After the course, you will be able to:
- Define research and enumerate the criteria by which the quality of research is judged.
- Carry out literature search using professional tools, and create an inventory of related work; reflect critically on the results presented in research literature.
- Formulate research questions.
- Apply frequently used methods for gathering data (both qualitative and quantitative); determine in which situations the methods are applicable.
- Apply an understanding of research ethics to ensure that a research study adheres to ethical standards.
- Exercise critical thinking skills to avoid common traps in reasoning about or carrying out research.
- Set up a research plan following a professional format.
- Present the ideas in a research paper as well as your own ideas effectively to fellow researchers.
- Give feedback to research colleagues, and providing them with advice and suggestions.
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The course is about planning and carrying out research. The concept of `research’ is interpreted broadly, and includes:
- Identifying, analyzing, and solving problems
- using precisely formulated research questions
- that are addressed with the appropriate methods
- so that the research results are reliable and valid.
Questions covered include: What is scientific research? How can we formulate an intangible problem into a good research question? How can we ensure our research is ethical? How does the scientific world work? How can we judge the quality of research results?
You will learn to create your own research study by writing a research plan. You will also master the application of common research methods, with a special emphasis on methods that are not frequently covered in other courses, namely methods for carrying out user studies, human subject research, and for working with stakeholders.
This course contributes to preparing students for the bachelor thesis, but also for their studies and careers beyond the bachelor thesis, in which both critical thinking skills and research skills are important.
Instructional Modes
- Lectures
- Work sessions
- Self-study
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| You must be able to:
Speak, read, understand, and write English (US or UK spelling acceptable).
Formulate information and ideas in a clear fashion, both in written in oral form. |
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| Performance in this course is assessed on the basis of the research project plan developed during the course, and on a written exam on research methodology and critical thinking. Both the research project plan and the exam must be passed independently in order to pass the course. Additionally, note that it is mandatory to have participated in the required work sessions (dedicated to presentation, consultation, and feedback) in order to pass the course. Dates of the sessions will be announced at the beginning of the quarter and physical presence is required. Finally, note that it is not possible to carry over parts of the course to the next year. The course must be completed fully in the quarter in which it is taken. |
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