Quality of Life Research

Studiewijzer 2019/2020

Globale inhoud

A basic requirement for academically trained graduates is that they be able to conduct research independently. After learning about the relationships between quality of life and our physical and social environments in blocks 1 and 2 you will now engage in a concrete research project to find out more about the topic yourself.

In the Quality of Life research you are challenged to bring in all the relevant skills that you have acquired during the first year, and put them into practice. You need to build upon both your academic and your research skills, such as processing scientific literature, developing an adequate problem definition, choosing appropriate methods and laying down your findings in a comprehensible and argumentatively strong report. By putting into practice your acquired knowledge of various research methods and techniques, both quantitative and qualitative, you will be learning by doing it yourself. 

You start by preparing a coherent research proposal on a relevant quality of life topic. This will serve as a plan for the actual research, but also as an instrument to reflect on the various choices you made as a researcher, from the identification of a relevant topic to the selection of your methods. You will then carry out the proposed research through qualitative and quantitative methods for collecting and analysing data. The results will be presented and discussed in a coherent research report and final presentation.

Studiemateriaal

Literatuur

• Bryman, A. (2012) Social Research Methods. Oxford University Press, New York.

Leerdoelen

• Have gained experience and insight in the research cycle, including: Formulating a problem definition, including an objective and a relevant and clearly demarcated research question. Designing a research, i.e. conceptualizing relevant theories and key concepts related to the chose topic, operationalizing these concepts, and choosing methods of data collection. Identifying, collecting, opening up and analyzing data sources. Interpreting the findings and evaluating the research results against the background of the chosen conceptual framework.
• Formulating a problem definition, including an objective and a relevant and clearly demarcated research question.
• Designing research, i.e. conceptualizing relevant theories and key concepts related to the chosen topic, operationalizing these concepts, and choosing methods of data collection.
• Identifying, collecting and analyzing data sources.
• Interpreting the findings and evaluating the research results according to how ‘quality of life’ has been conceptualized.
• Are trained to independently apply the academic skills acquired earlier during the year: Finding and processing scientific literature. Developing an adequate problem definition and research question. Reporting research results in an academic manner (written, visual and oral).
• Finding and processing scientific literature.
• Developing an adequate problem definition and research question.
• Reporting research results in an academic manner (written, visual and oral).
• Are trained to independently apply research methods and techniques learned earlier during the year: Qualitative methods, e.g. interview and stakeholder analysis, as were taught in the course Kwaliteit van Leven. Quantitative methods, e.g. designing a survey and doing statistical analysis uring R, as were taught in the course Verzamelen, Visualeren & Analyseren. Digital data analysis learned during the course Virtual Globe.
• Qualitative methods, e.g. interview and stakeholder analysis, as were taught in the course Kwaliteit van Leven.
• Quantitative methods, e.g. designing a survey and doing statistical analysis during R, as were taught in the course Verzamelen, Visualeren & Analyseren.
• Have learned how to effectively work in a collaborative research project, including: Planning and organizing research tasks. Independently carrying out tasks assigned by the group. Reflecting on the collaboration itself and on the personal role and involvement in the group process.
• Planning and organizing research tasks.
• Independently carrying out tasks assigned by the group.
• Reflecting on the collaboration itself and on the personal role and involvement in the group process.
• After completing the course students are able to translate ‘quality of life’ concepts and topics and apply these in a research project.

Onderwijsvormen

• Hoorcollege
• Werkcollege
• Zelfstudie
• Presentatie/symposium
• Veldwerk/excursie
• Zelfstandig werken aan bijv. project/scriptie

Lectures and tutorials guide the students through the research cycle as they carry out their own research. Emphasis lies on methods: how to compose a survey, how to conduct a survey, how to conduct an interview, how to analyse data/ information generated, how to write up the research.

Normally the survey and interviews would be conducted face-to-face. This year the surveys will be online and the interviews via telephone contact. 

