Research Methods for the Social Sciences

The students must acquire basic insight into the scientific method and academic writing, so that they with a critical analytical attitude can assemble and make use of knowledge from the different core subjects in an analysis of social economic themes and management challenges in the public sector.

Throughout the course they will get an introduction to both qualitative and quantitative methods

- with the purpose of designing an independent study and gain understanding of how they can apply methodological tools that are used in social science disciplines.

The course forms the basis for the method being used in the master thesis.

• Qualitative methods
• Quantitative methods
• Measuring problems and exploration design
• Gathering of data
• Analysis and interpretation of data
• Work with the assignment in methods

Knowledge

The student:

• The student has knowledge of both qualitative and quantitative social science methods
• Must be able to choose design and method that suits the research question
• Must have knowledge about both qualitative and quantitative data processing
• Must have basic understanding of methods and knowledge about development of methods

Skills

The student:

• Must be able to design a clear and fruitful research questions
• Must be able to connect research question, theory and relevant empirics
• Will be used to apply the statistical tool SPSS
• Will be able to systematically present own empirical data
• Will be able to perform a critical and solid analysis

General knowledge

The student:

• Must be able to apply knowledge of methods and skills both in self-learning and in exercising of skills
• Must be able to present phenomena and facts from several professional point of views and perspectives

The students will through lectures, group work, and review of cases gain a good foundation for acquirement of knowledge. It is presupposed that the students through self-study acquire the curriculum. In some of the gatherings we will use the a statistical programme as an aid in statistical analysis.