SUBJECT

Thesis Supporting Seminar

practical

master

Faculty of Education and Psychology

4

Semester 3

Autumn semester

Aim of the course

The practical course is designed to support students in deepening their previously acquired knowledge of research methodology. Specific strategies and tools for research are discussed and reviewed during the planning and conducting of students’ own thesis research. Students will be able to formulate precise research questions, select  and apply appropriate research strategies and methods and evaluate critically the empirical tests and their results utilizing various aspects of methodological considerations.
The seminar provides practical help in the preparation of students’ own thesis work by providing a place to discuss methodological issues which rise during thesis research.

Learning outcomes and competencies

knowledge:

• nowledge of qualitative and quantitative research strategies
• Knowledge of formal criteria of scientific publications
• Knowledge of managing scholarly resource databases
• Processing and critically evaluating scholarly literature
• Methods of data processing and analysis, knowledge of statistical programs

attitude:

• approach when reading and preparing scientific publications

skills:

• ormulating relevant and precise research questions
• appropriate research strategies and methods fitting the research questions
• Planning scientific research (research project) and its professional realization
• Data analysis, using statistical programs as a skill
• Capability of writing texts with scientific, elaborated language

Content of the course

Topics of the course

Collection and processing of scientific literature, the rules of reference, content and formal criteria of scientific publication. Hypothesis formation, selection of research strategy (qualitative and quantitative data analysis strategies), statistical procedures, knowledge of various softwares and ethical aspects of scientific research.

Learning activities, learning methods

Group and individual consultation.

Evaluation of outcomes

Requirements:

• Participation in the sessions (predefined group consultations, and minimum 3 individual consultation)
• Preparing of the thesis research plan and the research ethics application

Method of evaluation: 

The written assignment  will be evaluated by grades and text feedback.

Criteria of evaluation

• Theoretical soundness and professionalism of the research plan
• Coherence and complexity of the submitted work
• Meeting research ethics requirements

• Babbie, E. (2010). The Practice of Social Research. Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
• Denzin, N., K. – Lincoln, Y., S. (Eds.) (2011). The SAGE handbook of qualitative research. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
• Field, A. (2009): Discovering Statistics Using SPSS. Third Edition. London: Sage.
• Flick, U., (ed.) (2014). The SAGE handbook of qualitative data analysis. Los Angeles: Sage.
• Kaplan, D. (ed.) (2004). The SAGE handbook of quantitative methodology for the social sciences. London: Sage.
• Millsap, R.E. – Maydeu-Olivares, A. (Eds.) (2009). The SAGE handbook of quantitative methods in psychology. London: Sage.