ME-200 Introduction to Scientific Method and Statistics
- ECTS Credits:
- 10
- Responsible department:
- Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences
- Course Leader:
- Bjørge Herman Hansen
- Lecture Semester:
- Autumn
- Teaching language:
- Norwegian
- Duration:
- 1 term
The course is connected to the following study programs
- Bachelor's Programme in Public Health Nutrition
- Bachelor's Programme in Public Health
- Bachelor’s programme in Sports and Exercise Science
Teaching language
NorwegianRecommended prerequisites
Passed the first year of a bachelor's programme in Community-oriented Nutrition Work, Public Health Work, Sports and Exercises Science, Academic E-sports or similar.
Course contents
Emphasis is placed on theoretical and practical knowledge and skills related to scientific thinking and working methods, as well as scientific methods and statistics.
The following topics are included in the course:
-
Science and research-based knowledge
-
Different scientific theoretical traditions
-
Key research designs
-
Quantitative and qualitative methods in research
-
Validity in research
-
Strengths and limitations of different research designs
-
Descriptive and comparative statistics
-
Presentation and interpretation of descriptive and comparative statistics
-
Analysis programmes for data processing and statistical analyses
-
Research ethics
-
Assessment of scientific works
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the course, the student will
-
have knowledge of scientific thinking and working methods
-
be familiar with key theoretical traditions in science
-
be familiar with relevant research designs within qualitative and quantitative research, including intervention research (interventions) and evaluation of interventions
-
have knowledge of relevant methods within qualitative and quantitative research
-
recognise different types of validity in qualitative and quantitative research
-
have knowledge of the strengths and limitations of different research designs
-
have basic knowledge of statistical concepts and analyses
-
be able to perform descriptive statistical analyses, as well as present and interpret descriptive statistics
-
have knowledge of research ethics issues within the subject areas
-
be able to assess relevant academic articles with regard to research design, applied methods and statistics
Examination requirements
Approved work requirements and participation in seminar groups and computer lab work. The work requirements consist of a digital portfolio test in statistics and an assessment of research design and methods in a subject-specific scientific work. See further description in the semester plan on Canvas.
Teaching methods
Emphasis is placed on theoretical and practical knowledge and skills related to scientific thinking and working methods, as well as scientific methods and statistics.
The following topics are included in the course:
-
Science and research-based knowledge
-
Different scientific theoretical traditions
-
Key research designs
-
Quantitative and qualitative methods in research
-
Validity in research
-
Strengths and limitations of different research designs
-
Descriptive and comparative statistics
-
Presentation and interpretation of descriptive and comparative statistics
-
Analysis programmes for data processing and statistical analyses
-
Research ethics
-
Assessment of scientific works
Evaluation
The person responsible for the course decides, in cooperation with student representative, the form of student evaluation and whether the course is to have a midway or end of course evaluation in accordance with the quality system for education, chapter 4.1.
Offered as Single Standing Module
Yes. Subject to availability or capacity.
Assessment methods and criteria
Individual written home exam over 2 days.
The home exam will cover an assessment of research design, applied methods and statistics in a subject-specific scientific work. See further description in the semester plan on Canvas.
Assessment expression: Graded grade.
Reduction of Credits
This course’s contents overlap with the following courses. A reduction of credits will occur if one of these courses is taken in addition:
Course | Reduction of Credits |
---|---|
ERN204 – Bachelor's Thesis in Nutrition | 5 |
IDR204 – Bachelor's Thesis in Physical Education and Sport | 5 |
HEL205 – Bachelor's Thesis in Public Health Work | 5 |