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II2202 Research Methodology and Scientific Writing 7.5 credits

Course memo Autumn 2022-50454

Version 1 – 02/22/2022, 3:40:26 PM

Course offering

Autumn 2022-1 (Start date 29/08/2022, English)

Language Of Instruction

English

Offered By

EECS/Computer Science

Course memo Autumn 2022

Headings denoted with an asterisk ( * ) is retrieved from the course syllabus version Spring 2019

Content and learning outcomes

Course contents

The course is divided into three parts where the parts are integrated in a final project. The three parts are:

  • research methodology
  • scientific writing
  • scientific assignment

These three parts are examined by a project plan, a method description and a scientific report, as well as an opposition report.

Intended learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to give the students the theoretical and practical skills to plan, conduct, analyze and present, orally and in written form, a scientific assignment in the area of information and communication technology and to give insight and understanding of research methodology, ethics and sustainability.

This means that, after the course, students will be able to:

  • explain and apply scientific methodologies, methods, as well as techniques for scientific writing, and research methodology to prepare the writing of a scientific report, as well as a degree project.
  • perform investigation and evaluation using methods, explain and take position to the results, as well as list and summarize related work.
  • apply the knowledge in scientific writing and research methodology and use the knowledge to write a scientific report and opposition report.
  • identify and describe examples of sustainability related to ICT-area.
  • verbally and in writing give examples of and explain societal and ethical aspects and sustainability in the ICT-area.
  • perform opposition.

Learning activities

The course has a set of video modules with quizzes to help provide you with formative feedback.

There are two exercises to be done (also for formative peer feedback).

There is a module about getting an ORCiD identifier -- this is strictly optional.

The project is carried out in stages with feedback along the way and will have a final summative evaluation based upon meeting the learning objectives and the grading is as per the grading criteria).

Detailed plan

Learning activities Content Preparations
The course has a set of video modules with quizzes to help provide you with formative feedback
  • Power tools and how to use them (with quiz)
  • Writing and Oral Presentations (with quiz)
  • Ethical Research (with quiz)
  • Professionalism and Ethics for ICT students (with quiz)
  • Ethical Research: Human Subjects and Computer Issues (with quiz) 
  • Sustainable Development/Hållbar Utveckling (with quiz)
  • Project planning (with quiz)
  • Avoiding Plagiarism (with quiz)
  • Quality Assurance (with quiz)
  • Quantitative Methods and Tools (with quiz)
  • Presenting your Data (with quiz)
  • Privacy, Discoverability, Openness, and Publicity (with quiz)
  • Writing an abstract with keywords (with quiz)
  • Writing the Methods, Results, and Discussion sections (with quiz)
  • Written and oral opposition (with quiz)
See the "Syllabus" in the Canvas course room for the sequencing and preparation for each of these.
There is a module about getting an ORCiD identifier

Boosting your research profile: Step 1 having a unique identifier This is intended for those who are thinking of publishing in the future.

There are two exercises to be done (also for formative peer feedback)

 

  • Quantitative exercise
  • Qualitative exercise - with peer review
See the "Syllabus" in the Canvas course room for the sequencing and preparation for each of these.

The project is carried out in stages with feedback along the way and will have a final summative evaluation based upon meeting the learning objectives and the grading is as per the grading criteria).

The stages are

  • Project proposal 
  • Presentation of your proposed research: Ethics & Sustainability
  • Research plan: First draft of your research plan, presentation, and peer reviewing
  • Final report: First draft and Presentation with peer review of draft report and presentation
  • Written opposition: before final seminar - with peer review
  • Final seminar - with oral opposition
  • Final report
See the "Syllabus" in the Canvas course room for the sequencing and preparation for each of these.



Preparations before course start

Recommended prerequisites

Good English knowledge and basic knowledge in information and communication technology.

Specific preparations

Students can begin reading the course texts and accessing the course material as soon as they have access to the Canvas course room. The examiner's recommendation is to go through the modules with quizzes as early as possible, but no later than the due date and time (as this material is generally relevant to the next scheduled material/activity.

