Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Scientific Methodology
Course Code
VPUPK_313
Branch of Science
Sociology and social work
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Communication Science; Juridical Science; Management Science; Political Science; Psychology; Sociology; Sports Trainer
LQF
Level 8
Study Type And Form
Full-Time; Part-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Kristīne Mārtinsone
Structure Unit Manager
Kristīne Mārtinsone
Structural Unit
Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy
Contacts
Riga, 5 J. Asara Street, vppk@rsu.lv, +37167061587
About Study Course
Objective
To deepen the doctoral students’ understanding of scientific activity, its methodology and to improve their ability to design, develop and implement the research project relevant to the research principles in social sciences, including a detailed justification and description of its implementation process; to develop the ability to critically analyse and evaluate the limitations, risks and threats of the scientific strength of the research project.
Preliminary Knowledge
Master's level experience in research in social sciences.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Compare and critically evaluate the research strategies and designs to reach the chosen research goals, as well as evaluate and analyse potential risks and threats to ensure the scientific rigour during the research process; characterise the conditions of the research organisation, using the research terminology.
Skills
1.Identify topical research issues; develop the research project in the specific field of science according to the criteria of the chosen research strategy and design scientific rigour; choose and describe research methodology relevant to the research aim; critically evaluate the feasibility and limitations for implementation of their own research project.
Competences
1.Develop their potential research project, justifying the research topicality, problem, formulating the aim, research question/hypothesis, creating a targeted literature review, choosing suitable data acquisition sources and methods, determining the data analysis plan; carry out evaluation of the project scientific rigour; discuss their own research project.
Assessment
Individual work
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Individual work |
-
|
-
|
|
To search for, select and analyse literature relevant to the topic of the research and develop the research project by including the plan for the research period of time, its justification, a literature review and detailed description of the research methodology (data acquisition sources and methods); to evaluate the possible risks and threats of the planned research; to discuss the research project.
|
||
Examination
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Examination |
-
|
-
|
|
Presentation of their own research project and discussion on it.
|
||
Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Scientific activity. Science, research, innovation. Scientific statement: rationality and critical attitude. Evidence-based practice and alternative approaches in social sciences: advantages and limitations. Evidence, their hierarchy.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Philosophical issues in science: paradigm, ontology, epistemology, methodology, axiology.
Profiles of relations between scientific disciplines. Complexity theory in social sciences.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Research strategies and design in social sciences. Comparison between quantitative, qualitative and mixed method research strategies. Criteria for selecting the strategy and design. Scientific research rigour.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Research strategies and design in social sciences. Comparison between quantitative, qualitative and mixed method research strategies. Criteria for selecting the strategy and design. Scientific research rigour.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Primary, secondary and tertiary data: advantages and disadvantages. Methods of primary data acquisition in the research.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Primary, secondary and tertiary data: advantages and disadvantages. Methods of primary data acquisition in the research.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Planning of the research and the process. Justification of the research topicality, formulation of the research problem and aim, research question and hypothesis. Developing the review of literature: academic writing principles. Coherence between the theoretical approaches applied in the research and the methodology. Methods and sources for research data acquisition. Data analysis plan.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Dissemination of the research results. Risk and threat assessment for the research project methodology in accordance with the terms of the scientific research rigour.
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
16 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Test
PART-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Research strategies and design in social sciences. Comparison between quantitative, qualitative and mixed method research strategies. Criteria for selecting the strategy and design. Scientific research rigour.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Primary, secondary and tertiary data: advantages and disadvantages. Methods of primary data acquisition in the research.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Planning of the research and the process. Justification of the research topicality, formulation of the research problem and aim, research question and hypothesis. Developing the review of literature: academic writing principles. Coherence between the theoretical approaches applied in the research and the methodology. Methods and sources for research data acquisition. Data analysis plan.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Dissemination of the research results. Risk and threat assessment for the research project methodology in accordance with the terms of the scientific research rigour.
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
12 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Test
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Creswell, J. W. (2018). Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design Choosing Among 5 Approaches (4th ed.). London: SAGE Publications, Inc.
2.
De Poi, E., & Gitlin, L. N. (2019). Introduction to research: Understanding and applying multiple strategies (6th ed.). Mosby.
3.
Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.). (2018). The SAGE handbook of qualitative research. Sage Publications.
4.
Mārtinsone, K. un Pipere, A. (red.). (2019). Zinātniskā rakstīšana un pētījumu rezultātu izplatīšana. Rīga: RSU izdevniecība.
5.
Mārtinsone, K., Pipere, A., Kamerāde, D. (red.). (2016). Pētniecība: teorija un prakse. Rīga: RaKa, 546 lpp.
6.
Newman, W.L. (2014). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches (7th ed). Edinburgh: Pearson. pp 400.
7.
Walliman, N. (2016). Social Research Methods: the Essentials. Los Angeles:, SAGE Publications pp 232.
Additional Reading
1.
Becker, L. M. (2014). Writing successful reports and dissertations. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications, pp 208.
2.
Bellamy, C. (2012). Principles of methodology: Research design in Social Science. London: SAGE Publications.
3.
Kroplijs, A. un Raščevska, M. (2010). Kvalitatīvās pētniecības metodes sociālajās zinātnēs. Rīga: Raka. 178 lpp.
4.
Mārtinsone, K. un Pipere, A. (red.). (2011). Ievads pētniecībā. Stratēģijas, dizaini, metodes. Rīga: Raka, 284 lpp.
5.
Robson, C. (2016). Real World Research: a Resource for Users of Social Research Methods in Applied Settings. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
6.
Vedins I. (2008). Zinātne un patiesība. Rīga: Avots, 702 lpp.
Other Information Sources
1.
Zinātniskās darbības likums
2.
Scopus, Web of Science.
3.
Pētniecības terminu skaidrojošā vārdnīca (zin. red. Mārtinsone, K., Pipere A.): https://www.rsu.lv/en/petniecibas-terminu-vardnica