AGDK14019U Thesis Data Collection (15 ETCS)

Volume 2021/2022
Content

Thesis data collection is an elective course that prepares students for carrying out their master´s thesis in the fourth semester. As part of the course students draft a synopsis for their thesis, and subsequently collect data for their research project. The data can be either primary data collected through fieldwork, survey, data mining; or they can be secondary data collected from archives, databanks, existing literature, etc. Fieldwork can take place in all kinds of socio-cultural contexts on the condition that it can be realistically carried out within the given time frame and that the safety of students is not at stake. Apart from this, the choice of data to be collected is limited by research ethics only.

 

Students are allowed to follow this course only one time during their master’s programme.

 

The course can be 7.5 ECTS or 15 ECTS and is offered each semester.

 

Data collection can be carried out individually or in smaller groups of maximum 3 students.

 

Students should enter into a supervision agreement with a lecturer at the one of the departments connected to MSc Global Development. During the data collection process, students write a portfolio. The students receive 45 minutes supervision to prepare their synopsis + 45 minutes supervision per 7.5 ECTS to discuss portfolio results and prepare the final report. For each additional student, the supervision sessions are extended with 15 minutes. When doing fieldwork abroad, supervision is organized through netbased dialogue.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

  • demonstrate familiarity with relevant metods for collecting data and the types of knowledge that the chosen method produces
  • demonstrate knowledge in analysing data relevant to provide answers to research questions. 
  • demonstrate thematic and regional knowledge relevant to a chosen research field

 

Skills

  • write a problem statement and a research synopsis
  • collect relevant empirical material
  • evaluate the problem statement and research questions in relation to collected empirical material

 

 Competences

  • organize an empirical material properly with due consideration to relevant methodological and ethical issues
  • reflect critically on the methological and analytical process of data collection
  • give qualified feedback on others’ work
Supervision and feedback from supervisor.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Field Work
  • 416
  • Guidance
  • 4
  • Total
  • 420
Oral
Individual
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
The deadline of the exam is in the end of the semester.

Individual or group based.
Portfolio containing a synopsis (research plan) and a final report describing the data collected with individual contributions marked out in case of a group exam. 3 pages Master’s Thesis synopsis. 3 pages final report (7.5 ECTS) or 7 pages final report (15 ECTS). The length remains the same regardless of the number of students writing together.

Formal requirements for written assignments and exams are described in section 4.5 in Curricula’s Common Part.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

See 'Learning Outcome'