TLÜ ÕIS

Basic Research Methods

Course code

KAI6003.HR

old course code

Course title in Estonian

Uurimistöö alused ja meetodid

Course title in English

Basic Research Methods

ECTS credits

6.0

Assessment form

assessment

lecturer of 2026/2027 Autumn semester

Meril Ümarik (language of instruction:Estonian)

lecturer of 2026/2027 Spring semester

Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.

Course aims

Students develop an understanding of the fundamentals of academic research and various research methods. The course supports students in acquiring practical skills for information retrieval and the critical reading of reliable sources, in planning and conducting independent empirical research, and in developing as autonomous, ethical researchers.

Brief description of the course

The nature of research and the basic requirements of scientific research; research planning and stages of carrying out research. Searching for specialist sources on the research topic (types of information sources and ways of searching). Setting up and specifying a research problem. Quantitative and qualitative approaches; an overview of data collection, analysis and sample selection methods; the role of theory in different types of research. Research ethics. Generalising and submitting research results. Good practice in academic writing; referencing and referencing software; plagiarism. Creating a research plan. In addition to lectures, specialised seminars will take place in smaller groups throughout the course where research problems from the specific field, research trends and one's own research ideas will be discussed, as well as an interim version of the research plan.

Learning outcomes in the course

Upon completing the course the student:
- understands the main bases and requirements of scientific research;
- find out, assesses and uses trustworthy scientific sources;
- knows the process of scientific research and its different stages and methods;
- creates a research plan, sets a research problem according to their topic and chooses appropriate methods and a sample;
- analyses themselves as an independent ethical researcher.

Teacher

Meril Ümarik, PhD jt

The course is a prerequisite

Development of Speciality Studies (KAV6533.HR)
Research Seminar I (KAI6004.HR)

Study programmes containing that course