Vår 2025

SVF-3025 Methods in social research: An interdisciplinary approach - 10 stp

The course is administrated by

Senter for fredsstudier (CPS)

Type of course

The course is mandatory for Master's degree students in Peace and Conflict Transformation (MPCT)

It can be taken as an elective course.

Course contents

The course is designed to acquaint students with key concepts and skills in relation to research design and methodological approaches. It also contributes to the understanding of theoretical, ethical and practical issues surrounding research planning, data collection and analysis, and report/thesis writing.

Admission requirements

Bachelor`s degree in the Humanities or Social Sciences.

An average grade equivalent to C or better in the Norwegian grading system is required.

Application code 9371

Objective of the course

Students, who have successfully completed the course, should have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge:

Have an understanding of the aims, principles and practice of social research
Have an understanding of the philosophical debates underlying research methods in the social sciences
Have an understanding of the interplay between methods (techniques of evidence gathering) and methodology (the theory and analysis of how research should proceed).

Analytical understanding:

Have the ability and confidence to determine the contexts within which to use particular social research methods
Have a grasp of the key components of a research proposal and the related methods for data collection and analysis
Have the ability to sort out the practicalities involved in planning research on sensitive issues and doing fieldwork overseas.

Skills and competences:

Capable of applying basic research tools to the design of a master's project that involves data collection
Capable of presenting and analysing field data, as well as writing a research report or thesis
Capable of managing the ethical and security issues associated with fieldwork
Capable of taking responsibility for one's own learning by working independently towards the realisation of the course objectives.

Language of instruction

All lectures, seminar discussions, readings, assignments, and the final exam shall be in English.

Teaching methods

A mix of lectures and seminars according to a detailed plan

The learning outcomes can only be achieved through active student participation. Students are thus expected to read and prepare before every lecture and/or seminar session.

The course is to be evaluated at the SSL (Student-Staff Liaison) forum in spring semester, as well as in an anonymous online evaluation every other spring semester.