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Scientific Methods, Tools and Thesis Writing

15.0 hp
2025-11-03 - 2026-01-18
Location Independant
English
Admission & application
Application Code: SLU-20051
Course Code: LB0043
Schedule in TimeEdit

Course description

Students taking this course will prepare to do scientific research. The task is to learn to choose a research approach and methods that fit the area of interest and the questions asked. Also, the course contains planning the process, how to retrieve and handle data, analysis of material and ideas, writing and revising the material. This course is part of the master programmes Agroecology and Horticultural Science and focuses on these subject areas. The upcoming master thesis can be used as their ’case study’.

Entry Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to 120 credits, including 90 credits in one of the subjects/educational areas Social Science, Natural Science or Technology, and English 6.

Course facts

Course name
Scientific Methods, Tools and Thesis Writing
Swedish course name
Vetenskapliga metoder, verktyg och uppsatsskrivande
Level
Second cycle (A1N)
Main field of study
Agricultural Science, Horticultural Science
Credits
15.0 credits
Rate of study
100 %
Study location
Location Independant
Form of instruction
Distance learning without in-person meetings
Application code
SLU-20051
Course code
LB0043
Course language
English
Included in program
Agroecology - Master's Programme
Horticultural Science - Master's Programme
Offered as a freestanding course
Ja
Tuition fee
38060 SEK
Tuition fees only for non-EU/EEA/Switzerland citizens

LB0043, Scientific Methods, Tools and Thesis Writing, 15.0 Hp
Print syllabus

Syllabus

Finalized by: Ansvarig ledamot i PN-LT - Samar Khalil , 2022-11-15
Valid from : Autumn semester 2023 (2023-08-28)

Level

Second cycle (A1N)

Main field of study

Agricultural Science, Horticultural Science

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.

Course language

English

Entry Requirements

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, analyse and critically discuss methods that can be used to work on situations, questions and problems of importance in their field,
  • 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

Subject-related content:

Students will be prepared for scientific research 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 or computer-aided text analysis, statistical analysis, as well as various methods that depend on the students’ choice of subject.

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,
  • familiarise students with methods and tools within applied sciences,
  • 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.

Implementation:

The course adapts different techniques to support learning and discussion:

Lectures, literature studies, written assignments, seminars, and presentations.

The course focuses on the following generic competences:

Critical thinking, problem solving, scientific methods, and use of technology, oral communication, written communication, independence and time management.

These elements are mandatory:

Seminars and presentations.

Collaboration with the surrounding society is indirect and depends on the projects that the students suggest and the methods can be tested on real cases, particularly when they are develpoed into master’s theses.

Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course

The examination for the course consists 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.

Responsible Department/Equivalent

Department of People and Society

Supplementary information

Included in program

  • Agroecology - Master's Programme
  • Horticultural Science - Master's Programme

Module set

Title Credits Code
Single module 15.0 0001

The Course Replaces

LB0112

Most literature will be available on Canvas, except Brinkmann & Kvale.

A_Science_Checklist. (2018, 2nd July ). A science checklist. Understanding science: How science really works. Retrieved from https://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/0_0_0/whatisscience_03; Web page; Philosophy of science

Alvesson, M. & Sköldberg, K. (2009). Reflexive Methodology: New Vistas for Qualitative Research (1 ed.). Los Angeles: SAGE Publications Ltd. (CANVAS); Chapter 1, pp. 1-14, Introduction to research (qualitative)

Atkinson, P., & Hammersley, M. (2007). Ethnography: Principles in practice. New York: Rotledge. (possibly CANVAS); Chapter 1-2, 10; Research design & ethics

Bernard, R. H. (2006). Research Methods in Anthropology: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (4 ed.). Lanham: Altamira Press. (CANVAS); Chapter 2 (pp.53-66), 11, 12; Structured Interviewing

Booth, W., Colomb, G.G., & Williams, J.M. (2003). The Craft of Research (2 ed.). The University of Chicago Press, Ltd., London.(CANVAS); Chapter 3; Research topic, question and problem

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. (CANVAS); Whole article; Qualitative, analysis

Brinkmann, S., & Kvale, S. (2015). Interviews: Learning the craft of qualitative research interviewing (3 ed.). London: SAGE Publication. (you need to buy or borrow this book); Chapter 1-2, 5-9; Qualitative, interviewing

Brydon-Miller, M., Greenwood, D., & Maguire, P. (2003). Why action research? Action Research, 1(1), 9-28. (CANVAS); Whole article; Action Research

Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research Design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (2 ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. (CANVAS); Chapter 1; Approaches to Research

Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3 ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. (CANVAS); Chapter 4; Qualitative research approaches

Davies, M., & Hughes, N. (2014). Doing a Successful Research Project: Using Qualitative or Quantitative Methods. (2 ed.). New York: Palgrave. (CANVAS); Chapter 9-10, pp. 130-161; Quantitative research, natural science

Gifford, R. E. (2016). Research methods for environmental psychology. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell. (CANVAS); Chapter 2-3; Qualiative research (observations and mapping)

Johansson, R. (2003, 22-24 September). Case Study Methodology. Paper presented at the Methodologies in Housing Research, Stockholm. (CANVAS); Whole article; Case studies

Popplewell, R., & Hayman, R. (2012). Where, how, and why are Action Research approaches used by international development non-governmental organisations? INTERAC Briefing paper (32). ; Whole article ; Action Research

Professional_Ethics. (2018, 2nd of July). Professional Ethics. Codex: Rules & guidelines for research. Retrieved from http://www.codex.vr.se/en/forskarensetik.shtml; Web page; Research ethics

Specht, K., Zoll, F., Schümann, H., Bela, J., Kachel, J., & Robischon, M. (2019). How Will We Eat and Produce in the Cities of the Future? From Edible Insects to Vertical Farming—A Study on the Perception and Acceptability of New Approaches. Sustainability, 11(4315). doi:10.3390/su11164315, Canvas, Case study

academic year 2025/2026

Scientific Methods, Tools and Thesis Writing (LB0043-20051)
2026-01-11 - 2026-02-01

academic year 2024/2025

Scientific Methods, Tools and Thesis Writing (LB0043-20160)
2025-01-12 - 2025-02-02

Contact

Course coordinator
Mats Gyllin
Course administrator
Katrin Larsson Litsfeldt
Examiner
Mats Gyllin