Literature

Main texts: Books and paper

The course will mainly be based on these books and paper:

  • Peter Bock, Getting It Right: R&D Methods for Science and Engineering, Academic Press; 1 edition (September 13, 2001), 406 pages, ISBN-10: 0121088529, ISBN-13: 978-0121088521
  • Anne Håkansson, Portal of Research Methods and Methodologies for Research Projects and Degree Projects (Links to an external site.). WORLDCOMP'13 - The 2013 World Congress in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and Applied Computing, 22-25 July 2013 Las Vegas, Nevada; USA.
  • Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams, The Craft of Research, 2nd edition (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing), University Of Chicago Press; 1 edition (March 2003), paperback: 336 pages, ISBN-10: 0226065685, ISBN-13: 978-0226065687
  • Angelika H. Hofmann, Scientific Writing and Communication: Papers, Proposals, and Presentations, Oxford University Press, USA (December 16, 2009), Paperback: 704 pages, ISBN-10: 0195390059, ISBN-13: 978-0195390056
  • Justin Zobel, Writing for Computer Science, Springer; 2nd edition (April 27, 2004), paperback: 280 pages, ISBN-10: 1852338024, ISBN-13: 978-1852338022; web page  (Links to an external site.)for the book. There is also the third edition of this book: Justin Zobel, Writing for computer science, 3rd edition. New York, NY: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2015.

Additional, literature is available within the course in the module: "II2202 modules".

Equipment

Each student should have access to a computer where they can write and edit documents, analyze data, and .access the Canvas course room (this includes access to the videos, submitting assignments, doing peer reviews, etc). You should have a web camera, phone with a camera, or similar to be able to record short video clips for presentations.

Software

The user needs access to a web browser that meets the requirements to access the Canvas course room.

You should have software for writing documents (such as LaTeX or an editor that can produce DOCX files). You should have software to be able to do screen recording or use the Kaltura tool available via the course.

Examination and completion

Grading scale

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Examination

  • PRO1 - Project Assignments, 7.5 credits, Grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Grading criteria/assessment criteria

For grades A to E you must meet all the learning objectives

  • To get an "A" your project plan, method description, scientific report, and opposition report need to be excellent.
  • To get a "B" your project plan, method description, scientific report, and opposition report need to be very good.
  • To get a "C" your project plan, method description, scientific report, and opposition report need to be good.
  • To get a "D" you need to meet the learning objectives but have demonstrated weakness in one of the deliverables.
  • If your project has some errors (including incomplete references or fails to include relevant considerations of research methodologyethicsand sustainability) the grade will be an "E".

If you are close to passing, but not at the passing level, then you will be offered the opportunity for "komplettering", i.e., submitting a revised version of the deficient components of the project assignments - which will be evaluated.

If you fail to meet the learning objectives or your project has serious errors the grade will be an "F".

Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination

Note that there is no opportunity to raise your grade, once you have a grade of  “E” or higher.

Alternatives to missed activities or tasks

The quizzes associated with the videos are only for formative feedback, so if a student does not complete them by a given time, there is no direct effect upon their final grade - however, students are still expected to know and use this information.

The dates and due times in the Canvas course room "Syllabus" are designed to help the students order the material that they should study.

Because the projects are done in a team of two students -- if one student is unable to complete their part of the team's activities by the due dates, they should notify: (1) their teammate, (2) the teacher working with their section of students, and (3) the examiner. Depending upon the cause and expected duration of this inability to participate in the course, the examiner can assign the affected students to other groups or in some other way to address the needs of both students.

Additionally, because the students are expected to do peer reviews of the submissions of other students it is very important that this peer review be done in a timely manner. Failure to provide and act on feedback will negatively affect the final grade. Failure to provide either the written or oral opposition will lead to a grade of "F". If this failure regarding the written or oral opposition is due to illness and the examiner is informed of this prior to the due date, the examiner will try to arrange an alternative time to meet this requirement. Note that the oral opposition can be done via a Zoom session if there is a problem with the student being able to be present when the other group (for whom they are an opponent) is giving their presentation. It is important that the students presenting ensure that they select a time for their presentation such that their opponents can reasonably be expected to be present.

In the event of illness, the examiner can arrange for individuals to individually present their oral presentations and submit their final written report when the student's health permits (thus there is no reason to delay this until a re-examination period).

Reporting of exam results

Formative feedback is provided via the Canvas course room's gradebook. The final grade is reported via LADOK.

Ethical approach

  • All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
  • In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
  • In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Further information

No information inserted

Round Facts

Start date

29 Aug 2022

Course offering

  • Autumn 2022-50454

Language Of Instruction

English

Offered By

EECS/Computer Science

Contacts

Communication during course

Students should generally communicate with other students and the teachers associated with each of the sections via the Canvas course room. Individual teachers may also specify their preferred additional means of contact (if any).

Course Coordinator

Teachers

Examiner