Scientific Methods, Tools and Thesis Writing
Information from the course leader
Welcome to the master course - Scientific Methods, Tools and Thesis Writing – LB0112, 15 hp
The course runs during the first period of the autumn: between the 31st of August and the 2nd of November 2020. It aims to provide an insight into data collection and analysis in both qualitative and quantitative methods. Objectives The goal is that after completion of the course you will be able to: • Plan, describe and present appropriate methods and tools within different approaches, and discuss alternative solutions, in a given context. • Give an account of, analyze and critically discuss method(s) that can be used to work on situations, questions and problems of importance in agroecology. • Analyze and critically discuss the relevance of information within their area of interest, (and present an outline for the content of their master’s thesis). • Formulate a plan of work for your thesis. • Present their work orally and in writing. Content The course consists of lectures, four assignments and two exercises. Each part or assignment aims to give you knowledge that allows you to write your degree project e.g. formulating your problem, doing semi-structured interviews and analyze them qualitatively, conduct a quantitative study and make statistical calculations and more. We will also discuss ethical considerations and see how to combine social and the agrarian aspects together. The final task is to formulate an individual plan for an Agroecological Master thesis. On the first day, the 31st of August, we will have a short introduction of the moments and assignments of the course on Zoom. A Zoom-link to the meeting will be sent to your email address. To be able to participate in this autumn's lectures and meetings, you need to have access to the Zoom program. If you do not have the program, contact the IT department for further information and help. You have to register on the course before you can get to Canvas were you find all course instructions (e.g., schedule and literature list) and assignments. You can do the registration yourself via Ladok Student between the 24th and 31st of August. If you have any questions about registration please contact Katarina Lantz katarina.lantz@slu.se, You find the literature list and schedule on both the course page (SLU webpage) and CANVAS. Please note that we will put all information on Canvas. Most of the literature is available to find on the web or the SLU library, and there are also a few copied and uploaded book chapters/articles on Canvas. If you have any questions about the course, please contact me: Elisabeth von Essen, course leader and examiner E-mail: elisabeth.von.essen@slu.se I hope we will have an interesting semester together! Kindly Elisabeth von Essen Jan-Eric Englund
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is now closed
LB0112-10157 - Course evaluation report
Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.
Additional course evaluations for LB0112
Academic year 2021/2022
Scientific Methods, Tools and Thesis Writing (LB0112-20050)
2021-11-02 - 2022-01-16
Academic year 2019/2020
Scientific Methods, Tools and Thesis Writing (LB0112-10014)
2019-09-02 - 2019-10-31
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
LB0112 Scientific Methods, Tools and Thesis Writing, 15.0 Credits
Scientific Methods, Tools and Thesis WritingSubjects
Horticultural Science Agricultural Science Agricultural science Horticultural scienceEducation cycle
Master’s levelAdvanced study in the main field
Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsMaster’s level (A1N)
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
EnglishPrior knowledge
Knowledge equivalent to 120 credits, including 90 credits in one of the subjects/educational areas Social Science, Natural Science or Technology, and English 6.Objectives
The aim of the course is to be familiar with qualitative and quantitative methods for research, including literature searches, text and numerical analysis, writing, layout and written and oral presentation.
On completion of the course students will be able to:
give an account of, analyze and critically discuss methods that can be used to work on situations, questions and problems of importance in Agroecology,
plan, describe and present appropriate methods and tools within different approaches, and discuss alternative solutions, in a given context,
analyse and critically discuss the relevance of information within their area of interest, and present an outline for the content of their Master’s thesis,
formulate a plan of work for their thesis,
present their work orally and in writing.
Content
Students will be prepared for fieldwork within Agroecology via scientific literature, lectures, student assignments and seminars. The course will teach students how to: plan field work, select a methodological approach to a research question, plan the process of retrieving and structuring data, and carry out the subsequent critical analysis of material and ideas. The course will also prepare students for writing and revising their thesis.
Examples of methods with which students will become acquainted are: semi-structured interviews and manual analysis, as well as computer-aided software for analysing qualitative data, quantitative statistics, general systems’ principles diagramming and emergy synthesis, environmental accounting and biological indicators.
The course will:
include practice in designing appropriate research and development processes in accordance with the research topic selected,
discuss ethical research issues,
provide procedures for data collection and analysis,
familiarize students with methods and tools within the field of agro-ecology,
provide students, individually or in pairs, with the possibility to try methods and tools in practice,
develop skills for thesis writing according to the chosen methodology.
The topic of the Master’s thesis project and the case study will be selected by students in consultation with supervisors and the examiner at SLU.
Workshops, excercises and excursions are compulsory.
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
The examination for the course will consist of a written individual project/process plan for student thesis work and a preliminary Introduction and Methodology/Methods section, as well as a compilation of relevant literature. To obtain the course credits, approved exercises, oral and written presentations of project/process plan and a preliminary Introduction and Methodology/Methods section, plus approved participation in compulsory components will be required.
- If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
- The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
- If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
- For the examination of a degree project (independent project), the examiner may also allow the student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Transitional provisions
• **Exams**: At least three retake sessions (renewed exams) will be offered within two years of the decision to discontinue the course. • **Compulsory components**: At least one opportunity for a retake session will be offered within two years of the decision to discontinue the course.Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Further information
Litterature list
- Litteraturlista [Litteraturlista] (https://slunik.slu.se/kursfiler/LB0112/10157.2021/200624_Preliminary_Literature_list_Scientific_Methods,_Tools_o_Thesis_Writing_LB0112_.pdf)