Research and Development (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Objective

Purpose of the course
The purpose of the course is to familiarise the student with the basics of development and research activities and support the writing of the bachelor's thesis.

Course competences:
Ethical competence
Internationalisation and communications competence
Learning and information management competence

EUR-ACE accredited degree programmes
Investigations and information retrieval
Engineering practice
Communication and team-working

Course learning outcomes
As a student, you are familiar with the different stages involved in research and development processes supporting your thesis, the required approaches to research and development and the most common options for data collection and analysis. You are able to choose a development or research approach and methods (data collection and analysis methods) that are suitable to your thesis. You are familiar with JAMK’s thesis process and are able to prepare a thesis topic proposal and plan in which you justify the methodological choices you made. You are familiar with the research ethics governing thesis preparation and act in accordance with it and the principles of good scientific practice.

Content

Research process (research setting: research problem, research question, research approach, data collection and analysis methods, reliability review, open science)

The generic structure of a thesis, evaluation criteria and exercises on evaluating completed theses

Research ethics and good scientific or artistic practice

Integrative literature review
- Problem identification, location of studies, data collection from individual studies, evaluation of the studies and data analysis

Qualitative research:
- the most common qualitative data collection methods, analysis methods, reliability review

Quantitative research:
- data collection (existing or self-collected data, questionnaire), measuring scales, sampling, data analysis methods (indicators, direct distribution, cross-tabulation, statistical tests, reliability of results)

Research-based development
- setting development problems / questions, choosing development methods, data collection and analysis, assessing the reliability of research and development activities

Preparation of a thesis topic proposal

Teaching methods

Webinars, held every two weeks. In between the webinars, you will have either individual or small group assignments. You will come to the webinars prepared, i.e. you will always receive material before the webinar which you should already have studied in advance. Webinars always include a theoretical part and additional participatory tasks (tests, discussions, exercises). The theoretical parts of the webinars will be recorded.

Employer connections

-

Exam schedules

Tentti 11.4. klo 12.30 - 15 välisenä aikana
Uusintatentti 1 18.4. klo 15-17.15 välisenä aikana
Uusintatentti 2 25.4. klo 15-17.15 välisenä aikana

Completion alternatives

Voit opinnollistaa opintojakson tutkintosäännön mukaisesti.

Student workload

Opintojakson laajuus on 5 opintopistettä, eli keskimäärin 135 tuntia opiskelijan työtä.
Ajankäyttö jakaantuu (keskimäärin) seuraavasti:
Webinaarit, niihin valmistautuminen ja oppimistehtävät 3 op (81 tuntia)
Alustavan aihe-ehdotuksen laatiminen 1 op (27 tuntia)
Tentti ja siihen valmistautuminen 1 op (27 tuntia)

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Adequate 1
The student is familiar with the steps involved in the development and research process. They know how to obtain research knowledge concerning their own area of development or research. The student knows some key research and development methods and is able to describe the differences between them. The student is familiar with the ethical principles and principles of good scientific practice related to the thesis. The student acts in compliance with them.

Satisfactory 2
The student is able to obtain knowledge concerning their own area of development or research. They recognise possibilities for applying development and research methods. The student is familiar with the ethical principles and principles of good scientific practice related to the thesis. The student acts in compliance with them.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good 3
The student is able to independently obtain and assess knowledge concerning their own area of development or research. They are able to choose a development or research method suitable for their thesis. The student is familiar with the ethical principles and principles of good scientific practice related to the thesis. The student acts in compliance with them.

Very good 4
The student is able to independently obtain and critically assess knowledge concerning their own area of development or research. The student is able to choose a development or research approach and method suitable for their thesis and justify their choice. The student is familiar with the ethical principles and principles of good scientific practice related to the thesis. The student acts in compliance with them.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent 5
The student is able to obtain knowledge concerning their area of development or research and is capable of source criticism.
They are able to analyse the differences between different development and research methods and justify the choice of development or research methods for their thesis. The student is familiar with the ethical principles and principles of good scientific practice related to the thesis. The student acts in compliance with them.

Further information

Opintojakson arvosana määräytyy tenttiarvosanan perusteella. Sinulla on tutkintosäännön mukaisesti mahdollisuus uusia hyväksytty tentti yhden kerran. Ilmoita opettajalle, jos haluat käyttää tätä mahdollisuutta hyväksesi.

Opintojakson suoritukseen vaaditaan, että kaikki oppimistehtävät on palautettu ja ne on hyväksytty.