Course syllabus for Research methodology

Course syllabus adopted 2024-02-19 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameResearch methodology
  • CodeTEK291
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPQOM
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyIndustrial Engineering and Management
  • DepartmentTECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 36111
  • Maximum participants70 (at least 10% of the seats are reserved for exchange students)
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsYes
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0120 Take-home examination 7.5 c
Grading: TH		 7.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites


Aim

The course aims at providing knowledge of, and training in, methods and skills used in research and investigations. The students should achieve the ability to choose between alternative techniques to collect and process data, be able to conduct a study in accordance with ethical principles, and be able to evaluate the trustworthiness of research data and analyses. The course also has the purpose to improve the student's ability to present research/investigation results. At the end of the course the student should be able to prepare a brief for a research/investigation project and to evaluate and decide on methods for a master's thesis.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • Explain key methodological issues in research on sociotechnical change.
  • Account for different social science methods and their use in critical analysis.
  • Recognise common mistakes in applications of research methods.
  • Identify ethical challenges associated with various methods and discuss how they can be resolved.
  • Critically reflect on choosing methods and understand the consequences of selecting one method rather than another.
  • Recognise how relations of power (such as gender or minority status) in societies and organisations could influence sampling and data collection in both qualitative and quantitative research.
  • Reconstruct the methodology of published articles and reports and analyse the relationship between method selection and research results.
  • Assess the suitability of research methods relative the research questions posed.

Content

  • Introduction to methodological debates
  • Clarification of methodological challenges
  • Introduction of ethical guidelines for research
  • Identification of ethical dilemmas in the research process
  • Applying methodological principles in analysis of scientific publications
  • Applying qualitative data gathering techniques
  • Preparing collected qualitative information
  • Quantitative analysis of empirical materials

Organisation

Lectures, seminars and group exercises.

Literature

Please, see the course website for latest information

Examination including compulsory elements

Written and oral examination, collaborative work, seminars and guest lectures.
All individual elements of the course must be passed to pass the course overall.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.