Opetussuunnitelmat

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

Location and time

The primary mode of delivery is a in-class lectures and activities on campus.

Detailed and up-to-date information is available in the course workspace (Learning Environment).

Oppimateriaali ja suositeltava kirjallisuus

The materials will be announced on the first lecture. As a starting point, however:

JAMK's thesis-related directions in the Study Guide
School-specific directions on the dedicated learning platform and
Elmo Student
Online study materials on Information retrieval

Stevens, J., & Crawford, S. 2014. Project reporting instructions. Adapted from Raportointiohje [Reporting instructions] by Liukko, S., & Perttula, S. 2013. JAMK University of Applied Sciences’ open learning materials. Accessed on 12 March 2014. Retrieved from http - //oppimateriaalit.jamk.fi/project reporting instructions

Teaching methods

The primary mode of delivery is an in-class activities on campus.

Detailed and up-to-date information is available in the course workspace (Learning Environment).
Lectures, course project/group assignments, thesis proposal/individual assignment, exam test.

Exam schedules

Detailed and up-to-date information is available in the course workspace (Learning Environment).

Vaihtoehtoiset suoritustavat

No alternative ways to complete.

Student workload

Total 125-155 hours

Content scheduling

Detailed and up-to-date information is available in the course workspace (Learning Environment).
Weekly lectures, workshops, and assignments.
More details to be announced during the course.

Further information

Open UAS: 4 (included in the total capacity)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Arviointikriteerit, tyydyttävä (1-2)

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.

Arviointikriteerit, hyvä (3-4)

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.