General provisions

The course is offered within the Master's Programme in International Humanitarian Action 120 ECTS credits and is only available to exchange students from partner universities in the Network on Humanitarian Action (NOHA).

Entry requirements

The course is only available to exchange students from partner universities in the Network on Humanitarian Action (NOHA).

Learning outcomes

The module aims to provide students with the methodological training necessary to write a Master's thesis in humanitarian action. Successful completion of the module means that the student will have:

• knowledge of the historical background and recent developments within qualitative and quantitative research methods used in social sciences;
• knowledge of methodological and epistemological assumptions of research;
• an ability to understand differences between major qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection;
• knowledge about different ways to analyse data;
• knowledge and skill in textual interpretation technique;
• knowledge on how to incorporate different methods and methodology in an academic text;
• knowledge of research ethics;
• an ability to independently evaluate different methodological approaches and how they can be adapted to different research questions and practical considerations;
• an ability to problematise the ethical dilemmas in qualitative and quantitative research.

Content

The course covers different methods of data collection and how methods are incorporated into academic research. Students learn to select, describe and apply methods and how to categorize and analyse data from different perspectives. Students are also introduced to how methodology in general is related to the overall process of writing an academic text. Old Master's theses are analysed from a methodological perspective and good rules of thumb are discussed.

Instruction

The course incorporates teachings in the form of lectures, seminars and group tasks.

Assessment

The course is examined by individual paper and group exercises. Grade: VG, G or U (Pass with Distinction, Pass or Fail) as well as ECTS grades.

Transitional provisions

Students on a course regulated by this syllabus have the right to be examined for up to two years after their course instance has ended, and in accordance with this syllabus. In exceptional circumstances, they may also be examined later. Normally, instruction will only be given according to the latest version of the course syllabus.