Course syllabus for Scientific Research Methods

Vetenskaplig forskningsmetodik

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. And proficiency in English equivalent to English B/English 6.

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

Examination

Individual assignment (A-F)

The final grade is based on the grades of the individual assignments.

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 compensated absence in accordance with the examiner's instructions, the student's results for the course/respective part will not be registered. 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
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 compensated absence in accordance with the examiner's instructions, the student's results for the course/respective part will not be registered. Absence from a compulsory part may result in the student having to wait to compensate until the next time the course is given.

Transitional provisions

The course is an executive education and transitional provisions are regulated in the contract.

Other directives

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

The course language is English.

Literature and other teaching aids

• 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 native and non-native speakers of English, Second edition : London : World Scientific, [2021] - xxvii, 356 pages ISBN: 9781786347848, LIBRIS-ID: cq0bjc0n9gm7bd05,
• Health informatics research methods: principles and practice, Watzlaf, Valerie J.; Forrestal, Elizabeth, Second edition : Chicago, Illinois : AHIMA Press, [2017] - xix, 360 s. ISBN: 9781584265320, LIBRIS-ID: 3mcj83dp1vdf6bwr,