Proof of skills in advanced qualitative and quantitative methods (e.g. the course Methods, 15 credits). Students within the Master's Programme in Politics and International Studies and the Master's Programme in Development Studies are required to have obtained at least 75 credits within the programme. Students within the Master's Programme in Political Science are required to have obtained at least 45 credits within the programme.
The course is about independently defining, setting up and carrying out a research assignment (thesis/essay) that you have decided on and outlined in discussion with a supervisor. The written essay is presented in a final seminar. An important part of the seminar is to analyse and reflect on the design of different kinds of investigations, your own as well as others. In the final seminar, the author is expected to give an oral presentation of the essay and should also be able to answer questions and reflect on the independently written investigation. Furthermore, you also have to start a discussion on another essay by acting as an opponent and actively participating in the discussions on the essays that are presented in each seminar group. On completion of the course, you are expected to: have gained the insights and skills required that make it possible to participate in a meaningful way in the knowledge-seeking process that utmost, in a seminar with others, is about trying to prove the validity of an argument independently define, set up and carry out a research assignment with relevance to the theory formation of the field and the chosen problem collect and analyse data relevant to the theory and research problem at hand, being aware of the limitations of the material be able to interpret and analyse the material and draw conclusions in a considerate way in dialogue with others, be able to analyse and reflect on the design of other investigation assignments, and thereby be able to consider other standpoints that might apply, as well as communicate such standpoints to others.
