MARE570 Masteroppgave

A student who has completed the thesis should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge: The student...

• has thorough knowledge on how to plan a research project, write and structure a research proposal/protocol.
• has a thorough knowledge of how to plan, structure and build a master`s thesis.
• has in-depth knowledge of how to define a research problem, pose research questions, set research objectives, and justify selected research methods to answer a research question.
• can use literature and conduct a review.
• has in-depth knowledge of scientific theoretical traditions, and research methods and designs.
• can choose and apply a theoretical framework to the project.
• has advanced knowledge about a substantive theory regarding the research topic.
• has a thorough knowledge of the ethical requirements of research in general, and for the student`s particular project.

Skills: The student...

• can plan, write a proposal and conduct an independent research project under supervision and by norms for research ethics.
• can collect, evaluate and critically review literature, theory, and data.
• can critically discuss the methodological strengths and weaknesses of the research project.
• can critically integrate and discuss theory and research literature relevant to the research topic.
• can critically analyse data and present empirical material in a clear and structured manner.
• can write an academic document that critical reports on and discusses the research process and findings.
• can present a relevant research problem/question(s) and propose appropriate methodological approaches and data collection and -analysis methods.
• can apply for necessary ethical permissions and conduct a project by research ethics.

General competence: The student...

• can communicate persuasively, critically and in a context-sensitive way on the importance of own research theme to global healthy ageing and rehabilitation issues to the general public and at policy and academic levels.
• can apply and contribute with own research and area of knowledge to general debates on healthy ageing and rehabilitation both at policy and academic levels.
• can contribute critically and innovatively to healthy ageing and rehabilitation initiatives in a context-sensitive way.
• can communicate and document the research project by research ethics.

Online and on-campus

• Individual work
• Individual supervision and group supervision
• Seminars
• Lectures
• Team work
• Individal presentations related to thesis

Supervision can be given individually, in groups and in the form of seminars.

The master’s thesis could be an article-based thesis with a summary chapter, an article-based thesis without a summary chapter or a monograph.

1. Article-based manuscript with summary chapter A Master’s thesis submitted as an article-based manuscript with a summary chapter shall include one article that complies with the authorship guidelines of a relevant scientific journal. The article’s word count shall comply with the limits of the selected journal. The summary chapter shall include a summarising presentation of the scientific result, with a detailed and up-to-date summarising discussion. The summary chapter shall be up to 7500 words. Title page, table of contents, list of references and any appendices come in addition to the 7500 words.

2. Article-based manuscript without a summary chapter A Master's thesis submitted as an article-based manuscript without a summary chapter shall include one article that complies with the authorship guidelines of a relevant scientific journal. The journal shall be chosen in consultation with the supervisor. Title page, table of content, reference list and eventual attachment are additional.

The article must be ready for submission to the relevant journal in terms of specialist content and format. The article must comply with author guidelines for the specific journal.

3. Monograph A Master’s thesis in the form of a monograph shall be up to 15,000 words long. Title page, table of contents, list of references and any appendices come in addition.

Grading scale The grading scale used is A to F. Grade A is the highest passing grade in the grading scale, grade F is a fail.

New exam When the grade F (not passed) is given, the student can improve their thesis and hand it in for the new exam. When the new exam is passed, there is no opportunity of delivering a new or revised master`s thesis.

The course requirements must be fulfilled in order to take the exam.

1. Participation during individual and group supervision (five hours are mandatory)
2. Participation during seminars (80% participation)
3. Project proposal, 2000 words (approved)
4. Presentation of project proposal (approved)
5. Presentation of the master`s thesis

Fulfilled course requirements are valid for four subsequent semesters.