The methods of human work science, ETKS0006
ECTS/HP: 7,5
Course code: ETKS006
Educational level: Third-cycle course.
Entry requirements: Admitted to third-cycle studies at LTU.
The course will be held during April-November 2022.
Course is given periodically: Yes, when needed.
Examinator: Professor Lena Abrahamsson, Arbetsvetenskap, Luleå tekniska universitet.
Contact person/course responsible: Professor Lena Abrahamsson, Human Work Science, Luleå University of Technology, lena.abrahamsson@ltu.se, 0920–492107, 070–3592107, rum A154.
Learning outcomes
The course addresses the goal that the PhD student must show good familiarity with scientific methodology in general and human work science methods in particular. The course also contributes to the goals that the PhD student must show the ability to independently plan and with adequate methods conduct research in work science and other qualified tasks within given time frames and to review and evaluate such work. The course includes methodological knowledge related to gender and gender equality in human work science.
Course content
The course provides an introduction to some methods and approaches used in human work science research, such as observations, interviews, workshops, surveys, questionnaires, measurements, experiments, design, workplace and organisational analyses and analyses of large statistical materials and literature reviews. The methods included are mixed examples to provide an understanding of human work science as a multidisciplinary field and help to interpret and understand methods other than one’s own. The course also aims to provide support for discussion and reflection on the choice of method and methodological approach. Examples of relevant issues: How is the choice of empirical method and study object related to research problems and theory? How can qualitative and quantitative methods be combined? How is quality in research ensured? How to work with selection of companies/organisations, workplaces, groups, and informants? What does analysis, interpretation and reflection mean? What are interactive methods? How can sketches, pictures and films be used and analysed? How can participation in development projects be used as a method?
Course methods
The course is carried out with ≈ 10 seminars where senior researchers lecture, comment and reflect on one method or methodological issue, often based on their own research work. The format of the seminars and literature vary. The course includes that each doctoral student delves into a method or methodological issue, preferably from their own dissertation work. At each seminar, the researchers’ lectures are interspersed with the PhD students’ discussions about their in-depth studies. A basic idea is that we learn from each other in a multidisciplinary environment. The course ends with a seminar where the PhD students’ essays are presented and discussed.
Language: The lectures will be mainly in Swedish. The literature will be in English and Swedish.
Course literature
Information about course literature is given below in the schedule for each seminar. This will be supplemented and updated continuously in canvas.
Examination form
The course is examined through active contributions (orally) from the course participants continuously during the seminars (as mentioned above) and a written essay where one of the methods or methodological issues is used, for example to analyse one’s own empirical data, illuminate one’s own research area and/or choice of method. The essay could preferrably form part of the own thesis’ method chapter or at least constitute a contribution to it.
Grading scale: pass/fail.
Application
Send application to: lena.abrahamsson@ltu.se (including your name, social security number, email address, organisational affiliation/the research topic and your supervisor).
Deadline for application: 2022-04-13.
The course is open for PhD students admitted to other universities than LTU.
Max number of PhD-students: No.
Course syllabus decided by: Sara Thorgren
Date of decision: 22-03-08
Updated: