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Syllabus

LB0112 Scientific Methods, Tools and Thesis Writing, 15.0 Credits

Scientific Methods, Tools and Thesis Writing

Subjects

Horticultural Science Agricultural Science Agricultural science Horticultural science

Education cycle

Master’s level

Advanced study in the main field

Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Master’s level (A1N)

Grading scale

Language

English

Prior knowledge

Knowledge equivalent to 120 credits, including 90 credits in one of the subjects/educational areas Social Science, Natural Science or Technology, and English 6.

Objectives

The aim of the course is to be familiar with qualitative and quantitative methods for research, including literature searches, text and numerical analysis, writing, layout and written and oral presentation.

On completion of the course students will be able to:

• give an account of, analyze and critically discuss methods that can be used to work on situations, questions and problems of importance in Agroecology,

• plan, describe and present appropriate methods and tools within different approaches, and discuss alternative solutions, in a given context,

• analyse and critically discuss the relevance of information within their area of interest, and present an outline for the content of their Master’s thesis,

• formulate a plan of work for their thesis,

• present their work orally and in writing.

Content

Students will be prepared for fieldwork within Agroecology via scientific literature, lectures, student assignments and seminars. The course will teach students how to: plan field work, select a methodological approach to a research question, plan the process of retrieving and structuring data, and carry out the subsequent critical analysis of material and ideas. The course will also prepare students for writing and revising their thesis.

Examples of methods with which students will become acquainted are: semi-structured interviews and manual analysis, as well as computer-aided software for analysing qualitative data, quantitative statistics, general systems’ principles diagramming and emergy synthesis, environmental accounting and biological indicators.

The course will:

• include practice in designing appropriate research and development processes in accordance with the research topic selected,

• discuss ethical research issues,

• provide procedures for data collection and analysis,

• familiarize students with methods and tools within the field of agro-ecology,

• provide students, individually or in pairs, with the possibility to try methods and tools in practice,

• develop skills for thesis writing according to the chosen methodology.

The topic of the Master’s thesis project and the case study will be selected by students in consultation with supervisors and the examiner at SLU.

Workshops, excercises and excursions are compulsory.

Grading form

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Formats and requirements for examination

The examination for the course will consist of a written individual project/process plan for student thesis work and a preliminary Introduction and Methodology/Methods section, as well as a compilation of relevant literature. To obtain the course credits, approved exercises, oral and written presentations of project/process plan and a preliminary Introduction and Methodology/Methods section, plus approved participation in compulsory components will be required.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
• For the examination of a degree project (independent project), the examiner may also allow the student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Transitional provisions

• **Exams**: At least three retake sessions (renewed exams) will be offered within two years of the decision to discontinue the course. • **Compulsory components**: At least one opportunity for a retake session will be offered within two years of the decision to discontinue the course.

Other information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.