Research Methods and Skills (5 ECTS)

Learning outcomes

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 is able to apply any chosen methods appropriately.
• 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.

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:
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

Teaching methods

Distance learning, group teaching, material analysis exercises, written exam

Location and time

Arabia campus, group teaching, partly hybrid
Autumn 2025:
3.9., 30.9., 10.-11.11., 2.12.

Learning materials and recommended literature

Exam literature (in Finnish):
- Opinnäytetyöopas, which you can download from: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-328-229-2
- Kostamo, P., Airaksinen, T. & Vilkka, H. Kirjoita itsesi asiantuntijaksi. Opas toiminnalliseen kehittämistyöhön. (mieluiten 2014 painos, mutta myös 2010 käy)

And Moodle materials provided by lecturer and other recommended source materials
Materials provided by teachers.

All assignments and materials are under Copyright Act (404/61) and a teacher has the copyright. Assignments and materials are not allowed to be distributed or used in any other way. Distributing materials are only allowed if the teacher grants the permit.

Alternative completion methods of implementation

-

Internship and working life connections

-

Exam dates and retake possibilities

The exam is open until 5.10.2025, you can retake the exam twice.

International connections

-

Student workload

Total 135 hours covering lectures and independent study

Content scheduling

The exact schedule will be announced later

Further information for students

Further information

COURSE CONTENT:
Approaches to research and development
Identification and assessment of research and development needs
Systematic data acquisition in research and development
Research and development processes and methods
Quantitative, qualitative and development methods
Data acquisition, analysis, reliability and interpretation
Research ethics, data protection and good scientific practice as well as the principles of open science and research
Communication and reporting of research and development work

PARTICIPATION IN TEACHING:
Participation in contact teaching is a required for completing the course. If a student is unable to participate in the beginning of the teaching due to illness, he/she can also confirm study place by informing the teacher in advance. If a student has to be absent from contact teaching, the absence will be compensated by a substitute assignment given by the teacher.

Passing the course also requires that the student participates in group work and returns the learning assignments according to the given assessment schedule.

AI:
Artificial intelligence can be used to help you come up with ideas for writing assignments, but it must not replace your own thinking, searching for sources, and writing. Correcting the language and formatting of your own text with AI is permitted, but entire texts may not be produced AI, so if you use it, be open about it. Concealing the use of AI is cheating. When using AI, familiarize yourself with Metropolia's artificial intelligence guidelines and act accordingly. You are responsible for following the guidelines.

AHOT (Prior learning):
A course or parts of a course can be credited if the student has completed university-level studies on the course content.

Assessment methods and criteria

Evaluation of Course Assignments:

Task 1: Methods Exam, evaluation: 0-5, individual performance, deadline: 5.10
Task 2: Data Management, evaluation: Pass/Fail, Deadline: 16.11
Task 3: Analysis Task of the Completed Work, evaluation: Pass/Fail, Deadline: 10.12
Task 4: Submission of Data Task, evaluation: Pass / Supplement Required / Fail, Deadline: 10.12
Task 5: Plan for Data Collection for Your Thesis, evaluation: 0-5, individual task, Deadline: 8.1

Tasks 2-4 must be passed. The final grade is based on the average of the grades from Tasks 1 and 5.

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, to 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 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.

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 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.

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, to carry out research and development projects that develop working life.