SOSGEO4000 – Introduction to advanced research methods
Course content
This course provides an advanced course in research design in the social sciences. It covers a variety of data types and methods for analyzing them.
The course gives you a broad foundation in central methodological choices and challenges in the social sciences. The aim is threefold. It provides a basis for evaluating published academic and applied research in terms of design, offers guidance for implementing smaller research projects, and prepares the student to conduct research in an ethical and transparent way.
Learning outcome
Knowledge objectives
Throughout this course, you will acquire in-depth knowledge about
? different types of research design and their strengths and weaknesses
? ethical issues related to research practices and methodological choices
? evaluation of quality and criteria for evaluating implementation of social science methods
?
Skill objectives
Throughout this course, you will learn how to
? reflect on design choices in research projects
? develop good research questions
? develop and evaluate hypotheses in research designs
? prepare and refine case studies and comparative designs
? demonstrate ethical awareness in research processes
? develop good data management practices
? design different kinds of research projects
? present your methodological choices in written reports
? process data using suitable software
?
General competence
This course will enable you to
develop an advanced methodological understanding which will allow you to develop your own research project
devise and apply different research designs
evaluate and assess research quality in your own and published research
Admission to the course
Admission to the course is dependent on admission to a master’s degree programme at the Department of Sociology and Human Geography.
The course is open to master specialisation in didactics for social science in the Teacher Education Programme (Lektorprogrammet) - please see the link for information regarding admission.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Students are expected to have methods competence from a bachelor’s degree in the social sciences.
Teaching
The course consists of a series of lectures. The written assignments will serve as preparations and revision for each lecture. Students are expected to attend all lectures (but attendance is not mandatory).
Examination
The examination is a 4-hour school exam. To qualify for the exam, students must complete 70% of the assignments. The assignments will be published in due time.
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English.You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
If you are sick or have another valid reason for not attending the regular exam, we offer a postponed exam later in the same semester.
See also our information about resitting an exam.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.