Preparation for Scientific Research
Full course description
During this module you will write your own research proposal (assignment) and a group paper consisting of a review report about another research proposal.
To enable you to successfully fulfill the assignments, we will offer you opportunities to gain knowledge and skills through the following learning activities: lectures and workshops, self-study guidelines for writing your research proposal, group meetings to practice proposal review, an interactive meeting on reproducible research, a symposium, and individual meetings with your faculty supervisor.
Key learning methods include: reading and assessing the quality of published articles (self-study guidelines), feedback from and to fellow students (group meetings), coaching by a senior researcher (individual meetings with your supervisor), and literature study (self-study guidelines and literature suggestions). You will also use relevant knowledge and skills regarding theories, research methodology and statistics that you gained in the earlier modules.
Full-time students: lectures, group meetings, symposium, interactive meeting and take home exam on Tuesdays and Fridays.
For part-time students this module is offered as an 8-week module and only on Tuesdays; the first 4 weeks (together with the full-time students) in period 3 and the final 4 weeks after period 4.
Course objectives
Knowledge and understanding
You are able to
- Demonstrate understanding of fundamental issues concerning the methodology and ethics of science, and the use of theory
- Demonstrate knowledge of preparing and conducting research
- Demonstrate knowledge of writing a research proposal
- Demonstrate knowledge of writing a publishable scientific article
Apply knowledge and understanding
You are able to
- Prepare your own research
- Write a proposal for your own research
- Write a review report
- Present your research proposal in an oral presentation
Making judgements
You are able to
- Judge the quality of published articles
- Discuss your own progress and your fellow students’ progress with respect to the research preparation
- Judge the quality of the research proposals of other students
Communication skills
You are able to
- Write and present a research proposal
- Write a review report
- Present results of individual work to other students
- Present results of individual and group work to supervisor
Learning skills
You are able to
- Critically comment on scientific research
- Collaborate with other students to improve each other’s work
- Provide constructive feedback to fellow students
- Respond adequately on oral and written feedback