Program Overview

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Theory of Science and Research Design for Human Geographers

Postgraduate Course

This postgraduate course is designed for human geographers, focusing on theory of science and research design. The course aims to enable students to critically reflect upon theory of science perspectives and concepts, as well as their implications for research design.

Course Details

• ECTS credits: 10
• Teaching semesters: Autumn
• Course code: GEO320
• Number of semesters: 1
• Teaching language: English

Objectives and Content

The course objectives include enabling students to use insights and critical reflections in their own Master's thesis projects. Through this course, students will gain insights into the structure of scientific publications and reasoning, including research questions and critical interpretation of results.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course, students should have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

• The student has knowledge of theory of science perspectives and concepts and their implications for research design.
• The student has knowledge about different perspectives on the relation between science and society.
• The student can define a research theme at an advanced level and elaborate it into research aims, objectives, and research questions.
• The student knows the characteristics of good-quality research publications.

Skills

• The student can critically reflect upon different perspectives in theory of science relevant for their own work and for the discipline of human geography.
• The student can formulate academic arguments based on different epistemological positions or perspectives.
• The student can outline the implications of different perspectives in theory of science for research design.
• The student is able to carry out a systematic search in the library, in scientific and other databases.
• The student can interpret and evaluate data and literature critically.
• The student can argue scientifically, structure the argumentation, and follow good scientific use of references.
• The student can identify ethical issues in a research project and register the project for ethical clearance.
• The student can define and frame an independent research project under supervision.

General Competence

• The student can critically reflect upon theory of science aspects and societal implications of his/her own research and academic area of expertise, including when communicating across disciplines or societal domains.
• The student can critically reflect upon the relation between science/expertise and society.
• The student can choose a general topic for a geographical research theme, develop it into a research framework with related aims and objectives that can be investigated within various time and resource limits.
• The student can communicate, both in writing and orally, the design of a geographical research project with related aims, objectives, and theory.

ECTS Credits and Level of Study

• ECTS credits: 10
• Level of study: Master

Semester of Instruction

• Semester of instruction: Autumn

Required Previous Knowledge

• A bachelor's degree in Geography, or equivalent.

Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap

• GEO308 (5 ECTS)
• GEO310 (5 ECTS)

Access to the Course

• Master's Programme in Human Geography and Sustainable Development.

Teaching and Learning Methods

• Lectures/Seminars: Total of 7 lectures/seminars (14 hours) over 7 weeks.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

• Project draft (2-3000 words) which seeks to develop the project towards a scientific problem, including important references.
• Peer-review exercise.

The compulsory activities must be approved in order to take the exam. Approved compulsory activities are valid in the current and following two semesters.

Forms of Assessment

The exam comprises two parts:

1. A project description containing an elaborate description of theme, aim/justification of the project, scientific problem, a reflection upon relevant theory of science, and a brief outline of research design, methodology, and planned schedule.
2. Oral presentation of project description (Milestone 1).

All parts of the assessment must be passed in the same semester. Grades for each part of the assessment and the final grade will be published in Studentweb.

The exam will be given in the language in which the course is taught. The exam can be submitted in English, Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish.

Grading Scale

• Pass/Fail

Assessment Semester

• Assessment in teaching semester.

A retake exam is arranged for students with valid absence according to UiB study regulations ｧ 5-5. If there is a retake exam for students with valid absence, all students with valid compulsory activity can sign up for the retake exam.

Reading List

The reading list will be ready before 1 July for the autumn semester.

Course Evaluation

All courses are evaluated according to UiB's system for quality assurance of education.

Programme Committee

The Programme Committee is responsible for the content, structure, and quality of the programme and courses.

Course Administrator

The Department of Geography at the Faculty of Social Sciences has the administrative responsibility for the course.