Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree (180 credits). Proficiency in English equivalent to the general entry requirements for first-cycle (Bachelor's level) studies.

Learning outcomes

Regarding knowledge and understanding, on completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

• account for and thereby demonstrate an understanding of core methods in social science research and practice relevant for studies of the digital society,
• account for epistemological problems in relation to social science research and practice,
• account for and thereby demonstrate in-depth methodological knowledge within a particular theoretical approach,
• account for and thereby demonstrate in-depth awareness of the ethical principles involved in research and practice.

Regarding competence and skills, on completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

• grounded in a particular theoretical approach, structure and plan a research design by identifying a research problem, formulating a research question and choosing a method for data collection and data analysis,
• apply methods for collecting and analysing research data,
• analyse previous research based on theoretical approaches and methodological concepts.

Regarding judgement and approach, on completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

• critically and independently discuss the strengths and weaknesses of different methods, as well as their suitability in research and practice in the digital society,
• critically and independently make methodological assessments with regard to relevant scientific and societal contexts as well as ethical approaches,
• reflect critically and independently on the role of knowledge production in academia and society.

Content

The course aims to give the students advanced knowledge in scientific theory, methodological considerations and methods and how these are interdependent.The course exposes the students to a range of different theoretical and methodological approaches within the subjects of information systems (IS), media and communication studies (MCS) and human-computer interaction (HCI) to be used to study the digital society.

Furthermore, the course offers the students a deeper understanding of one of the methodological approaches by allow the students the opportunity to apply methods in a research design of their own, based on theoretical considerations and the scientific methods as followed within the social sciences.

Instruction

Lectures, seminars, and project.

Assessment

Seminars and project presentations.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University´s disability coordinator or a decision by the department's working group for study matters