HCCK03021U COG Research Methods and Experimental Design

Volume 2025/2026
Education

The Master’s Programme in Cognition and Communication, 2024-curriculum: 

Cognition_and_Communication_KA_2024__just_2025.pdf

Content

The course aims to enable students to plan and conduct small scale empirical research projects. To do so, the course elaborates upon the connections between research strategy, design and methods and upon the various stage of concrete empirical projects. The course goes into more depth regarding key data analysis procedures within quantitative and qualitative research designs. The course also elaborates on the concept of empirical research as a process, where the final result is a written research report. 

Learning Outcome

At the examination, the student can demonstrate:  

Knowledge and understanding of

• the fundamental concepts and principles of research methods and experimental and non-experimental designs in both quantitative and qualitative studies.

• the key components and steps involved in conducting research, including formulating research questions, selecting appropriate methodologies, and designing research studies.

• the strengths and limitations of various quantitative and qualitative research methods and their applicability to different research contexts.

• statistics in data analysis and its relevance to research design and interpretation.  

Skills in

• identifying and critically evaluating different research designs, research methodologies, and data collection and analysis techniques.

• applying appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods to address research questions and objectives.

• collecting, organizing, and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data using relevant statistical techniques and qualitative analysis methods.

• interpreting and presenting research findings in a clear and coherent manner, both orally and in writing.

• communicating research findings and methodological considerations effectively, both to specialized and non-specialized audiences, in a concise and accessible manner.  

Competencies in

• designing research studies that incorporate appropriate research methods and designs.

• applying statistical techniques and qualitative analysis methods to analyze research data and draw meaningful conclusions.

• evaluating and critically assessing the strengths and weaknesses of research studies in terms of their methodological rigor, validity, and reliability. 

The course builds directly upon the methodological components of the 1st semester of the study programme Cognition and Communication.
Lectures and class teaching as well as workshops.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 56
  • Preparation
  • 353,5
  • Total
  • 409,5
Oral
Individual
Collective
Feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination
Type of assessment details
Oral exam, optional subject, with materials, following active class participation.
The active class participation consists of:
• Minimum 75% class attendance
• Approval of three exercises
• Student peer feedback on two of the exercises.
Examination prerequisites

See Curriculum:  Cognition_and_Communication_KA_2024__just_2025.pdf

Aid
All aids allowed

Use of Generative AI:

1) AI-generated text may not be used verbatim in any written work submitted in relation to a course or exam (be it homework, writing assignments, final papers, etc.). Any exemption from this will be communicated in relation to the specific task/assignment.

2) Any other use of generative AI (exploratory work, summarizing materials, adversarial interaction, as research object etc.) needs to be specified and detailed in a short appendix (1-2 standard pages). This appendix should specify the tools and/or models used as well as the tasks/activities involved.

Censorship form
External censorship
Exam period

See KUNet:  Find time and place for exam

Re-exam

See KUNet:  Find time and place for exam

Criteria for exam assesment