Basics of Research-based DevelopmentLaajuus (5 cr)

Objective

The student masters the tools of critical thinking required of an expert level practitioner. The student will be able to apply critical thinking in evaluating sources of information and in solving practical problems of development. The student will master the principles of theory and conceptualisation. They can apply the principles of social development in their own work. The student will be familiar with the different strategic options for research-based development, which will be further developed in a later course. They will have a good command of the principles and practices of planning development activities and will be able to develop a feasible and well-founded research plan. They will be able to assess the feasibility of the plans and the relevance of the results in terms of professional development. The student will have a good command of ethical principles and practices in research and development. The student will be able to build a framework for a thesis based on researched knowledge.

Content

- Critical thinking and understanding of knowledge, sources and evaluation of knowledge
- Social work knowledge base
- Principles of theory and conceptualisation
- Strategies for research-based development
- Principles of theory, theory, theory of research and development, theory of research and development planning, principles of research and development planning: evaluation, goal setting, scientific writing and communication, scientific reporting
- Basics of research ethics