Study Guide

Objective

Students master the means of critical thinking required from expert level actors. Students can apply critical thinking to solving and decision making on practical problems related to development.
Students are familiar with the conceptual approaches related to social work and its comprehensive development and know how to apply them to development activity. Students are familiar with the paradigms of research in social services as well as values, assumptions and methodological background conditions related to them.

Students can apply the principles of the developing social services to their own actions. Students know the various strategic options in the development activity the competence of which is deepened later on in the courses. Students are proficient in the planning of a development activities and the principles and practices of planning and can draw up a viable and well justified plan. Students can define an assignment to be implemented by means of research and development methods. Students can assess the plans and their viability as well as the significance of the results of the project from the viewpoint of professional development.

Content

Argumentation: logical structure and content; critical perspective on information; data sources and assessment; scientific thinking; knowledge base in social services; paradigms and programmes of research in social services; development hypothesis in social field, values and methodology; ideas for the Master’s thesis paper; basics research and development plan: assessment; defining the problem; academic writing and communication; academic reporting.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Research and development studies:

• analyses and evaluates critically knowledge relevant to social development as well as utilises it in development work
• masters central concepts and use of methods relevant to R&D in social services and knows how to apply them to work
• innovates, prepares and implements R&D projects as well as evaluates their effectiveness.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Research and development studies:

• analyses and evaluates critically national and international knowledge relevant to social development as well as utilises it in development work
• masters central concepts and use of methods relevant to R&D and knows how to apply them to work in a versatile manner
• innovates, prepares and implements R&D projects and evaluates their processes and effectiveness in cooperation with clients and partners.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Research and development studies:

• analyses and evaluates critically national and international knowledge relevant to social development as well as utilises it in a versatile manner to promote social welfare in society
• masters central concepts and use of methods relevant to R&D and knows how to apply them in a versatile manner and innovatively even to major R&D projects
• innovates, prepares and implements R&D projects in demanding operating environments as well as evaluates their processes and effectiveness in cooperation with clients and partners.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Research and development studies:

• analyses and evaluates critically knowledge relevant to social development as well as utilises it in development work
• masters central concepts and use of methods relevant to R&D in social services and knows how to apply them to work
• innovates, prepares and implements R&D projects as well as evaluates their effectiveness