Type of course

Admission requirements

This course is aimed at PhD candidates from all scientific disciplines, but is open for postdoc fellows if seats are available. If PhD candidates aim to include the credits from the course in their 30 mandatory PhD ECTS, they should discuss it with their supervisor.

PhD candidates from both UiT and other European universities may be admitted to the course. PhD candidates not registered at UiT must upload a document from their university, stating that they are registered PhD candidates.

All participants must have completed a Master´s degree (or equivalent).

Maximum 40 participants.

If more than 40 applicants, priority will be given as follows:

• Participants admitted to the PhD programme at UiT, with priority given to those candidates admitted most recently.
• PhD candidates from other universities
• Postdoc fellows

PhD candidates at UiT apply for admission by registering for class in Studentweb by September 1 for the autumn semester and by February 1 for the spring semester.

Other participants apply for admission in Søknadsweb by June 1 for the autumn semester and December 1 for the spring semester. Application code 9301.

Course content

1. Research integrity and the transparency of science: This seminar provides a basis for the entire seminar series. The aim is to understand the importance of research integrity for the different stages of the research process, and for science in general. With transparency as a guiding principle, the focus is on the whys and hows of using/creating sources correctly, both research papers and research data.

2. Literature search: This seminar focuses on doing complex and more systematic literature searches and how to use scientific databases in an efficient and effective way. A large component of the seminar is to address the various purposes of literature searches. Participants can choose between 3 seminars: i) Humanities and Social Sciences, ii) Medicine and Health Sciences, and iii) Technology and Natural Sciences.

3. Research data management: This seminar is an introduction to best practices for research data management. This includes how to write a data management plan, how to structure, document, and preserve the data during the project, and, finally, how to archive and share the data in suitable repositories. Participants also receive information about the UiT institutional archive, UiT Open Research Data, as well as the UiT principles and guidelines for management of research data.

In the second half of the seminar, we split in two groups. Participants can choose between i) a group focusing on research data containing sensitive information, and ii) a group focusing on research data without sensitive information.

4. Open access publishing: This seminar discusses what open access means, the choices researchers have to face when selecting publication venues, and how those choices affect both the scientific and the general community. Participants learn how to evaluate open access publication channels, and receive information about the UiT Publication Fund. We also discuss how researchers can make their publications available in open repositories. This practice is called self-archiving and it is mandated by an increasing number of funders and institutions.

5. Reference management:

This seminar introduces reference management and how reference management tools can be used in the various phases of the research process, e.g. searching and organising literature, writing, collaborating, and sharing. The seminar will go in more detail into advanced features of EndNote, as this is the reference management tool currently best supported at UiT.

Prior to the seminar, participants not familiar with EndNote are expected to go through an online introductory course, developed at UiT."

Objectives of the course

By the end of the course the student has obtained the following:

Knowledge:

• Explain correct use of sources in an academic publication and questionable research practices.
• Explain the purpose of literature search for the research process.
• Explain the purpose and advantages of open science, for research and society in general.
• Explain the main sections of a data management plan.

Skills:

• Cite academic work, in line with existing norms and conventions.
• Select and use scientific databases for advanced literature searches.
• Build complex literature searches, using operators (AND, OR, NOT) and search history.
• Evaluate and select suitable publication channels for own research.
• Find and use repositories for archiving text (publications/manuscripts) and research data.
• Structure and document research data in line with good academic practice.

Competence:

• Carry out research with academic integrity.
• Disseminate academic work in line with current publication trends and requirements.
• Communicate with peers and the larger scholarly community about the concept of transparency of science.
• Use the research support services at the University Library.

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

The course is organized as interactive sessions combining theory, plenary discussions, group activities, and individual practice. Participants are expected to be active prior to and during the sessions. Reading material and other preparatory tasks will be provided in advance.

The course is given over one week. The format alternates between in-person (autumn semester) and Zoom (spring semester). When organized in-person, the course is given during 3 days. When organized on Zoom, the course is given during 5 days. The total number of teaching hours with mandatory attendance is 12 hours (seminars 1-4).