ME-624 Research Dissemination in Health and Sport Sciences: Scientific presenting and practice

The course is connected to the following study programs

• PhD Programme in Health and Sport Sciences

Teaching language

English if English speaking participants.

Prerequisites

Admitted to PhD-programme in Health and Sport Sciences

Course contents

The overall aim of the course is to supply the participants with relevant practical skills as researchers. The candidates will be given an introduction in how to write and publish a scientific article, how to present research findings in a scientific manner, and how these findings may be popularised for presentation to the public. In addition, the course will prepare the candidates for designing and defending the thesis. The course is a continuing course throughout the whole PhD the candidate´s period and focuses on:

1) General summary of the thesis, article writing, publishing, open access, research impact, ethical and academic guidelines, co-authorship, citation rules, book- and report writing, poster presentation, oral presentation, popularization of research, the researcher as participator in the public debate (social media, blogs, newspaper chronicles, media)

2) The candidate’s presentations of project descriptions and findings, respectively 20 % and 50 % into the candidate’s period of the PhD programme, as well as a trial PhD defence at 90% time. The trial defence will function as an examination in the course and as a gate to pass to be allowed to submit the PhD thesis.

3) The candidate’s opposition to other the candidates’ project findings

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, the candidate:

Knowledge

• is able to assess the usefulness of disseminating research findings in different channels to different audiences

• knows how articles and a PhD thesis are constructed and demonstrates knowledge on the procedures of scientific writing and publishing

• is familiar with and able to assess the possibilities of research dissemination through popular scientific channels such as media and social media

Skills

• can disseminate the candidate´s research work through recognised national and international channels

• can disseminate academic matters in both scientific and popular scientific ways

General competences

• can draw the essence of complex matters and present it in an understandable way to different audiences

• is ready to participate in academic debate in both national and international forums

• understands the importance of brevity and is experienced in expressing oneself with brevity

Examination requirements

The candidate is required to have participated with a presentation of

1) project outline

2) the candidates own project findings

3) opposition to another candidate’s project finding presentation

In addition, attendance in at least nine one-day seminars is required (included those where the candidate conducts presentations and opposition).

Teaching methods

The course will be held as one-day seminars with lectures and student presentations and oppositions. In general, three to four seminars will be held each semester. It will also function as a scientific and social meeting point for the students enrolled in the programme.

Assessment methods and criteria

The trial lecture completed at normally 90 % of the completion of the PhD timeframe counts as the examination in the course. The candidate hands in the work as completed at the time, i. e. scientific articles (both published and drafts) as well as an outline and a draft for the summary or a draft of the monograph. The work that is handed in must be of a quantity and quality which convinces the examiner that the candidate will be able to submit the thesis within the remaining 10 % of the available PhD timeframe (i.e. in three to four months).

The candidates will present their project (20 minutes) and will then be questioned by the examiner for about 40 minutes. The examiner must be without affiliation to candidate’s project and may be internal or external. The examination will be open to the other PhD candidates enrolled in the program. The main supervisor will suggest an examiner. It is expected that the main supervisor is present at the examination. Immediately after the examination, the examiner will discuss the examination with the leader of the PhD programme and the main supervisor. The examiner will then recommend whether the work is sufficiently completed to be submitted as a thesis within reasonable time or not.

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
HEL601 – Concluding professional specialisation	5
ME-616 – Presenting and Publishing Research	2.5