Research Design and Methodology for Interdisciplinary Applied Research
Utformning och metoder för tillämpad tvärvetenskaplig forskning

IMEN69, 5.0 credits, A (Second Cycle)

Valid for: 2024/25
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering LTH
Decided by: PLED W
Date of Decision: 2024-04-02
Effective: 2024-05-08

General Information

Main field: Environmental Management and Policy Depth of study relative to the degree requirements: Second cycle, has second-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Mandatory for: XA_EMP2, XA_MESPOM2
Language of instruction: The course will be given in English

Aim

This course has two interlinked aims. The first aim is to give the students knowledge on different ways to produce good empirical research. The seond aim is to support students in the development of their own interdisciplinary and applied research project, which shall be presented in the form of a convincing research proposal for a M.Sc. thesis. Emphasis is placed on principles for good research design, the logic and explanation behind different methodological choices, and the skills, as well as judgement and approach, that characterise a good researcher.
Upon completing the course students should be familiar with the aims of empirical research, characteristics of the scientific inquiry, central concepts relating to research design and methodology, and with several commonly used research approaches in the broad field of interdisciplinary/sustainability science research. Students should also have developed an understanding of how choices related to research design and methodology are linked to theory and conceptual definitions, as well as an understanding of ethical aspects related to research. They should be able to apply this knowledge to make informed decisions in the development of their own research projects and demonstrate the ability to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of  research designs with a particular emphasis on alignment between the research questions and/or hypotheses, scope, collected data, inference and warrant.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

• Be able to distinguish knowledge produced through research from other types of knowledge, information and disinformation;
• Be able to define interdisciplinary and applied research and contrast this to other forms of research;
• Be able to describe key concepts and principles of good practice related to research design, methodology, and construct operationalization and integrate these in the development of their own thesis proposal;
• Demonstrate the ability to describe and contrast different approaches to research design, methodology, data collection and data analysis, as well as the ability to assess when different approaches are viable and meaningful;
• Be able to describe and apply criteria for the evaluation of a research proposal/research study focusing on the logical flow between problematisation, research aim, research questions/hypotheses, methodology, inference and warrant;
• Be able to discuss ethical aspects of choices related to research design and the use of research findings;

Competences and skills
For a passing grade the student must

• Be able to formulate researchable questions to be answered and/or hypotheses to be tested;
• Be able to write a convincing research proposal for a M.Sc. thesis project featuring an interdisciplinary and applied approach;
• Be able to present an individual research proposal and explain one’s choices concerning research design;
• Be able to evaluate the strength and weaknesses of research proposals, with a particular emphasis on the ability to critically evaluate the appropriateness of different methodologies to test alternative hypotheses/answer research questions and construct various arguments, supported with relevant evidence;
• Demonstrate an ability to plan and execute course assignments within given time limits, using relevant methods for completing the assignment.

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

• Demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work and the ability to apply relevant ethical guidelines in one’s own work;
• Demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used;
• Demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research within different relevant academic disciplines, for analysing sustainability-related problems and solutions, the role of such research in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used;
• Demonstrate the ability to identify the need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.

Contents

The course is comprised of several lectures, seminars and exercises that focus on key concepts, principles and elements of research design and methods where students will read about key categories of approaches to research design and methods and discuss examples of the different approaches. The lectures, seminars and exercises will also cover topics such as the research process, theories and concepts as well as ethics in research design.

In parallel, students will be given time to work on developing their own research ideas. This process will be supported by workshops, peer feedback and small-scale seminars where students discuss their proposals with peers and teachers. At the end of the course, students will have developed their own written research proposal and presented and defended this in a final research proposal seminar.

Examination details

Grading scale: TH - (U, 3, 4, 5) - (Fail, Three, Four, Five)
Assessment: Active participation in seminars and workshops is mandatory. Absence from compulsory activities will be compensated by an assignment according to the instruction of the teacher in charge. The final grade will be based on the quality of submitted peer evaluations (10%), an exam (30%) and the quality of the final written research proposal, as well as the quality of the oral proposal presentation and the defence (60%). While attendance to lectures is not mandatory, attending lectures is central to the achievement of learning outcomes. It is important to note that all elements covered in the classes will not necessarily be mirrored in the course readings and that the examination may reflect all course elements, also those only covered in class.

The examiner, in consultation with Disability Support Services, may deviate from the regular form of examination in order to provide a permanently disabled student with a form of examination equivalent to that of a student without a disability.

Modules
Code: 1801. Name: Research Design and Methodology.
Credits: 5.0. Grading scale: TH - (U, 3, 4, 5).

Admission

Admission requirements:

• Students should have been admitted either to the MSc Programme in Environmental Management and Policy and have completed a minimum of 38 credits of programme courses, or to the Masters in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management and have completed a minimum of 60 credits of programme courses.

Reading list

• According to a literature list that will be available at the latest eight weeks before start of the course on the course web page.

Contact

Course coordinator: Daniela Lazoroska, daniela.lazoroska@iiiee.lu.se
Course coordinator: Katharina Reindl, katharina.reindl@iiiee.lu.se
Course homepage: https://www.iiiee.lu.se/education/masters-programme-environmental-management-and-policy-emp/syllabi