On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

- explain the applicability of qualitative and quantitative methods for global studies of sustainability and social change
- explain the relation between theory and methods in specific research contexts within global studies of sustainability and social change

- plan for the collection of complex sets of data for qualitative and quantitative analysis
- make detailed and critical qualitative and quantitative analyses of data related to global studies of sustainability and social change using a specific method

- critically reflect on the relationship between specific perspectives and traditions within the philosophy of science and specific methods used in sustainability and social change research
- critically reflect on the strengths and limitations of specific methods for analyzing problems related to global studies of sustainability and social change
- critically assess ethical implications in research about sustainability and social change with a focus on the chosen field of research in a master’s thesis
- critically reflect upon and discuss the role of the researcher and the implications of research for society within global studies of sustainability and social change

• Perspectives and traditions within philosophy of science
• Social science research theories
• Quantitative research methodology
• Qualitative research methodology
• Ethics
• Reflexivity in research

The teaching consists of lectures, seminars and exercises performed individually and in groups.

A learning management system is used.

Students who have been admitted to and registered for a course have the right to receive instruction/supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course instance to which they were accepted. After that, the right to receive instruction/supervision expires.

Undervisningen bedrivs på engelska.

At least 10 credits from the master program Global Studies: Sustainable Societies and Social Change, or equivalent. English proficiency is required.

Kursen bedöms med betygen A, B, C, D, E, FX eller F.

The grades A, B, C, D and E are all passing grades. For courses with more than one element of examination, students are given a final grade based on an overall assessment of all the elements included in the course.

The examination is based on the intended learning outcomes.

The course is examined through a seminar and one individual written assignment. The seminar is only given the grade of U/G (Fail/Pass). The individual written assignment is graded A/B/C/D/E/FX or F.

The examination must allow for students to be assessed on an individual basis. Further information concerning assessment of specific intended learning outcomes and grading criteria is provided at the beginning of the course.

To receive the final grade of the course, all elements of the course must have been passed. The final grade of the course is determined by the grade given to the individual written assignment.


Students are guaranteed a minimum of three attempts to pass an examination, including the regular attempt.

If a student has failed the same examination three times, the student can request that the next attempt be graded by a new examiner. The decision to accept or reject such a request is made by the associate dean of education. A student may not make a second attempt at any examination already passed in order to receive a higher grade.

In case a course is terminated or significantly altered, examination according to the earlier syllabus shall be offered on at least two occasions in the course of one year after the termination/alteration.

The examiner has the right to give an adapted examination or let the student carry out the examination in an alternative way provided that the intended learning outcomes can be secured and that there are exceptional reasons for this, including the student's right to targeted study support.

Examinationsmoment	Omfattning	Betyg
Seminar1	1,5 hp	U/G
Individual written assignment	6 hp	A/B/C/D/E/FX/F

¹ The seminar is graded U (Fail) or G (Pass).

The instruction is followed up throughout the course. A course evaluation is conducted at the end of the course. A summary and comments are published in the learning management system. The evaluation constitutes a basis for future improvements to the course.

Law, John (2004). After method: mess in social science research. Routledge. 188 pages.

Bazeley, Pat. (2020). Qualitative Data Analysis; Practical Strategies (second edition). Sage. 552 pages.

Bryman, Alan et al. (2021). Bryman's social research methods. (Sixth edition). Oxford University Press. Appr. 670 pages.

Hart, Chris. (2018) Doing a Literature Review (second edition), Sage. Approx 100 pages.

Inglis, David & Thorpe, Christopher (2012). An invitation to social theory. Cambridge: Polity. 224 pages.

Sundström, Mikael. (2020) How Not to Write a Thesis or Dissertation. A Guide to Success through Failure. Edward Elgar Publishing. Approx 50 pages.


Please note that changes may be made to the reading list up until eight weeks before the start of the course.


Citing Sources – How to Create Literature References
http://ju.se/library/search--write/citing-sources---how-to-create-literature-references.html

Sourcewise: A Student's Guide to Avoiding Plagiarism
Information about plagiarism at higher education institutions
Available in the learning management system