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Principles of Developing Master's Thesis
Study Course Description
Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:7.00
Study Course Accepted:08.03.2024 14:14:39
| Study Course Information | |||||||||
| Course Code: | KSK_148 | LQF level: | Level 7 | ||||||
| Credit Points: | 2.00 | ECTS: | 3.00 | ||||||
| Branch of Science: | Sociology; Theory and History of Sociology | Target Audience: | Social Anthropology | ||||||
| Study Course Supervisor | |||||||||
| Course Supervisor: | Diāna Kiščenko | ||||||||
| Study Course Implementer | |||||||||
| Structural Unit: | Faculty of Social Sciences | ||||||||
| The Head of Structural Unit: | |||||||||
| Contacts: | Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf rsu[pnkts]lv | ||||||||
| Study Course Planning | |||||||||
| Full-Time - Semester No.1 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 3 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 6 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 9 | Class Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 18 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 24 | ||||||||
| Study course description | |||||||||
| Preliminary Knowledge: | Coincide with the prior knowledge required for enrolling in a Master’s study programme. | ||||||||
| Objective: | To gain an in-depth understanding of developing a Master’s thesis – the theoretical, methodological, empirical, argumentative and text-formation principles in the discipline of social anthropology. | ||||||||
| Topic Layout (Full-Time) | |||||||||
| No. | Topic | Type of Implementation | Number | Venue | |||||
| 1 | Introductory Lectures. The Basics of and Prerequisites for Developing a Master’s Thesis. Defining the Idea, Aims, Objectives and Novelty of the Master’s Thesis. Empirical Research Design. Research Planning and Choosing Appropriate Methods. Design of the Research Process. Selection and Formation of Theoretical Justification in the Process of Developing a Master’s Thesis. Conducting Empirical Research, Analysing and Interpreting the Data Collected. Academic and Ethical Aspects. | Lectures | 3.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 2 | In-Depth Analysis of the Master’s Theses of the Programme Graduates (Analysis Criteria: Justification of the Choice and Relevance of the Topic; Structure of the Thesis, Thesis and Its Validity in the Paper; Choice and Justification of Theoretical Framework; Choice, Justification and Description of Methods; Reflection on the Identity of the Researcher; Fieldwork and Presentation of Empirical Materials in the Thesis). | Classes | 8.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 3 | Master Thesis Application Presentations | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| Assessment | |||||||||
| Unaided Work: | For each seminar (except the last one), students read the required readings for this course (the literature sources indicated; Master’s theses of the programme graduates) and prepare for the discussion. The Master's theses of the programme graduates analysed in the course are reviewed and updated every semester, coordinating their use with the authors. At the end of the course, students develop their Master's thesis proposal (2-3 pages), submit it in the e-learning environment and present it in the final class (10 minutes). To assess the overall quality of the study course, students must complete the study course evaluation questionnaire in the e-learning environment at the end of the course. | ||||||||
| Assessment Criteria: | Active participation in classes – 40%; Master’s thesis research proposal – 30%; presentation of the Master’s thesis research proposal – 30%. | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Full-Time): | Exam | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Part-Time): | |||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | |||||||||
| Knowledge: | Students are able to understand in depth the basic principles and requirements for the development of a research paper, for the defence of a research paper. | ||||||||
| Skills: | To apply the acquired knowledge in the development of one’s Master’s thesis, developing it according to the scientific criteria. | ||||||||
| Competencies: | The student is able to develop an independent research paper using appropriate theories and methods. | ||||||||
| Bibliography | |||||||||
| No. | Reference | ||||||||
| Required Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Bernard, H. R. 2018. Research Methods in Anthropology: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. 6th edition. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. | ||||||||
| 2 | Mārtinsone, K, un A. Pipere, red. 2021. Zinātniskās darbības metodoloģija: starpdisciplināra perspektīva. Rīga: Rīgas Stradiņa universitāte. (latviešu plūsmai) | ||||||||
| 3 | O'Reilly, K. 2012. Ethnographic Methods. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. (Akceptējams, kvalitatīvs un viegli uztverams avots par etnogrāfisko metodi.) | ||||||||
| 4 | Rīgas Stradiņa universitātes maģistra programmas "Sociālā antropoloģija" ietvaros izstrādātie un aizstāvētie maģistra darbi (katru semestri tiek pārskatīti un aktualizēti)./Master's theses developed and defended as part of the Master's program "Social Anthropology" of Riga Stradins University (reviewed and updated every semester). | ||||||||
| 5 | Denzin, N., Lincoln, Y.S. ed. 2023. SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research. 6th edition. London: SAGE Publications. | ||||||||
| 6 | Pink, S., et al. 2016. Digital Ethnography. Principles and Practice. London: SAGE Publications. | ||||||||
| Additional Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | De Soto, H. G., and N. Dudwick. ed. 2000. Fieldwork dilemmas: anthropologists in postsocialist states. Madison, Wis.: University of Wisconsin Press. (jaunāks izdevums nav izdots) | ||||||||
| 2 | Neuman, W.L. 2014. Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. 4th edition. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. | ||||||||
