Master Thesis Project (workshop)

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:2.00

Study Course Accepted:11.12.2023 12:44:04

Study Course Information
Course Code:		LUSDK_260		LQF level:		Level 7
Credit Points:		4.00		ECTS:		6.00
Branch of Science:		Sociology; Social Politics and Organisation of Social Work		Target Audience:		Social Welfare and Social Work
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Anna Broka
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Department of Welfare and Social Work
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Riga, 26a Anninmuizas boulevard, socdkrsu[pnkts]lv, +371 67061575
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		12	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		24
Classes (count)		12	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		24
Total Contact Hours								48
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Experience in development of a research paper.
Objective:
To strengthen student's knowledge in application of the methodology in the research planning and implementation, increasing their management and evaluation of social research projects skills, and analytical skills as an input to social development in the field of social work with children and youth.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	Research design. Research as a knowledge producer: conditions, procedures			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
				Classes		2.00	auditorium
2	The ethics of research in the different types of research. The Ethical dilemmas			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
3	Choice of methodological strategies. Methods and development of research plan			Lectures		2.00	E-Studies platform
4	How to design a research project			Classes		2.00	E-Studies platform
5	Scientific research in social work epistemology of social work; Social work and knowledge production			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
				Classes		2.00	auditorium
6	Specificity and interdisciplinarity; Problem's hieraticism realism and social research and social work			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
				Classes		2.00	auditorium
7	Guidelines for the preparation of the research project			Classes		2.00	auditorium
8	Presentation of master thesis project plan: 1. Presentation and discussion in class and specific guidelines. 2. Brainstorming in the collective group promoting knowledge transfer and making necessary corrections			Classes		2.00	auditorium
9	Assessment			Lectures		2.00	auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
Individual written research plan – 100%. Presentation; clarity; theoretical framework (state of the art and analytical framework) and methodology (research strategy, empirical field, universe and sample, data collection and analysis techniques)
Assessment Criteria:
Active participation – 20% (discussions, presentations, etc.); Development of research plan draft – 10%; Development of research plan final version – 30%; Final assessment: Presentation and justification of research plan – 40%.
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Test (Semester)
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		Will be able to design the most effective problem ways in social work context.
Skills:		Will be able to present research results to a professional audience.
Competencies:		Will be able to understand the social world in relation to different epistemological and ontological considerations in the social research process.
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	De Block, D., Vis, B. Addressing the Challenges in Using Qualitative Data in Qualitative Comparative Analysis. COMPASSS Working Paper 2017-88.
2	Brannen, J. 2005. Mixing methods: The entry of qualitative and quantitative approaches into the research process. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(3): 173–184.
3	Reginald O. York. 2019. Social Work Research Methods Learning by Doing. University of North Carolina Wilmington, USA.