Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

Objectives 

The objectives of this module are: 

• to provide students with additional factual and theoretical knowledge within the subject areas of the modules of the second semester, and to give them the opportunity to reflect on theories and their usability in specific contexts in a critical manner 
• to gain experience with empirical data collection and reflect on this process 
• to gain experience in collecting large quantities of data and information and processing it in order to solve a particular problem 
• to gather experience in cooperating in a team of people with different competences and cultural backgrounds and to practice discussing potentially controversial issues while respecting other people’s opinions 
• to practice working actively in an English-language project process and to practice academic writing in English  
• to organize problem-based project work and reflect upon progress in organization and cooperation 
• to train students in identifying a suitable research problem for the project and creating an appropriate research design which will enable them to complete the project within a set deadline. 

Contents 

Students form groups and define a problem relevant to the modules of the second semester. The group will work on the problem independently. The university provides academic supervision. Students must discuss various theories and select one or several, which they deem to be relevant. Unless it is a purely theory-based project, students must discuss which type of empirical data might be relevant in this context and organize the data collection. The topic of the project must be formulated as a problem, and students must seek to answer this problem. The answer must be based on theoretical reflection and – unless it is a purely theory-based project – be empirically grounded. 

Learning objectives

Knowledge

• possess additional knowledge of theories and practices within the subject areas covered in the second semester modules and can reflect on these on a scientific basis 
• possess further knowledge and understanding of the themes within these fields and various approaches to the study of these. 

Skills

• can use their knowledge to select theories that serve the analytical purpose and at the same time remain critical to these theories. 
• can collect empirical data systematically in order to solve a problem within the topics covered in the second semester's modules and reflect critically on this process (unless having worked on a purely theory-based project). 
• can integrate theory and empirical data on an interdisciplinary basis 
• can communicate in written and spoken academic English. 

Competences

• can reflect and argue on the basis of scientific knowledge 
• can work purposely on an answer to a given problem and within a set deadline 
• can work in a team of people with different competences and cultural backgrounds. 

Type of instruction

The module consists of the written student project. The project must be written in groups of 3 to 6 students. Students intending to write the project alone or in a two-person group must apply to the study board for dispensation from this general rule. 

Exam

Exams