Doctoral course: information retrieval and methods for scientific communication

Page reviewed:  02/06/2025

This course provides valuable skills that will make your everyday life as a researcher easier and more efficient. The course is aimed at those who are admitted as doctoral students at SLU and corresponds to 3 HECS. On this page you can read more about the course and also get to the application form.

Register for the doctoral course

Course dates

  • 6 October- 28 November 2025
  • Last date to register: 19 September

Course content

The course takes a broad approach to information retrieval and scientific communication. It covers all stages of the research process, from search strategies to communication of scientific results.

The teaching staff of the course are specialists in:

  • literature search in databases and web search engines
  • reference management
  • publication strategies and open access
  • publication-based evaluation indicators
  • copyright
  • archiving of research data

How the course works

The course is entirely web-based with no scheduled lectures and is part-time, giving you great freedom to plan your working hours and to attend the course regardless of your place of work. The course is mainly based on self-study and all learning activities, submission of assignments and communication take place via SLU's learning platform. Please note that there are continuous deadlines during the course and that some assignments involve collaboration with other course participants during a given time.

The course is given in English.

Syllabus

3 Higher Education Credit (HEC)

Place: Web based, without any physical meetings

Prerequisites: Admitted to PhD studies at SLU

Language: English

Objectives

Aim

To develop participants' knowledge of factors affecting search process, scientific communication, source criticism and critical evaluation of publications. To develop the skills needed for effective and methodical work with information retrieval and handling of references and scientific material. To illustrate and problematise research information management, as well as the conditions and practices of scientific communication and publication.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course the participants should be able to:

  • discuss the conditions and patterns of today´s scientific communication and publishing
  • plan, perform and analyse search strategies
  • identify, describe and compare search tools within their research area
  • within a research context critically evaluate search result and publications
  • apply and problematise around bibliometric tools and methods for analysing scientific publications
  • use basic functions in a reference management software
  • handle research material in accordance with Swedish law: copyright legislation, the Principle of Public Access and the archival law

Content

  • search process, search strategies
  • international reference databases and other relevant search tools
  • critical reading
  • reference management
  • bibliometrics and strategic publishing
  • scientific communication, open access and open research data
  • preservation and handling of scientific material
  • copyright

Examination

Completing compulsory assignments, which include written tasks, quizzes and contributions on discussion forums.

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