Courses Master Display 2021-2022

Course Description To PDF
Course title Research Approaches and Methods
Course code SSP3031
ECTS credits 2,0
Assessment Pass / Fail
Period
Period Start End Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
3 10-1-2022 21-1-2022 X X
Level no level
Coordinator Ceren Pekdemir
For more information: ceren.pekdemir@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Language of instruction English
Goals
* Understand common research approaches and their differences.
* Understand how a different research approach may lead to different research results and a different way in which results are relevant for policy and society.
* Explain why and how a thesis literature review can be performed.
* Understand different methods for data collection (interviews, questionnaires, document analysis) and how to perform these.
* Understand different methods for data analysis (coding qualitative data, quantitative analysis via SPSS) and how these can be applied.
Description
Before conducting academic research in the field of sustainability science, it is important to understand the basics of research approaches and methods used within the field. Both the choice for an approach and the method(s), influence the way in which a topic is studied and the research results.

This course aims to provide students with the basic knowledge and experience to perform a thesis-related literature review, understand the methodological underpinnings of a chosen research approach, undertake data collection and engage in data analysis in a scholarly way.
Literature
Reference list will be provided.
Prerequisites
Keywords
Teaching methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) PBL / Lecture
Assessment methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) Final Paper / Attendance
Evaluation in previous academic year For the complete evaluation of this course please click "here"
This course belongs to the following programmes / specialisations
Master Sustainability Science, Policy and Society Thesis