Research methodology, 4 credits
Forskningsmetodik
COURSE INFORMATION
Language of instruction: English
Course period: Spring 2023, Quarter 4 (April – May)
Course Structure: The course is organized onsite at Ångström laboratory including ten lectures and a number of seminars. The number of seminar sessions depends on the number of participants, but maximum 5 sessions. The seminars will be organized in the final week of the course.
If justified (e.g. PhDs positioned outside Uppsala), the course lectures will be possible to be followed in hybrid format. However, the seminar sessions will be only onsite during
last week of the course.
RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITES
The course is primarily open to all PhD students at the Faculty of Science and Technology at UU.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
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LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR DOCTORAL DEGREE
▪ To achieve a viewpoint to science as a whole
▪ To identify the intellectual frameworks of science
▪ To familiarize with the scientific method
▪ To acquire an overview of modeling approaches in scientific method
▪ To understand the difference of the methodology between social and physical sciences
▪ To plan and manage a research project in a university
▪ To understand the transfer pf science research to technology research
▪ To demonstrate an understanding of the limits and possibilities for research in science and technology
▪ To acquire skills of presenting arguments and results of scientific and technological research
COURSE CONTENTS
▪ Totality of Science; Origin of Scientific Method
▪ Research Funding
▪ Research Techniques
▪ Communities of Scientists
▪ Science and Society
▪ Paradigms and Perceptual Spaces; Paradigms of Mechanism and Function; Paradigms of Systems and Logic
▪ Models
▪ Multidisciplinary Research
▪ Measurement
▪ Handbook of Research Methods
Course literature: Frederick Betz, 2011, Managing Science: Methodology and Organization of Research, Springer. (ebook available at University library)
INSTRUCTION
There will be ten lectures and seminars (the number depends on the number of participants) during a period of eight weeks. The teaching method is lectures combined with seminars. During the lectures, the students are introduced to course content and do group discussions. The seminar sessions include presentations by students to share the research methodology in their discipline. During the seminars, the students will be exposed to research methodology in different disciplines broadening their perspective on how research is done in different subject as well as multidisciplinary context. Potential guest lectures by research group leaders (in academy, society and industry) will be a complementary element of the course.
ASSESSMENT
-Written essay on the research methodology of the students
-Students’ seminar presentation based on the written essay and discussion afterwards
-70% attendance at the seminars is required for passing grade.
Marking scale: Pass / Failed
COURSE EXAMINER
Mahmoud Mousavi, mahmoud.mousavi@angstrom.uu.se
DEPARTMENT WITH MAIN RESPONSIBILITY
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
CONTACT PERSON/S
Mahmoud Mousavi (course responsible), mahmoud.mousavi@angstrom.uu.se
Malin Wohlert, malin.wohlert@angstrom.uu.se
APPLICATION
Submit the application for admission to: mahmoud.mousavi@angstrom.uu.se
Submit the application not later than: 31 March 2023