Preparation for an MA research project. Here, the composition of academic writing will be covered. Research proposals, research methods, and how research is connected to the theoretical and practical basis of social work is discussed amongst other factors in research. Students present their research proposals, receive constructive criticism, and participate in group discussions beneficial to all participants.

The aim of the master's project is to provide the student with training in designing, planning, developing and carrying out research projects in social work, learning to take into account the limitations resulting from the use of methods, technology, scientific ethics and rules for personal protection. Students must independently and in written language be able to define their research topic, formulate research questions and hypotheses.

This course has three main objectives. i) that students gain a better understanding of the research process and common methods, ii) that students get training in reading and criticizing existing research, and iii) that students get training in developing research questions with respect to theoretical issues and existing research. Lectures: We discuss concepts and methodologies emphasizing i) the strengths and limitations of various methods, ii) the connections among methodologies, methods, and theoretical issues. Discussion sessions: Students read research articles and discuss research methods in relation to specific sociological topics.

The main subject of the course is quantitative methods and statistics used in social sciences. The focus will be on research design, sample methods and designing questionnaires. The statistical part will cover descriptive and inferential statistics. Special emphasis will be on factorial ANOVA and multiple regression. Students will get practical training in data analysis using jamovi. Students can use their own data.

The course’s objective is to introduce students to the diverse, academic criteria of qualitative research in social sciences and secondly that student’s gain experience in using qualitative methods. Furthermore, the course is practical in nature where each student works on an independent research assignment, which consists of designing and preparing a research project, collecting and analyzing data, and writing the main findings with guidance from the teacher. Research preparation, the creation of a research plan, data collection and analysis along with academic writing will be extensively covered during the course.

In this course, the focus will be on the development of research and research methods within critical studies such as disability-, queer- and gender studies. Criticism of traditional research methods, which originates from critical feminist studies, will be emphasised. Recent approaches redefine power relations between researchers and participants and focus on collaboration and mutual respect between disabled people and scholars. The goal of such research is to facilitate cooperation and empowerment throughout all stages of the research. The characteristics, opportunities, and limitations of such research will be examined, including methods such as action research, participatory research, inclusive research, diaries, story completion methods, as well as universally designed questionaries. Ethical issues will be explored and new research and development projects in the field will be introduced and discussed.

The aim of the master's project is to provide the student with training in designing, planning, developing and carrying out research projects in social work, learning to take into account the limitations resulting from the use of methods, technology, scientific ethics and rules for personal protection. Students must independently and in written language be able to define their research topic, formulate research questions and hypotheses.

The course of study covers the development of industrial activities as well as the main resolutions that Icelandic and other western governments are faced with. Discussion includes the continual wide gap between good and bad jobs, the rich and the poor, and the increasing emphasis on a diverse national economy, and the relative positions of the differing societies and national groups. Criticism is also directed on the changes in the labor market and workplaces and on those challenges that employers and employees therefore face. At the same time, discussion includes the connection between health and the well-being of the employees. Emphasis is placed on the interplay between the family and industry, stress, burnout, abuse, harassment and bullying at the workplace, unemployment, and job displacement.

This course focuses on the variety of approaches and methods found within  research. Five qualitative approaches to inquiry are mainly in focus, namely; case study, narrative research, ethnography, phenomenology and grounded theory. Students gain a deeper experiences in data collection and in use of different methods for analyzing their qualitative data. They also gain experience in presenting their findings in written form. Additionally, students have the opportunity to reflect on their own research practices and on themselves as qualitative researchers.

Reading course in specialised area.