Study Guide

Objective

Bachelor’s thesis (K30051412; 15 cr) is part of a module called Researching and Developing Work Practices in the Global World, worth of 30 cr. The other course of the module is called Research and Development Skills (K30051412; 15 cr). These two courses form the studies of the 5th semester, and it is meant that you as a student concentrate on the studies of this module and do not take any other courses during 5th semester. Bachelor’s thesis is a research and development project which aims at developing the region and its actors. Bachelor’s thesis is divided to three parts. They are:3005033121 Conceptual Basics 5cr3005033122 First Draft of the Report 5cr3005033123 Final Report, Oral Presentation and Maturity Test 5crThese parts are organized in turns with the parts of the Research and Development Skills course (300503412). The parts of that course are3005034121 Research and Development Plan 5cr3005034122 Methods 5crA third course belonging to this study module is called Project management (300503212) 5cr, and it is organised already during the second year as a joint KYAMK study unit. To sum up, first, you take the project management course during the second year of studies. Then, during the fifth semester you have, in this order:Research and Development PlanConceptual BasicsMethodsFirst Draft ReportFinal Report, Oral Presentation and Maturity TestThe bolded study unit parts are parts of the study unit called Reserch ad Development skills (300503412). During the Research and Development Skills study unit student understands what the research process is, and of what parts it consists ofstudent prepares and presents orally and in written a research plan of his/her own bachelor’s thesisstudent chooses a suitable approach to fulfill his/her development project’s objective. The student is provided with enough information to being able to choose a suitable data acquisition and a suitable data analysis method to his/her thesis project including both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Case, action research and other approaches may be used as well.student collects the necessary data and analyses it in a useful way to his/ her in order to fulfill his/her development/research task.

Content

learning the research process as a whole including basics of different research approachesdoing the research plandeciding on the own research setting = societal aim, objective of the particular thesis, research/development question, research approach (ie. quantitative, qualitative, processual)deciding on the own data acquisition methods to be usedgetting to know how to make surveys, interviews, observationsdeciding on the own data analysis methods to be usedgetting to know application of textual methods and statistical techniques in own analysisdeciding on the own project schedulingbeing able to read and interpret statistics and statistical reports criticallFurther information on the specific data acquisition and data analysis methods in usePersonal supervision on methods

Location and time

After the allocation of supervisors in May, you can discuss with him/her which train (1 or 2) to participate and how to best manage the thesis process. In order to speed up your work, you can choose train 1 which is the fastest and allow you to graduate by Christmas.

In case you have taken e.g. some previous courses that can be credited, you can agree about this with your supervisor in the beginning of the course.

Materials

See Moodle for details

Teaching methods

Scheduled track:
At the end of the study unit, you are able to:

- Generate good ideas for your research projects and further refine them into precise research questions
- Recognize and apply the key hallmarks of scientific research in your own study
- Outline different stages in the research process while being aware of key pitfalls in various stages
- Draft clear and persuasive research proposal including all desired elements
- Adopt proper templates, structures and style for the final project
- Follow key guidelines to ethical practices in research

You participate in the thesis train according to the normal schedule. There are group meetings, lectures and independent tasks that guide your process in creating the Research and Development plan.

The theoretical methodological studies of the thesis train are carried out in the beginning of the semester. Those studies are compulsory for all thesis writers!

Independent track:
After the allocation of supervisors in May, you can discuss with him/her which train to participate and how to best manage the thesis process

Blended track:
After the allocation of supervisors in May, you can discuss with him/her which train (1 or 2) to participate and how to best manage the thesis process. In order to speed up your work, you can choose train 1 which is the fastest and allow you to graduate by Christmas.

In case you have taken e.g. some previous courses that can be credited, you can agree about this with your supervisor in the beginning of the course.

Completion alternatives

After the allocation of supervisors in May, you can discuss with him/her which train to participate and how to best manage the thesis process

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Each part of the study unit has its own assessment criteria provided by the relevant lecturer.
1-5

Further information

ulla.puustelli@kyamk.fi The whole thesis train process

jagat.kunwar@xamk.fi Research Process, Processual Methods

mari.maunula@xamk.fi Qualitative Research

tommi.salmela@xamk.fi Quantitative Research

Assessment criteria, good (3)

0-5. Students will also receive oral/written feedback from supervisors, methodology and language teachers, and from peer students.

Assessment methods and criteria

Research and Development 5 cr study unit is assessed in parts as follows:

Research Process 1cr,
Qualitative Methods 1.5cr,
Quantitative Methods1,5 cr ,
Processual Methods 1cr and
student's own Research and Development plan accepted/rejected.

All the parts of the study unit need to be accepted.