educational sciences

A central aim of the course is to provide students with valid tools for critically evaluating empirical research and carefully developing their own research designs.

Learning outcome

Upon successful completion of the course you will:

Knowledge

• have acquired insight in relevant research traditions and epistemologies
• have achieved a deeper understanding of research as a scientific activity
• be able to identify and discuss the challenges and dilemmas involved in applying methods in empirical contexts

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Skills

• have command over a broad spectrum of perspectives within different research traditions (quantitative/qualitative/mixed-methods)
• be able to apply a critical perspective with respect to how various methods are used in research
• be able to criticize and give feedback to the work of fellow students in a respectful, reflected and constructive manner

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General Competence

• have developed an understanding of various elements of the scientific process, including aspects of the relation between theory and empirical evidence and between concepts and measures.
• have developed scientific curiosity and academic ways of thinking and reasoning

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

This course is primarily for students enrolled in the Masters in Education.

Other Master students at UiO, as well as eligible exchange students, who are interested in taking this course can be admitted if there are available places.

Only students who have been admitted to this course may attend the lectures, seminars and examinations.

Ranking:

All students enrolled in the Master of Education programme have equal access to the course.

Other applicants may be considered based on capacity. If there are available places, exchange students will be prioritized before master students on other programmes.

Capacity: maximum 60 students

Recommended previous knowledge

This course is a part of the Master in Education study programme.

Students are expected to have sufficient knowledge, skills and competences in social science research methods.

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with HEM4112 ¨C Research Methods and Statistics - course I (discontinued).
• 10 credits overlap with EDU4150 ¨C Social Science Research (discontinued).
• 10 credits overlap with MIED2010 ¨C Research Methods I.

Teaching

The course consists of lectures and seminars.

Compulsory activities

• Submission of a term paper (approx. 3500 words).?Requirements and deadlines will be announced at the beginning of the course. The term paper must be approved. If your paper is not approved,?you will have a chance to rewrite the paper within the same semester.?
• There is a mandatory 80% attendance requirement for this course. If you do not fulfil the mandatory attendance requirement, you must complete an additional assignment prior to passing the course. The requirement for the additional assignment is at the discretion of the lecturer.

All the coursework is taking place at the University of Oslo Blindern campus.

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Access to teaching

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.

Examination

The exam consists of a 4-hour school exam.

You must have submitted and passed the term paper and completed the attendance requirements for this course prior to taking the final school examination.

Students who fail or do not pass the term paper will not be allowed to take the school exam.??

Examination support material

No examination support material is allowed.?

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Two examiners will evaluate the exam.?

Resit an examination

• If you fail the exam you have the opportunity to re-sit the exam during the same semester.
• If you are ill?during the exam period?or have valid absence from the assignment you are allowed to re-sit the exam within the same semester.
• If you wish to retake the exam in order to improve the grade, you may do so during the next offering of the course. You have the opportunity to retake the exam without retaking the compulsory components unless there are changes to the requirements in the course in the semester that you register for retake.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.