Prepatory Studies for the Thesis Project (4cr)

Objective

The student is able to
- observe research subjects relevant for their professional field and to assess research and theses on the field
- define the research problem and questions
- use the key qualitative research methods and assess their applicability to different research subjects
- name the key producers of research knowledge in their field and use national and international sources of research information in their own field (databases and online services)
- analyse their topic and related needs for information
- describe their research or development subject with concepts and search terms and structure them hierarchically
- assess the information they have found
- use information in an ethically right way

Content

- research approaches and methods applicable to the cultural field
- assessment of previous theses
- stages of the thesis project, instructions, and assessment criteria
- definition of the research problem and questions as well as analysis of the theoretical framework
- familiarization with the use of research methodology and the analysis of the results with a research assignment
- the databases of the student's own field, including international databases, and assessment of the quality of data sources
- information search as part of professional and research/development competencies
- information search process for the student's own thesis
- application of the SeAMK's Guide for Written Work
- following information

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Pass:

The student is able to
- define a research problem and questions
- use research methods in their thesis
- analyse the results of their thesis
- structure their information needs and approach it form different perspectives
- name concepts related to their topic and structure them
- name and choose professional and scientific sources of information relevant for their information need
- use databases and the Internet as well as other sources of information in the cultural field
- analyse search results
- interpret databases and web pages as well as apply SeAMK's Guide for Written Work in their work

Materials

In addition to SeAMK thesis instructions, books such as:
Hakala, J. T. (2022). Hyvä, parempi, valmis: Opinnäyteopas ammattikorkeakouluille. Gaudeamus.
Kostamo, P., Airaksinen, T. & Vilkka, H. (2022). Kirjoita itsesi asiantuntijaksi: Opas toiminnalliseen opinnäytetyöhön. Art House.