Scientific and Professional Communication (5cr)

Objectives (course unit)

After completing this course the students will:
• know the principles of scientific research: qualitative and quantitative research and you can identify a research study accordingly
• be able to deploy on a larger scale all the writing skills, which you have been developing throughout the degree programme

• consider the audience and the brief for each communication task
• be able to give professional presentations about your own work and host events with your colleagues and co-workers in a good manner.
• know the main statistical analysis methods in experimental research and can use them in practice
• know the procedure of the thesis process at TAMK and requirements of a thesis
• be able to plan an experimental research study

• Student clearly demands help in many phases of the research process. The submissions show narrow or incomplete understanding of the connection between research questions, background literature, choice of methodology, study design, reporting and concluding. Student shows some knowledge of of conceptual and theoretical thinking in doing research. Difficulty in activating the audience.

Content (course unit)

Bachelor’s thesis planning and writing processes, professional reporting and presentations, research and data collection methods, data analysis, work life connections.

Prerequisites (course unit)

Scientific Reporting in English, English for Students of Environmental Engineers, Statistics or equivalent

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2) (course unit)

Student clearly demands help in many phases of the research process. The submissions show narrow or incomplete understanding of the connection between research questions, background literature, choice of methodology, study design, reporting and concluding. Student shows some knowledge of of conceptual and theoretical thinking in doing research.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4) (course unit)

Student is able to write clear research documents. (S)He can justify the decisions on methods, context or study approach. The student is able to find useful resources and design a study which can be put into practice. The student is able to present results and draw reasonable conclusions based on the results. Student make choices about the research methods, but uses concepts and arguments is lightly. The student shows the ability to choose an appropriate register and is able to activate an audience.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

Student is able to write clear research documents. (S)He can justify the decisions on methods, context or study approach. The student is able to find useful resources and design a study which can be put into practice. The student is able to present results and draw reasonable conclusions based on the results. Student make choices about the research methods, but uses concepts and arguments is lightly. The student shows the ability to choose an appropriate register and is able to activate an audience.

Location and time

Contact lessons.

Assessment methods and criteria

The assessment is based on
- completing the tasks throughout the course
- mini thesis
- workshop session.

Assessment scale

0-5

Learning materials

Material and recommended reading found in Moodle.

Assessment criteria - fail (0) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student does not complete the tasks according the assessment criteria.

Assessment criteria - satisfactory (1-2) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student clearly demands help in many phases of the research process. The submissions show narrow or incomplete understanding of the connection between research questions, background literature, choice of methodology, study design, reporting and concluding. Student shows some knowledge of of conceptual and theoretical thinking in doing research.Difficulty in conveying the goals, methods and results. Difficulty in activating an audience.

Assessment criteria - good (3-4) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student is able to write clear research documents. (S)He can justify the decisions on methods, context or study approach. The student is able to find useful resources and design a study which can be put into practice. The student is able to present results and draw reasonable conclusions based on the results. Student make choices about the research methods, but the use of concepts and arguments still needs developing. The student shows the ability to choose an appropriate register and is able to activate an audience.

Assessment criteria - excellent (5) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student is able to write well-argued and easily understandable research documents. (S)he is able to justify the decisions and critically reflect upon choices. The student shows critical thinking and reflection of sources of information and creativity combined with critical self-reflection in the study design, interpretation of results and drawing conclusions. Students understands underlying differences of qualitative and quantitative research and is able to choose a research strategy which suits the research questions. The student shows the ability to choose an appropriate register and is able to activate an audience.