Plan for Subject IFEL 8000
Introduction to research methodology, theory of science and ethics
Person in charge: Bernt Leira
Weekly hours:
Schedule:
Category:
Fall/Spring 4 SP
Lectures to be announced – see below
Mandatory course for PhD students at the Faculty of
Engineering Science, beyond the minimum
requirement of 30 SP
Aim:
The aim of the subject is to:
- establish a common basis for the PhD research education
- provide insight into the theory of science and research
methodology
- encourage reflections about ethics
- develop the (individual) research plan for the PhD study
Contents:
The course contents are:
Practical information about study phases, course requirements and PhD
thesis, personnel involved, psychological and social factors,
PhD student’s and supervisor’s role, overview of research planning;
time management.
Research method: criteria for good scientific practice, literature review,
critical use of existing knowledge, generalize and define limits for
generalization of new findings.
Scientific publishing: classification of conferences and journals, judging
what material is publishable; publishing, referee process.
Theory of science: theory of science and engineering science - viz
innovation, systemizing and classifying, hypothesis development and
testing, establishing laws and models, criticizing own and others work.
Ethics: ethics in engineering; engineering and natural sciences, avoid
research that cause unjustified risk to people, jeopardize the environment
or convert public resources into private profits, striving for objectivity in
the research process and in presentation of results, handling uncertainty
Development of research plan.
Learning method: Lectures, group discussions and self study
Literature:
Evaluation:
Textbooks and lecture notes
Mandatory attendance and preparation of an approved research
plan
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Plan
In lectures are organised in two periods.
First session (4 lectures)
Date
Time
Topic
Lecturer
5. Oct.
Lecture 1
09.15 – 10.00
Information from the Faculty
Runa Nilssen
Elin K. Steen
10.00 – 10.30
Information from DION
Ludwig Kuhn
10.30 – 11.30
Creating value from Res. & Inn
Ingvald Strømmen
Camilla J. Larsen
11.30 – 12.00
MIMES brønn (Mimir’s well)
Anders Christensen
13.00 – 15.00
Introduction to the PhD Study
Overview of IFEL8000
Bernt Leira
Lecture 2
6. Oct
Lecture 3
09.00 – 11.00
Lecture 4
12.00 – 14.00
Second session (5 lectures)
Date
Time
30. Nov
08:30 – 11:00
Lecture 5
•
Scientific theories. Early
science history
•
Kepler, Galilei, Newton
•
Beyond Newton, Modern
science
Per. A. Bjørkum
Topic
Research methods in
engineering science
Lecturer
Thomas
Jonsson
30. Nov
Lecture 6
12:00 – 14:30
Qualitative research methods
Hilde
Bjørkhaug (evt
andre)
1.des
Lecture 7
08:30 – 11:00
Research ethics
Rune Nydal
1.Dec
Lecture 8
12:00 – 15:00
Discussion about ethical issues
Rune Nydal
2.Dec
Lecture 9
09:00 – 10:00
Open Access Publishing
Nina Andersen
10:00 - 12:00
Writing thesis and research
Bernt Leira
2
plan, etc.
Literature:
Phillips, E. M. & Pugh, D.S. “How to get a PhD?” Open University Press (McGrawHill), UK,
2005 or a later version.
Bjørkum, P.A. “A Selected History of Science”, Lecture Notes, Faculty of Engineering
Science and Technology, NTNU, Trondheim, 2008.
Other Lecture Notes and copies of power point presentations to be placed on the web.
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