IRMGR40518 Scientific Research and Methods (Spring 2023–Autumn 2023)

The course is connected to the following study programs

Compulsory course in the Master`s Programme in Green Energy Technology

Lecture Semester

Second semester (spring) and third semester (autumn), from March to September.

The student's learning outcomes after completing the course

Knowledge:

The student

• has specialized insight into one topic within energy technology

• is able to utilize knowledge within new fields of energy technology

• has developed insight and understanding of the logic of scientific thinking and writing, as well as the ethical considerations related to a research project.

Skills:

The student

• can analyze and critically examine scientific literature

• can structure and formulate technical arguments and reasoning

• is able to plan a research project, in agreement with existing ethical norms

• can analyze relevant ethical research problems within energy technolog.

General competence:

The student

• is able to write a scientific report

• knows how to search for scientific literature

• is able to orally present a scientific project for both specialists within the field and the general public

• can acquire new knowledge within a field by self-tuition.

Content

Through the course, the students will learn about the logic, ethics and techniques of scientific writing and thinking. In the course, the students will also learn about scientific research design. This insight will be the knowledge base and the basis for independent reflections when the students perform a literature search to find current research literature related to the planned topic of their Master Thesis. Based on this literature, they will write a report that outlines the state-of-the-art within this topic.

Based on the state-of-the-art report, the students will:

• define the objective(s) of their Master Thesis

• clarify how the objective(s) are progressing beyond the state-of-the-art

• determine how to meet the objective(s), within the framework of both research design and ethics

• decide which methods and experimental techniques they will use

• make a first assessment of which experiments should be conducted

• put up a realistic progress plan for the Master Thesis

• write a project planning report that clarifies all these points including explanations for the choices that are made.

Forms of teaching and learning

The scientific writing and thinking, ethical considerations related to research projects and the research design topics will be taught through lectures. The lectures will include dialogue with the students, to closely link the general ideas of the logics of science to the Master thesis each individual student is planning. On the literature search and state-of-the-art report, the students will work under supervision of their Master Thesis supervisor. The project can either be an individual project, or if the Master Thesis is planned as a team work, conducted in an interdisciplinary team. For the team projects, the contributions of each student should be clearly specified.

Each project should deliver a state-of-the-art report, a project planning report and give oral presentations of the planned Master Thesis.

Workload

250-300 hours.

Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam

Oral presentation of the planned Master Thesis (individual or as a group), including a state-of-the-art literature review.

Examination

This exam consists of two parts: 

1. State-of-the art report, individual or as a group (counts as 50 % of the mark). One report for the whole group, together with a specification of the contribution of each student.

1. Research proposal report, individual or as a group (counts as 50 % of the mark) One report for the whole group, together with a specification of the contribution of each student.

The specified contribution of the individual student counts as 50% of each report and the report as a whole count as 50% of each report. Each student will receive an individual grade.

Grading: Pass/fail

 

Examiners

The Master Thesis supervisor and one additional internal examiner.

Conditions for resit/rescheduled exams

If a report is graded as failed, the student will be given one more chance to improve the report. The improved report must be handed in for evaluation at a deadline specified by the Master Thesis supervisor. For group projects:

If the specified contribution of an individual student is graded as failed, while the total report is not graded as failed, this student will have to deliver an individual report. In this case, the rest of the group can choose if they wish to deliver a modified report without the contribution of the student that failed, or if they wish to be evaluated based on the original report.

Course evaluation

The course will be evaluated by continuous dialogue with the students in lectures, to ensure that the link between the student¿s planned thesis and the lectures is close throughout.

Literature

The current reading list for 2023 Spring can be found in Leganto