Research Methods and Project Design

What can you expect to derive from the course?

• To better understand the dynamics of various methods used in the field of environment and development, including the theoretical assumptions and the practical uses of each ¿ as well as how they can be combined;
• To recognize and critically assess both the uses and the limitations of various methods, and to evaluate both the potentials and the problems of combining methods, and of doing interdisciplinarity research, more generally;
• To analyze methods/methodologies as ¿ways of knowing¿ and to recognize how such ways of knowing can be used as practial tools of research;
• To identify and discuss the challenges and dilemmas involved in applying methods in concrete, practical contexts;
• To write and present academic texts, discuss problems in class, and comment on the work of peers.

The Masters study is directed at students with a background in humanities, social sciences or the natural sciences. The minimum requirement for admission is that the students must have a bachelor¿s degree (equivalent at least to a good second class honours degree from a reputable university). Students with a natural science background should have at least half a year's studies within the humantities or social sciences to prepare them for the interdisciplinary challenges this programme offers. Students must also have a good working knowledge of English, and should be able to read and follow lectures in this language as well as writing a term paper in English.

This course is only for students who are enrolled in the Master Programme Culture, Environment and Sustainability

An average of two sessions (lectures or seminars) per week over the whole semester. Instruction and teaching is compulsory.

2018: Deadline, draft project proposal: 14. December 2018

Deadline, Project proposal: 18. January 2019

2024 onwards: A portfolio, graded pass/fail, consisting of:

• 6 reflection pieces (each 1-2 pages). These will be submitted each week, and cover the week’s topic, including: 1. Literature review; 2. Documents; 3. Interviewing; 4. Multi-sited fieldwork. 5. Participant-observation; and, 6. Participatory Action Research
• An overview of proposed thesis topic (2-3 pages). This will be submitted at the end of the course.

2020 onwards: A portfolio of activities and a 10 page project description graded pass/fail.

• Assignment 1: Research theme and research question (half a page).
• Assignment 2: Defining research aims and objectives (half a page).
• Assignment 3: Essay tba (1000 words).
• Assignment 4: Research proposal. (10 pages)

All activities are obligatory.

2019: A portfolio of activities and a 10 pages project description graded pass/fail. All activities are obligatory.

• Assignment 1: Research theme and research question (half a page).
• Assignment 2: Defining research goals and objectives (half a page).
• Assignment 3: An essay on the issue "interdisciplinary research" (1000 words).
• Assignment 4: Research proposal (10 pages).

Assesment guide/sensorveiledning

2018 - : A 10 page project description, graded pass/fail. In addition, students must submit obligatory assignments throughout the duration of the course.

Assesment guide/sensorveiledning

2017: 4 hour School exam in November (reduced because of transition to digital exam instead of hand written). In addition, students must write a 10 page project description to complete the course. The project description is graded pass/fail.

2015 - 2016: 5 hour School exam in December and to complete the course, students must in addition write a 10 page project description (students are awarded either a passing or a failing grade on the project description).

2012-2014: The course has a 3 day Home Exam of maximum 10 pages. To complete the course, students must in addition write a 10 page project description (Students are awarded either a passing or a failing grade on the project description).

Students may use dictionaries in examinations.

• Language translation dictionaries may be used in examinations. A language translation dictionary is defined as a dictionary that simply gives equivalent words or phrases in two languages, without further explanatory text or description (including bokmål-nynorsk).
• You may bring a maximum of two dictionaries.
• Electronic dictionaries are not to be used in examinations.

The list is exhaustive and dictionaries that are not covered by the definition above are not allowed.

Dictionaries must be unmarked and free of notations.

• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Resitting an examination

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

English

Evaluation

Feedback from our students is essential to us in our efforts to ensure and further improve the high quality of our programmes and courses. All courses are subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students on a particular course to participate in a more comprehensive, periodic evaluation of this course.

Evaluation Autumn 2012

Overlapping courses

10 Credits overlap SUM4011A
10 Credits overlap SUM4011B