Study Guide

Objective

The course familiarizes you with the basics of research and development work, different types of research methods and techniques. You acquire the core competence, knowledge and skills in multi-field research and development methods, processes and activities. You acquire the basic skills for doing a topic analysis and completing a work plan for your Bachelor’s Thesis work. You can use data gathering and analyses methods in your own field of studies. You can choose appropriate sources for your work and read for comprehension literature written in your own field of specialization, such as articles from professional journals and magazines, and research reports. You can apply theoretical knowledge base in conducting practical research and development tasks for completing the thesis project. You know the thesis process at Lapland University of Applied Sciences. You are able to write academic texts in compliance with the Lapland UAS thesis instructions, including compliance with the citing practices. You know how to use sources ethically.

Competences: Learning to learn Competence, Ethics Competence

Content

- Multi-field research and development planning and implementation
- Methodology and concepts relevant for RDI work
- Information retrieval and selection
- Ethical use of sources
- Academic writing practices
- Thesis process and instructions at Lapland University of Applied Sciences

Location and time

20.01.2022
15.00– 17.00
Campus A 318 2h Marko Korkeakoski Research idea & research design


21.01.2022
9.30– 11.30
Campus A 318 2h Marko Korkeakoski Research idea & research design


27.01.2022
09.00 – 11.30
AC
3h Adrian Braun
Qualitative research - Semi-Structured Interviews; Research Objectives and research questions


28.01.2022
12.30 – 15.00
AC
3h Adrian Braun
Quantitative research + webropol – usage (what can be done wrong in webropol test questionnaire).


03.02.2022
15.00– 17.00
Campus B 302 2h Marko Korkeakoski Following up on previous contents (Q & A)
Topic discussions – Optimizing focus on the topics.


04.02.2022
12.30 – 15.00
AC
3h Adrian Braun Following up on previous contents (Q & A)
Business Plan development and hints for those with topics that require business planning.

Materials

Materials can be found in Moodle; The novel Wihi Thesis Progress platform is going to be uzilized in the final phase of the course as of April 2021!
https://lapinamk.wihi.fi/

Here are the steps to use Wihi:

1. First, log into Wihi: https://lapinamk.wihi.fi/
2. Select “Create a topic proposal”
3. Add the thesis titles (both in English)
4. Add planned schedule
5. Select thesis type
6. Add advising time preference
7. Add a description of thesis content, objectives and outcomes
8. Add a description of the significance and utilisation of the thesis results
9. Add a description of the tools, equipment and software to be used
10. Add a description of the working methods
11. If the work has a commissioner, add the commissioning details
12. Add a description of your ability to execute the thesis
13. Accept the commitment clause
14. Submit your topic proposal for review

Teaching methods

The course familiarizes you with the basics of research and development work, different types of research methods and techniques. You acquire the core competence, knowledge and skills in multi-field research and development methods, processes and activities. You acquire the basic skills for doing a topic analysis and completing a work plan for your Bachelor’s Thesis work.

You can use data gathering and analyses methods in your own field of studies. You can choose appropriate sources for your work and read for comprehension literature written in your own field of specialization, such as articles from professional journals and magazines, and research reports. You can apply theoretical knowledge base in conducting practical research and development tasks for completing the thesis project.

You know the thesis process at Lapland University of Applied Sciences. You are able to write academic texts in compliance with the Lapland UAS thesis instructions, including compliance with the citing practices. You know how to use sources ethically.


Learning process is organized through workshops, discussions, independent studies and tasks and knowledge acquisition activities.

Exam schedules

1) Qualitative research assignment (DL 11.02.2021)
2) Create an idea for your thesis (DL 30.01.2022)
3) A mind-map about thesis framework and research questions (DL 08.02.2022)
4) First Thesis plan (DL 08.02.2022)
5) Analyze a Bachelor Thesis (DL 15.02.2022)
6) Exam (17.02.2022)

Content scheduling

• Multi-field research and development planning and implementation
• Methodology and concepts relevant for RDI work
• Information retrieval and selection
• Ethical use of sources
• Academic writing practices
• Thesis process and instructions at Lapland University of Applied Sciences

Further information

Plagiarism and use of references:

Please notice that in study unit assignment returns the plagiarism detection programs (for example Ouriginal) will be used.

Also notice that you need to use Lapland UAS templates (essay, thesis, report etc) and writing instructions. Textual references must be done according to the given instructions.

Please download the thesis template and the referencing instructions here: https://www.lapinamk.fi/en/Students/Study-Guide,-Degree-Programme-Students/Thesis

https://lib.luc.fi/c.php?g=662513&p=4803830

Submitting assignments against given instructions may lead to failing and other possible consequences according to the Degree Regulations.

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Satisfactory
Student knows the main concepts and methods related to R&D. She/he is able to apply and analyze knowledge and information gained. She/he is able to write a report.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good
Student recognizes the relevant information and is able to apply it to the task. She/he is able to utilize R&D methods and analyze the information. She/he is able to write the report based on the Lapland UAS' instructions.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent
Student is able to critically choose suitable R&D methods to the task. She/he is able to use the information versatile and make a high quality analyze. She/he is able critically evaluate the process and report.

Assessment methods and criteria

1-5 Fail for the overall course!

Assignments are pass/fail.

Thesis Plan 40% of the grade,
read a thesis and make report 20% of the grade,
exam 30% of the grade, participation 10%
Final evaluation for the course: 5-1, Fail

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

The student does not complete the assignments/ requirements according to instructions or does not attend the learning situations at all. He/she does not pass the assignments and/or the exam as required.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Student knows the main concepts and methods related to R&D. She/he is able to apply and analyze knowledge and information gained. She/he is able to write a report.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

Student recognizes the relevant information and is able to apply it to the task. She/he is able to utilize R&D methods and analyze the information. She/he is able to write the report based on the Lapland UAS' instructions.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Student is able to critically choose suitable R&D methods to the task. She/he is able to use the information versatile and make a high quality analyze. She/he is able critically evaluate the process and report.