Study Guide

Learning outcomes

The student is able to
- obtain, utilise and assess R&D-related information and their sources critically
- follow the rules of ethical principles applied in all research activities
- use the most typical research and development methods of their own field
- write a scientific report and is familiar with the requirements for language and style and how to document the sources

Implementation and methods of teaching

Lectures on Lahti campus, assignments

Qualitative methods: Sanna Kokkonen
Quantitative methods: Simo Jaakkola

Timing and attendance

All the accepted students will be registered once the enrollment period has passed, i.e. after August 30. You will only be notified earlier if your enrollment has not been accepted.

The first lecture will be on week 36. Attending to the lectures is recommended.

Qualitative methods will be lectured in the classroom during weeks 36-42. There will be no lectures on week 40.
The rest of the course concentrates on quantitative methods.

NB! Changes to the division of lectures between the qualitative and quantitative methods may be possible!

Learning material and recommended literature

Quantitative research methods: Lecture material given by the teacher in Moodle.

Qualitative research methods: Materials in Moodle. Recommended literature informed at the beginning of the course.

Alternative completion methods

To be discussed with the teacher at the beginning of the course. Recognition of prior learning is possible.

Exam retakes

Re-exam dates announced at the end of the course.

Learning environment

Lectures and Moodle

Student time use and work load

5 cr = 135 hours of student work.

Quantitative research methods part:
lectures 10 hours
independent studying and analysis assignments 56

Qualitative research methods part:
lectures 12 hours
independent studying 54 hours

Exam 3 hours. The qualitative part of the exam will be either oral or written, the quantitative part exam will be written.

Contents

Methods and techniques of qualitative and quantitative research.

Qualitative research methods:
Concepts related to research. Research path. Special features of qualitative research. Different qualitative research methods (e.g. case study, discourse analysis, grounded theory). Acquisition of data (theoretical and empirical). Data analysis. Content of a research report.

Quantitative research methods:
Surveys, Data analysis, tables and charts, cross tables, Pearson correlation coefficient, statistical tests (Chii-squared test)

Assessment criteria

Quantitative methods: Exam, 30% of the credit, assignments 20% of the credit
Qualitative methods: Exam, 30 % of the credit, assignments 20% of the credit

Assessment scale

1-5

Failed (0)

Failing to reach level 1 according to the evaluation criteria

Assessment criteria: level 1 (assessment scale 1–5)

1 = Student understands the basic research concepts and the steps of a research process. Student recognises different research methods. Student understands how to collect theoretical and empirical research data. Student is able to use basic descriptive methods in analysing research data and read the respective research results.

Assessment criteria: level 3 (assessment scale 1–5)

3 = Student understands and is able to explain the basic research concepts, the steps of a research process and different ways to use research methods. Student is able to collect theoretical and empirical research data.Student is able to use analysis methods suitable for the research data and interpret the respective results. Student is able to write a research report.

Assessment criteria: level 5 (assessment scale 1–5)

5 = Student masters and is able to use of the basic research concepts fluently. Student is able to justify the selection of data collection method and collect suitable theoretical and empirical research data. Student is able to justify, use and apply different analysis methos in different research settings. Student masters the interpretation of the respective analysis results and is able to draw practical conclusions based on the results. Student is able to write a profound research report.