F1N5503 The Research Process, Introductory course 7.5 credits

The course provides a comprehensive and reflexive introduction to graduate education and academic life. Seminars and lectures include topics as practical and formal aspects of financing and examination; experiences of former PhD students and supervisors; literature search and publishing; academic writing and referencing; ways of writing and presenting a doctoral thesis and a scholarly paper; the academic milieu and the university as an institution; the humanities and the research system. All students will develop a thesis PM during the course and have the opportunity to receive feedback and advices.

After the course the student should have attained basic knowledge and skills in:

- Searching of literature and source material.

- Formulating relevant and fruitful research questions.

- Writing PM for a PhD project.

- Critically review, evaluate and give feedback.

The student should also be familiar with the history of science, technology and environment and nearby academic disciplines, know what is required of a doctoral thesis, have obtained reflexive understanding of doctoral studies, academic research and the university as an institution, and comprehended the formal administrative structure and regulations of KTH.     

Eligible applicants are students who meet the requirements for admission to graduate studies in history or other humanities and social sciences.

• Becher, T., Academic Tribes and Territories: Intellectual enquiry and the culture of disciplines (Milton Keynes 1989).
• Collini, S., What are universities for? (London 2012).
• Doel, R.E. & T. Söderqvist, The historiography of contemporary science, technology and medicine (London 2006).
• Lévesque, S., Thinking Historically: Educating Students for the Twenty-First Century (Toronto 2008).
• Nussbaum, M.C., Not for profit: Why democracy needs the humanities (Princeton, N.J. 2010).
• Phillips, E.M. & D.S. Pugh, How to get a PhD: A handbook for students and their supervisors (Maidenhead 2010).
• Pyne, S.J., Voice & Vision: A Guide to Writing History and Other Serious Nonfiction (Cambridge, MA & London 2009).

Articles as per schedule.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

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.

• UPP1 - Written report, 7.5 credits, grading scale: P, F

In order to pass the course the student should have attended and actively taken part in at least 80% of the seminars and presented several comments on the literature orally and in written form. The student must also present a thesis PM at the Division higher seminar and held a seminar opposition of another student’s thesis PM.

Nina Cyrén Wormbs

• 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.

The course is mandatory for licentiates as well as Ph.Ds in the graduate programme in History of Technology.