Research Methods and Theory of Science
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Course code
INT7134.DT
old course code
INT7134
Course title in Estonian
Uurimismeetodid ja teadusteooria
Course title in English
Research Methods and Theory of Science
ECTS credits
15.0
Assessment form
assessment
lecturer of 2023/2024 Spring semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
lecturer of 2024/2025 Autumn semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
Course aims
This course aims:
• to create opportunities for the development of knowledge and understanding of theories of science;
• to enhance the development of competencies for understanding research process and research design;
• to create preconditions for analysis of the epistemological foundations of library and information science;
• to create opportunities for advance knowledge of selected quantitative and qualitative methods for collecting, handling and analysis of research data.
Brief description of the course
The Course contains the following units:
1. The idea of science. Scientific research process. The epistemological foundations of information science.
2. Research strategies and designs. Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods.
3. Grounded theory. Analytical induction.
4. Data collection in quantitative and qualitative research: Questionnaire. Observation, Interviews. Document analysis.
5. Data analysis in quantitative research. Statistical analysis. Comparative analysis.
6. Data analysis in qualitative research. Content analysis. Discourse analysis.
7. Presentation, analysis and completing of research project.
Learning outcomes in the course
Upon completing the course the student:
- Has thorough knowledge on different scientific views on what constitutes knowledge, understands the role of science in society;
- Realizes the need of being active society member, understands the diversity of attitudes and values.
- Has advanced knowledge on the epistemological foundations and research strategies of information science;
- Understands the relations of digital librarianship with other fields of information science in the broader context of social sciences.
- Is aware of the research process, has knowledge on different research designs and methods.
- Masters critical thinking is able to work independently, formulate research questions and find appropriate research strategy to solve them.
- Has advanced knowledge of selected quantitative and qualitative methods for collecting, handling and analysis of research data.
- Has knowledge and skills to analyse and evaluate the use of research methodology, quality of conducting research and its results.
- Is able to formulate and discuss profession specific problems in a written form.
Teacher
Sirje Virkus
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