Course syllabus
Welcome to HPA201: Research methods in teaching and learning in higher education (15 HEC), spring 2025
The course meets online and started Thursday 23 January, 1:00pm-4:00pm with a course introduction and an introduction to the research field of higher education. Links to join the sessions are provided in the corresponding modules.
Reading list and course syllabus
Link to the reading list. Additional reading and specific preparations are listed in the modules for each seminar.
Schedule spring term 2025
Thursday January 23, 1:00pm-4:00pm Course introduction, including an introduction to research in the field of teaching and learning in higher education.
Wednesday February 5, 1:00pm-4:00pm Ethics in research, seminar and discussions.
Thursday February 20, 2:00pm-3:00pm optional drop-in
Thursday March 6, 1:00pm-4:00pm Developing research ideas, study activity.
Thursday March 27, 1:00pm-4:00pm Qualitative studies, lecture and seminar.
Thursday April 24, 1:00pm-4:00pm Quantitative studies, lecture and seminar.
Wednesday 30 April, 11:45am-12:15pm Optional workshop
Monday 19 May, 4:30pm-5:15pm Optional workshop
Thursday May 22, 1.00pm-5:00pm Examination 1, review of methods.
Wednesday 28 May, 3:00 pm Deadline for submitting individual research synopsis.
Thursday 5 June, 10.00am-3:00pm Examination 2, individual research synopsis.
Tuesday 17 June, 1:00pm Re-examination of Examination 1
Friday 15 August, 10:00am Re-examination of Examination 2, submission 12 August 10:00am
Tuesday 9 September, 1:00 pm Re-examination of Examination 2, submission 2 September 10:00am
The course runs half-time (50%), which means that the course work requires approximately 20 hours per week, including attending to lectures/seminars, and completing individual and group assignments as part of the course requirements.
Course content
The purpose of the course is to introduce relevant methodological approaches in the field of higher education research in terms of both their possibilities and limitations. The aim is to develop understanding of and skills in how research in the field of higher education can be formulated, planned, carried out and evaluated. Furthermore, the course addresses qualitative and quantitative methods for production and analysis of data. The course covers different quality criteria including validity and reliability; research-ethical guidelines and problems; and, principles of choice of research methodology.
Syllabus, literature and learning platform
The course is organized in modules in Canvas. If you are new to Canvas, find out more here: https://studentportal.gu.se/english/e-services/canvas-and-gul. The syllabus is available online: https://www.gu.se/en/study-gothenburg/research-methods-in-teaching-and-learning-in-higher-education-hpa201/syllabus/215b5de8-a751-11ef-a62b-6ca96521476a. The required reading is listed here: https://www.gu.se/en/study-gothenburg/research-methods-in-teaching-and-learning-in-higher-education-hpa201/reading-list/fec48f81-9c3c-11ef-b046-c48f53304ef1 and available online, via the university library.
Administrative advice and support
Get access to e-services, incl the university library, as a new student and online (without the GU card) through the Student portal: https://studentportal.gu.se/en/new-student. All student information is available through this portal.
You need to REGISTER for the course between January 13 and January 20, after creating a GU-account and logging into the Student Portal.
If you have questions, you can contact the following staff members:
Study administrative questions
Course administrator, Cathrine Lindqvist, e-mail cathrine.lindqvist@gu.se
Director of studies, Elin Nordenström e-mail elin.nordenstrom@gu.se
Teaching team
Ann-Marie Eriksson, course leader, e-mail: ann-marie.eriksson@gu.se
Mikaela Åberg, course teacher, e-mail: mikaela.aberg@ped.gu.se
Amiee Haley, course teacher, e-mail: aimee.haley@gu.se
Mona Lundin, examiner, e-mail: mona.lundin@ped.gu.se
Roger Säljö, course teacher, email: roger.saljo@ped.gu.se