Basic Research Methods and Skills (5 ECTS)

Objective

The purpose of the course is to strengthen the student’s research and development competence using various methods and to support opportunities to produce new knowledge in various development projects. In addition, the purpose is to strengthen problem-solving skills and critical argumentation and knowledge building skills.

The student is able to identify working life-oriented research and development needs and opportunities from different perspectives. The student masters the basics of systematic data search as part of research and development activities. The student is familiar with the methods suitable for research and development projects and masters the basics of qualitative, quantitative and development methods. The student complies with good scientific practice, is familiar with data protection and data management principles and can apply these principles in research and development activities. The student identifies factors influencing the reliability and quality of research and development projects and knows the basics of how to assess them. The student masters the basics of expert communications.

Content

- Identifying research and development needs
- Systematic data acquisition and assessment of research quality
- Approaches to research and development work
- Research and development processes and methods
- Quantitative, qualitative and development methods
- Research ethics, data protection and good scientific practice
- Basics of expert communication and reporting in research and development work

Location and time

WEBINARS

10.10.25 at 13-16 Orientation to studies & Research process
4.11.25 at 9-12 Topic definition and systematic information search & Research and development methods part 1
1.12.25 at 9-12 Research and development methods part 2 & Research ethics and data protection

Materials

All course material is available in Moodle when the course begins.

Teaching methods

Interactive online contact teaching (including assignments and discussion during teaching)
Independent study and work in Moodle

Activating tasks
Preparing an idea paper for a research or development topic

Student workload

5 credits = 135 hours of student work

The work consists of attending webinars or watching recordings, independent online learning and eight 11 assignments and one larger Idea paper assignment in Moodle.

Content scheduling

Themes:

Research process
Topic definition and systematic information search
Research and development methods
Research ethics and data protection

Further information

Webinars will be recorded and available for watching in the Moodle platform for one month after the end of the course.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student is able to identify and describe research and development needs and the stages of the research and development process in their field. The student is able to make use of relevant information in development work. The student is able to apply key concepts and methods in their field’s research and development work in theory. They identify and are able to take into account any data protection and research ethics issues. They know the basics of expert communications and reporting.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student is able to justify research and development needs and the stages of the research and development process in their field. The student is able to make use of relevant information purposefully in development work. The student has a good theoretical understanding of how to use key concepts and methods in their field’s research and development work, and is able to plan their practical application. They know the basics of data protection and are able to use research ethics guidelines. The student knows the basics of expert communications and reporting and is capable of producing clear communications and reporting.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student is able to provide diverse justifications from different perspectives for research and development needs and the stages of the research and development process in their field. The student is able to make use of and evaluate relevant information purposefully in development work. The student has an excellent theoretical understanding of how to use key concepts and methods in their field’s research and development work, and is able to plan their practical application in diverse ways. The student has internalised the data protection and research ethics guidelines, and is able to develop operations that comply with them. The student has a very strong command of expert communications and reporting, and is able to produce impactful communications and reporting.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

The student identifies and is able to describe research and development needs and the stages of the research and development process in their field. The student is able to make use of relevant information in development work. The student has a theoretical understanding of how to use key concepts and methods in their field’s research and development work, and is able to plan their practical application. They are able to identify and take into account any data protection and research ethics issues. They know the basics of expert communications and reporting.

Assessment methods and criteria

Individual assignments (1-11) assessment: passed - failed
Idea paper (12) assessment: graded 1-5, which forms course grade
Idea paper peer assessment completed: passed - failed

Further information

The course can be accredited with advanced studies completed earlier for a Master’s degree in UAS or in a university (60 ECTS), provided that the contents of the completed courses correspond to the contents of these courses.

Further information

The course can be accredited with advanced studies completed earlier for a Master’s degree in UAS or in a university (60 ECTS), provided that the contents of the completed courses correspond to the contents of these courses.