Research Methods and Skills (5 cr)

Objective

The purpose of the course is to improve the student's professional expertise, research and development skills, and expertise in critical argumentation and knowledge formation skills that can contribute to the field.

Objectives; the student
• is able to identify, evaluate and argue research and development needs from different angles
• can critically evaluate and utilise national and international research data and material for the purposes of working life development and RDI
• is familiar with the methods suitable for research and development projects in their field and can select the appropriate qualitative, quantitative or development methods for RDI projects
• is able to apply any chosen methods appropriately
• follows the principles of responsible conduct of research, data protection and research ethics and can apply the principles of open science and research in research and development activities
• is able to evaluate the reliability of the research and development project appropriately
• can communicate fluently about research and development issues
• can act with initiative and responsibility in multidisciplinary development networks and carry out various working life development projects.

Content

• Approaches to research and development work
• Identification and evaluation of research and development needs
• Systematic acquisition of information in research and development work
• Research and development processes and methods:
• Quantitative, qualitative and development methods
• Data collection, analysis, reliability and interpretation of data
• Research ethics, data protection and responsible conduct of research, and the principles of open science and research
• Communication and reporting of research and development work

Location and time

This is a 1-year course that consists of 6 classes (3 in autumn 2022 and 3 in spring 2023) and several assignment deliveries directly related to your Master´s thesis. The course will be graded by 15 June 2023 latest, or can be graded faster, as soon as all assignments are delivered.

Autumn 2022 (3 classes & 1 Thesis seminar):

CLASS 1: on 23.9. at 9-12 am in C312. - ONLINE. the same class will be held online on 30.9, at 9-12 am. Welcome to join a guest presentation at 10-11 am, 30.9 ONLINE, by Salla Kuula, Head of Analytics, Veho.

CLASS 2: on 28.10 at 13-16 pm in C312. - ONLINE. the same class will be held online on 4.11 at 9-12 am.

CLASS 3: on 25.11. at 13-16 pm in C312. - ONLINE. the same class will be held online on 16.12 at 13-16 6m.

The autumn semester ends with your GATE 1 presentation on Fri 9.12. (Gates 1-2) at 13-16(17) at the 1st Thesis Seminar FACE-TO-FACE in C312, aimed to get official approval for your selected Master´s thesis topic approval by the school. If you are not able to arrive on that date, pls join the ONLINE Thesis seminar on 2.12, at 13-16(17) pm (i.e. 1 week earlier).


Spring 2023 (3 classes):

CLASS 4: on 13.1, at 13-16 pm. - ONLINE. the same class will be held online on 20.1, at 13-16 pm.

CLASS 5: on 10.2 at 13-16 pm. - ONLINE. the same class will be held online on 17.2, at 13-16 am.

CLASS 6: on 14.4 at 13-16 pm ONLINE (there will be one common last class online for both groups).

See the information about the thesis seminars separately.

Materials

Learning outcomes of the course

The purpose of the course is to improve the student's professional expertise, research and development skills, and expertise in critical argumentation and knowledge formation skills that can contribute to the field.
Goals:
• The student is able to identify, evaluate and argue research and development needs from different angles.
• The student can critically evaluate and utilise national and international research data and material for the purposes of working life development and RDI.
• The student is familiar with methods suitable for research and development projects in their field and can select the appropriate qualitative, quantitative or development methods for research and development projects.
• The student follows the principles of responsible conduct of research, data protection and research ethics and can apply the principles of open science and research in research and development activities.
• The student is able to evaluate the reliability of the research and development project appropriately.
• The student can communicate fluently about research and development issues.
• The student can act with initiative and responsibility in multidisciplinary development networks and carry out various working life development projects.

The course has a number of recommended readings (shared in the course) and other course materials (guest lectures, slides, etc, shared in the course workspace).

Teaching methods

Course contents

• Identification and evaluation of research and development needs
• Approaches to research and development work
• Systematic acquisition of information in research and development work
• Research and development processes and methods:
o Quantitative, qualitative and development methods
o Data collection, analysis, reliability and interpretation of data
• Research ethics, data protection and responsible conduct of research, and the principles of open science and research
• Communication and reporting of research and development work

Student workload

5 ECTS = appx. 27 hours of student work (including instructions, assignments, self-study, readings, etc).

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student is able to identify and describe the needs and stages of research and development work in their field. The student is able to make use of relevant information in development work. The student is able to use and apply key concepts and methods in their field's research and development work. They are able to identify and take into account any data protection and research ethics issues. They can communicate and report on their research and development work. The student is able to, in cooperation with others, carry out research and development projects that develop working life.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student is able to analyse and argue the needs and stages of research and development work in their field. The student is able to compare, analyse and make use of relevant information purposefully in development work. The student is able to properly use key concepts and methods in their field's research and development work, and to apply them in a variety of ways. They adhere to data protection and research ethics guidelines. They communicate and report clearly on their research and development work. The student is able to carry out independent research and development projects that develop working life, and is capable of cooperation with others.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student is able to assess in a critical way and to argue from many angles the needs and stages of research and development work in their field. The student is able to critically analyse and assess relevant information and to apply it skillfully in development work. The student has excellent command of the key concepts and methods used in their field's research and development work, and is able to apply them in multiple and innovative ways. The students have internalised the data protection and research ethics guidelines, and develop operations that comply with them. They communicate and report convincingly on their research and development work. They are able to lead independent research and development projects and engage in constructive cooperation with others.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

The student is able to identify and describe the needs and stages of research and development work in their field. The student is able to make use of relevant information in development work. The student is able to use and apply key concepts and methods in their field's research and development work. They are able to identify and take into account any data protection and research ethics issues. They can communicate and report on their research and development work. The student is able to, in cooperation with others, carry out research and development projects that develop working life.

Assessment methods and criteria

Excellent

The student is able to assess in a critical way and to argue from many angles the needs and stages of research and development work in their field. The student is able to critically analyse and assess relevant information and to apply it skilfully in development work. The student is able to use excellently the key concepts and methods used in their field's research and development work, and to apply them in multiple and innovative ways. They have internalised the data protection and research ethics guidelines, and develop operations that comply with them. They communicate and report convincingly on their research and development work. The student is able to lead independent research and development projects and engage in constructive cooperation with others.

Good

The student is able to analyse and argue the needs and stages of research and development work in their field. The student is able to compare, analyse and make use of relevant information purposefully in development work. The student is able to properly use key concepts and method in their field's research and development work, and to apply them in a variety of ways. They adhere to data protection and research ethics guidelines. They communicate and report clearly on their research and development work. The student is able to carry out independent research and development projects that develop working life, and is capable of cooperation with others.

Satisfactory

The student is able to identify and describe the needs and stages of research and development work in their field. The student is able to make use of relevant information in development work. The student is able to use and apply key concepts and methods in their field's research and development work. They are able to identify and take into account any data protection and research ethics issues. They can communicate and report on their research and development work. The student is able to, in cooperation with others, to carry out research and development projects that develop working life.

Approved
The student is able to identify and describe the needs and stages of research and development work in their field. The student is able to make use of relevant information in development work. The student is able to use and apply key concepts and methods in their field's research and development work. They are able to identify and take into account any data protection and research ethics issues. They can communicate and report on their research and development work. The student is able to, in cooperation with others, to carry out research and development projects that develop working life.

Qualifications

Completed higher education degree (Bachelor level)