Course syllabus for Scientific Research Methods

Specific entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree or a professional degree equivalent to a Swedish Bachelor's degree of at least 180 credits in healthcare, biomedicine, medical technology, computer and systems sciences, informatics or the equivalent. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary school course English 6/English level 2

Outcomes

The course aims to provide in-depth knowledge of research design and methodology and to train the student in writing a study plan and critically reviewing scientific litterature.

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Understand different scientific research designs and methods
• Learn how to set up and conduct a research study
• Understand correct ways to refer to and cite from scientific literature

Skills and ability

• Discuss and explain differences between different research methods
• Perform literature reviews and reference relevant scientific literature
• Formulate a research plan

Assessment ability and attitudes

• Critically assess different research designs
• Analyse, set as contrast, compare and review scientific literature
• Discuss own view in relation to the published research

Content

The course includes:

• Research design
• Literature search and review
• Data collection
• Scientific writing
• Scientific presentation
• Critical scientific review
• Data types and data collection techniques
• Quantitative and qualitative methods and data analyses
• Ethical issues

Teaching methods

• Lectures
• Group project
• Self-study
• Teacher-led group activities (workshops)
• Peer assessment

Examination

Group project (A-F)

In-class workshops (Pass/Fail)

Peer review (Pass/Fail)

Written examination (A-F)

The final grade for the course is based on both group assignment, in-class workshops, peer review (30%) and the written examination (70%) and is assessed with the grading scale A-F.

Compulsory participation
The course includes mandatory sessions marked in the course schedule. The examiner assesses if and, in that case, how absence from compulsory parts can be compensated. Before the student has participated in all compulsory parts or has compensated for absence in accordance with the examiner's instructions, the student's results for the moment/course will not be registered in LADOK. Absence from a compulsory part may result in the student having to wait to compensate until the next time the course is given.

Limitation of number of occasions to write the exam
Students who have not passed the regular examination are entitled to participate in five more examinations. If the student has not passed the exam after four participations he/she is encouraged to visit the study councellor. If the student has failed six examinations/tests, no additional examination or new admission is provided.
The number of times that the student has participated in one and the same examination is regarded as an examination session. Submission of a blank examination is regarded as an examination. Delayed submission affects the possibility to receive a higher grade than C. An examination for which the student registered but not participated in will not be counted as an examination.

In the event of special circumstances, or if a student with a disability is in need of certain adjustments, the examiner may decide to depart from the syllabus' regulations on examination form, number of examination opportunities, possibility of completion or exemption from compulsory educational elements, etc. Content and intended learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities must not be altered, removed or lowered.

Transitional provisions

Examination will be provided during a time of two years after a possible cancellation of the course. Examination can take place according to an earlier literature list during a time of one year after the date when a major renewal of the literature list has been made.

Other directives

Course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established by the Committee for Higher Education.

The course is given in English.

Literature and other teaching aids

Literature according to specific list handed out at the start of the course.

The course always uses the latest edition of the literature.

Recommended literature

• Health informatics research methods: principles and practice, Layman, Elizabeth; Watzlaf, Valerie J., Chicago, Ill. : American Health Information Management Association, c2009. - xiii, 439 p. ISBN: 978-1-58426-181-0 : $85.95, LIBRIS-ID: 12452928,
• Denscombe, Martyn, The good research guide: for small-scale social research projects, Sixth edition. : London : Open University Press, 2017 - xviii, 394 pages ISBN: 9780335226863, LIBRIS-ID: 21583264,
• Glasman-Deal, Hilary, Science research writing for non-native speakers of English, London : Imperial College Press, cop. 2010 - xiii, 257 s. ISBN: 9781848163096 (alk. paper), LIBRIS-ID: 11775837