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Development of Master’s Thesis
Study Course Description
Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:9.00
Study Course Accepted:17.08.2023 09:15:19
| Study Course Information | |||||||||
| Course Code: | VPUPK_250 | LQF level: | Level 7 | ||||||
| Credit Points: | 4.00 | ECTS: | 6.00 | ||||||
| Branch of Science: | Psychology; General Psychology | Target Audience: | Psychology | ||||||
| Study Course Supervisor | |||||||||
| Course Supervisor: | Jeļena Koļesņikova | ||||||||
| Study Course Implementer | |||||||||
| Structural Unit: | Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy | ||||||||
| The Head of Structural Unit: | |||||||||
| Contacts: | Riga, 5 J. Asara Street, vppk rsu[pnkts]lv, +37167061587 | ||||||||
| Study Course Planning | |||||||||
| Full-Time - Semester No.1 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 4 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 8 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 0 | Class Length (academic hours) | 0 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 0 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 8 | ||||||||
| Full-Time - Semester No.2 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 4 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 8 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 0 | Class Length (academic hours) | 0 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 0 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 8 | ||||||||
| Study course description | |||||||||
| Preliminary Knowledge: | Research methodology. | ||||||||
| Objective: | To improve the postgraduate students' understanding of research and the skills to develop their research project, including detailed theoretical justification and implementation process, the planned data acquisition and processing procedures; assess the potential risks and threats of the planned research; to describe ethical aspects of the research; the skills to independently carry out their own research project, that confirms the theoretical and practical knowledge, methodological and organisational skills in the field of psychology. | ||||||||
| Topic Layout (Full-Time) | |||||||||
| No. | Topic | Type of Implementation | Number | Venue | |||||
| 1 | The structure of the discussion part of the master's thesis | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 2 | Introductory lecture. Adherence to academic integrity. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 3 | Principles of master thesis development | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 4 | Review of literature sources | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 5 | Method: participants, instrument, procedure | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 6 | Development of the empirical part of the master's thesis | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 7 | The content and structure of the master's thesis defense and presentation presentation | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 8 | Master's thesis is formatted in accordance with the RSU Regulations and the Department methodological guidelines for the development of Master's Thesis | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| Assessment | |||||||||
| Unaided Work: | 1. Develop a draft research/ theoretical part of the Master’s thesis including the research justification, a literature review and a detailed description of the research methodology. Evaluate the possible risks and threats of the planned research, describe the ethical aspects of the research; present the draft Master’s thesis. 2. Carry out research according to the developed project, which includes data collection, processing and analysis, description and interpretation of the obtained results, conclusions and suggestions, as well as format the Master's thesis according to RSU Regulations and the Department methodological guidelines for the development of Master's theses; to present the Master's thesis. 3. Participate in the conference events of the Department and prepare reflections on modern psychology research in a "google" document, including insights into the possibilities of applying the obtained information within the framework of own Master's thesis. 4. Provide feedback at the end of the study course (fill in the questionnaire). | ||||||||
| Assessment Criteria: | 1. The course requirements are fulfilled within the given time (20%). 2. Master’s thesis includes (50%): Introduction: • the topicality and problem of the research, based on the latest, most important research in the sector; • the goal, the objectives research questions or hypothesis, which are mutually agreed, correspond to the topic of the research, and appropriate data analyses methods are used for each research procedure; • research methodology for each research question/ hypothesis is described according to the research design, characterising data collection sources, methods and procedures; • clear description of ethical aspects of the research is presented, analysing possible risks and threats, stating the ways for overcoming them. Theoretical part: • theoretical discussions and guidelines are reflected; • the most recent and most essential research is included; • the specific place of the research among existing ones is highlighted; • the primary sources are dominant; • the critical analysis of sources is done; • theoretical justification of the research allows formulate research question/ hypothesis. 3. The scientific style has been used in the Master's thesis and correct references have been made (10%). 4. The presentation and defence of the Master’s thesis theoretical part should demonstrate (20%): • visual representation; • student’s ability to answer the questions and take part in discussion; • good time management. | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Full-Time): | Exam | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Part-Time): | |||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | |||||||||
| Knowledge: | Students understand, compare and critically evaluate different theoretical approaches and research results related to the research topic; they understand and can describe the requirements for the Master’s Thesis and assessment criteria. | ||||||||
| Skills: | Students apply their knowledge to define the research problem, to select and critically evaluate the professional information sources and to use the evidence-based practice in order to define the research problem and justify the topicality; students define the research aim and question(s)/hypothesis(es); they select the research methodology appropriate to the aim of the research and describe the planned methods of data analysis. Students evaluate the research risks. Based on the research project, the following activities are performed: data collection and analysis, interpretation of empirical data according to the research question(s)/hypothesis(s), evaluation of research limitations; drawing conclusions; applying ethical standards to the research; designing and presenting the research. | ||||||||
| Competencies: | Independently plan research design in accordance to basic principles and ethical norms of the research, present research project. Independently and correctly develop and implement the research and present research results. | ||||||||
| Bibliography | |||||||||
| No. | Reference | ||||||||
| Required Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Akadēmiskā godīguma terminu vārdnīca. Akadēmiskā godīguma vispārējās vadlīnijas. (2020). Uzziņu izdevums. Rīga: RTU Izdevniecība. 161 lpp. | ||||||||
| 2 | Mārtinsone, K., Pipere, A. (red.) (2021). Zinātniskās darbības metodoloģija. Izdevniecība: RSU | ||||||||
| 3 | Mārtinsone, K. un Pipere A. (red.). (2018). Zinātniskā rakstīšana un pētījumu rezultātu izplatīšana. Rīga: RSU, 301 lpp. | ||||||||
| 4 | Mārtinsone, K. un Šneidere, K. (2020). Metodiskie norādījumi maģistra darbu izstrādei RSU RSU psiholoģijas, mākslu terapijas un supervīzijas studiju programmās. RSU izdevniecība: Rīga. | ||||||||
| Additional Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approach. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE. | ||||||||
| 2 | DeVellis, R.F. (2017). Scale development: theory and applications. Los Angeles. | ||||||||
| 3 | Howitt D., Cramer D., (2011). Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology. 3rd edition. London: Pearson | ||||||||
| 4 | Kaplan, D. (2009). Structural equation modeling: foundations and extensions. Los Angeles | ||||||||
| 5 | Leech, N.L., Barrett, K.C., & Morgan, G.A. (2008). SPSS for intermediate statistics: Use and interpretation. 3rd edition. New York: London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. | ||||||||
| 6 | Pētniecības terminu skaidrojošā vārdnīca. Pieejams no: https://www.rsu.lv/petniecibas-terminu-vardnica | ||||||||
| 7 | Raščevska, M. (2005). Psiholoģisko testu un aptauju konstruēšana un adaptācija. Rīga: RaKA. | ||||||||
| 8 | Rust, J. (2009). Modern psychometrics : the science of psychological assessment. Hove, East | ||||||||
| 9 | Sussex Wilson, M. (2005). Constructing measures : an item response modeling approach. New York. | ||||||||
| 10 | RSU ‘Nolikums par kvalifikācijas darba, studējošā pētnieciskā darba, bakalaura darba un maģistra darba izstrādāšanu un aizstāvēšanu’ (2020). Pieejams no: https://www.rsu.lv/studentiem/dokumenti sadaļā 'Pētnieciskais darbs'. | ||||||||
| Other Information Sources | |||||||||
| 1 | Saskaņā ar izvēlēto pētījuma tēmu | ||||||||
