Master
2023/2024
Research Seminar "Science of Learning and Assessment"
Type:
Compulsory course (Science of Learning and Assessment)
Area of studies:
Psychology
Delivered by:
Institute of Education
Where:
Institute of Education
When:
2 year, 2, 3 module
Mode of studies:
offline
Open to:
students of one campus
Master’s programme:
Science of Learning and Assessment
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
6
Contact hours:
44
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The research seminar "Science of Learning and Assessment" is a core course that aims to teach students fundamental steps in scientific methods with practical applications that students can use with their own thesis projects. The seminar provides systematic, structured support to students of the master's program at all stages of their coursework. Discussion topics and assignments include thesis topic selection, systematic literature review, developing research hypotheses, experimental design, ethics in research, and method selection. The course will offer students the opportunity to present their research topics orally and in writing, by covering principles of academic writing and successful oral presentations.
Learning Objectives
- Students will learn to follow research logic
- Students learn to search for scientific problems and trace them through research literature
- Students can present their research orally
- Students demonstrate effective academic writing skills
- Students learn to prepare a research method sections
- Students learn guidelines for systematic reviews
Expected Learning Outcomes
- To conceptualize the research interests. To classify the problems to explore. To apply correct scientific terminology.
- To depict the domain of interest under personal research. To ask empirical questions and search for relevant theories. To define key concepts and their operationalization. To search for relevant literature. To write introducing for personal research. To open the story and transition to literature review.
- To summarize previous investigations. To identify contradictions, relations, gaps and inconsistencies in the literature. To stat hypotheses. To reconstruct and analyze structure of already published papers. To linking sentences and paragraphs.
- To write personal literature review for the master theses.
- To assess feasibility of the research.
- To select the research design. To plan empirical research; to interpret possible results
- To be aware of the most crucial ethical issues
- To update personal research projects
- To write down the method and the results sections.
- To write down the discussion section.
- To be aware of the rules of academic communication. To expand coping strategies.
Course Contents
- Introduction to basic research terms and issue.
- Starting student’s personal research project (master thesis)
- Literature review. Goals, story plot and structure
- Writing students’ personal literature review for their master theses
- Connection between literature review, research strategy, research logic.
- Finalizing of theoretical part of master thesis (long version of proposal)
- Research Ethics
- Summarizing findings from personal literature reviews and planning empirical studies
- Writing about method, data analysis, results
- Discussing/Interpretation: recurring to the start and looking ahead. Writing about interpretation of results
- Practical issues: Reaction to critics, rejection and academic communication.
Assessment Elements
- 2022-2023 AE2 the 1 module total score
- 2022-2023 AE3 the 2 module total score
- 2022-2023 Practice defenseThe presentation should focus on the student's Master's thesis: Criteria for evaluation: 1. Speak audibly, maintained eye contact, and engage the audience. (1 point) 2. Visual aid design, layout, and usefulness. (1 point) 3. Introduce necessary information on the motivation, definitions, theoretical framework, and empirical research on the topic. (3 points) 4. Clearly explain the methods you plan to use in the study (i.e., participants, materials, procedures, data analyses plan). (3 points) 5. Answer questions thoughtfully and critically. (2 points) The dates/times for presentations will be announced in class and via email.
- 2022-2023-ParticipationComplete activities during class.
- AE 2023-24 PredefenceThe presentation should focus on the student's Master's thesis: Criteria for evaluation: 1. Speak audibly, maintained eye contact, and engage the audience. (1 point) 2. Visual aid design, layout, and usefulness. (1 point) 3. Introduce necessary information on the motivation, definitions, theoretical framework, and empirical research on the topic. (2 points) 4. Clearly explain the methods used in the study (i.e., participants, materials, procedures, data analyses plan). (2 points) 5. Clearly tabulate and illustrate results (2 points) 6. Present a meaningful conclusion discussing theoretical and practical implications of the findings (1 point) 7. Answer questions thoughtfully and critically. (1 point) The dates/times for presentations will be announced in class and via email.
- ParticipationEngage in constructive discussions and complete activities during class.
Interim Assessment
- 2022/2023 2nd module0.5 * 2022-2023 AE2 the 1 module total score + 0.5 * 2022-2023 AE3 the 2 module total score
- 2022/2023 4th module0.7 * 2022-2023 Practice defense + 0.3 * 2022-2023-Participation
- 2023/2024 3rd module0.7 * AE 2023-24 Predefence + 0.3 * Participation
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- . Кн.3: Психодиагностика : введение в научное психологическое исследование с элементами математической статистики : учебник, Немов Р.С., 2000
- Alan Bryman, & The Programme Aims. (2001). Social research methods. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.151A861A
- Bischoping, K. (2005). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches/The Practice of Social Research. Teaching Sociology, 33(1), 95–97. https://doi.org/10.1177/0092055X0503300110
- Comeau, J., Grissett, J. O., & MacLennan, J. (2016). Social Research Methods. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.8F52B169
- Doing Honest Work in College: How to Prepare Citations, Avoid Plagiarism, and Achieve Real Academ..., Lipson, Ch., 2004
- Gerard Guthrie. (2010). Basic Research Methods : An Entry to Social Science Research. Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd.
- Hugo, A. (2009). How to do your research project: A guide for students in education and applied social sciences. Youth Studies Australia, 28(3), 3. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=f5h&AN=44275442
- Michelle Goodman, & Goodman Michelle. (n.d.). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.DB303D5E
- Rice, R. A. (2017). How to Write a Literature Review. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.7550A4E6
- Ruane, J. M. (2016). Introducing Social Research Methods : Essentials for Getting the Edge. Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1107215
- Психологическое измерение : учеб. пособие для вузов, Тюменева, Ю. А., 2007
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Knopf, J. W. (2006). Doing a Literature Review. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.6DDBE740
- Kuhn vs. Popper : the struggle for the soul of science, Fuller, S., 2006