Results will be initially presented in a poster (a symposium for presenting posters has been cancelled). Feedback on draft text and on the posters will support the writing of a final report. 

Verdeling leeractiviteiten

Aanwezigheid

Aanwezigheidseisen opleiding (OER-B):

• In geval van een practicum is de student verplicht ten minste 90% van de practicumbijeenkomsten bij te wonen en zich op deze bijeenkomsten terdege voor te bereiden, tenzij anders aangegeven in de studiehandleiding of studiewijzer van het vak. Indien de student minder dan 90% heeft bijgewoond dient het practicum opnieuw te worden gevolgd.
• In geval van werkgroepbijeenkomsten is de student verplicht tenminste 90% van de werkgroepbijeenkomsten bij te wonen en zich op deze bijeenkomsten terdege voor te bereiden, tenzij anders aangegeven in de studiehandleiding of studiewijzer van het vak. Indien de student minder dan 90% heeft bijgewoond, kan het vak niet worden afgerond.
  

Aanvullende eisen voor dit vak:

Students may be absent from 1 of 6 tutorials. Students should inform their tutors in advance if they will be absent from a tutorial. 

Toetsing

Students whose Research Proposal is graded as less than 5.5 must revise their proposal. If the revisions are sufficient, they will receive a maximum grade of 6. If the revisions are not sufficient, the students will fail the course. 

Students whose grade for the Final Report is less than 5.5 may revise their report. If the revisions are considered sufficient, they will receive a maximum grade of 6. If the revisions are considered insufficient, they will fail the course.

Grades for all group members are the same unless other arrangements are made with the course coordinator.

A grade is given for participation , based on meeting deadlines for ungraded assignments and on peer evaluation.

Toetsmatrijs (studentenversie)

Inzage toetsing

Students may discuss their grade for the Research Proposal during the following tutorial. A separate occasion will be set for students who wish to discuss their grades for the poster and the Final Report.

Opdrachten

Assignment 1 (group assignment, not graded): Outline of the case - problem description, preliminary research question, possible hypotheses to be tested by the survey, planned structure of research proposal, and literature used. Tutors will provide feedback via Canvas within two working days.

Assignment 2 (group assignment, worth 25%): Research proposal (including survey questions). Tutors will provide feedback via Canvas within two working days. Groups whose proposals are insufficient will be notified first to allow time for revision. If the revised version is still considered insufficient, the students will fail the course.

Assignment 3 (group assignment, not graded): Group survey data in Excel, plan for quantitative analysis, and topic list for interview questions. Tutors will provided feedback during tutorials.

Assignment 4 (group assignment, not graded): Interview transcriptions and coding. Tutors will provide feedback during tutorials.

Assignment 5 (group assignment, not graded): Drafts of sections for the final report. Tutors will provide feedback within two working days.

Assignment 6 (group assignment, worth 65%): Final research report. Groups whose proposals are insufficient will be notified quickly to allow time for revision. If the revised version is still considered insufficient, the students will fail the course.

Fraude en plagiaat

Dit vak hanteert de algemene 'Fraude- en plagiaatregeling' van de UvA. Hier wordt nauwkeurig op gecontroleerd. Bij verdenking van fraude of plagiaat wordt de examencommissie van de opleiding ingeschakeld. Zie de Fraude- en plagiaatregeling van de UvA: http://student.uva.nl

Weekplanning

Rooster

Het rooster van dit vak is in te zien op DataNose.

Vakevaluatie afgelopen jaar

Vanaf 2013-2014 hebben we ervoor gekozen om d.m.v. onderstaande tabel de studenten meer inzicht te geven in de kwaliteitszorg. Daarom nemen we een korte weergave van de studentenevaluatie op en de daaruit voortvloeiende acties ter verbetering van het vak.

Contactinformatie

Coördinator

• Alison Gilbert

Docenten

• Elmar Becker
• Mieke de Roo
• Jasper Steenvoorden
• Crelis Rammelt
• Jordy Willems