Research Methods and Epistemology in Child Studies, 7.5 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master´s Programme in Child Studies

Entry requirements

A bachelor’s degree in the humanities, social sciences or the behavioural sciences with a major (or its equivalent) in a field relevant to the programme, e.g. anthropology, communication studies, education, history, language studies, media studies, political science, psychology, social work and sociology.

Successfully completed at least 75 credits on the master´s program in Child studies (F7MCH), 15 of which must be the master’s thesis in term two.

Documented knowledge of English equivalent to "Engelska B"/”Engelska 6”.

Intended learning outcomes

After completion of the course, the student should on an advanced level be able to:

• identify, describe and critically discuss various epistemological, theoretical and methodological perspectives in Child Studies; and account for their potentials and limitations.
• independently and in a well-informed way identify and formulate a research problem that is relevant to Child Studies 
• produce a research plan that describes how the study may be completed within a given time frame, using adequate methods and epistemological perspectives and;
• account for and critically evaluate research plans orally and in writing. 

Course content

The course deals with different epistemological foundations in Child Studies. It demonstrates the significance of epistemology for the choice of methods both for collection of data and their analysis. The course furthermore studies the relationship between research questions, research methods and theoretical and epistemological positions. One part of the course involves the independent and well-informed identification and formulation of a research problem relevant to Child Studies, as well as the writing of a research plan that describes how the problem may be studied within a given time frame using adequate methods and epistemological perspectives.

Teaching and working methods

Lectures and related discussions take place on campus as well as online on an interactive learning platform. In addition to lectures there are seminars, workshops, and group work online as well as on campus. Between the lectures and the seminars the students independently study the course literature, complete the individual and group assignments, and communicate with other students online. Examining seminars, workshops and group exercises are compulsory.

The student must have access to e-mail and Internet. The course is presented in various multi-media formats. In order to guarantee a positive learning situation online, and, in order for the student to be able to actively participate in the course and communicate with fellow students and the teacher, it is therefore important that the student have access to the correct hard- and software. Information concerning the specifications of the equipment necessary for the course can be found in the study guide.

English is the language of instruction. 

Examination

The examinations consist of active participation in seminars, workshops and group assignments on campus and online, as well as through individual written assignments submitted online. Detailed information on the examinations can be found in the study guide.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it. If the coordinator has instead recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Department