Course code Peda6006
Credit points 37.50
Master Thesis
Total Hours in Course1000
Independent study hours1000
Date of course confirmation20.04.2011
Responsible UnitInstitute of Mechanics and Design
Course developer
Nataļja Vronska
Dr. paed.
Prior knowledge
Peda6064, Master Thesis IV
Course abstract
Students improve their knowledge of research methods and research sample design; of presentation skills, of primary and secondary processing of data by developing the theoretical and empirical part of the Master's thesis.
Learning outcomes and their assessment
Knowledge to find, critically evaluate, process and summarize information for the theoretical justification of his/her research; able to justify the choice of data processing methods for inductive statistics.
Skills to describe and justify the process of empirical research, able to choose the appropriate data processing methods for obtaining the inductive statistics.
Competence to conduct research, to present research results, formulate conclusions and to produce and defend the Master's thesis according to the requirements.
Course Content(Calendar)
1. Research strategies and designs, criteria for selection of research strategy and design. Advantages and disadvantages of quantitative and qualitative research.
2. Legal and ethical issues in research. Academic integrity.
3. Content and structure of the research report. Master's thesis as a research report. Methodological rules for elaboration and defence of Master' s theses in study programme “Pedagogy”.
4. Formulation and transformation of the research problem into the research goal and research questions. Research planning.
5. Finding information in databases of scientific articles. Creation of bibliography and references. Tables and images in research reports.
6. Literature review in education research. Primary, secondary and tertiary sources of information. Analysis of scientific literature. Differences between academic and non-academic writing.
7. Methods of data collection. Measuring scales. Validity of data. Respondents. Sampling. Description of the research base in the study report.
8. Pilot studies and correction of data collection methodology. Evaluation of the internal consistency.
9. Data grouping techniques. Data verification. Types of experiments and experimental plans.
10. Data processing (descriptive statistics). Data display in tables and diagrams.
11. Expertise: justification for the choice of experts and consensus.
12. Data processing (inductive statistics). Testing of statistical hypotheses.
13. Usage of online tools for data processing (inductive statistics).
14. Writting of conclusions and recommendations. Self-evaluation of research report (Master's thesis).
15. Preparation of research (Master' s theses) presentations.
16. Preparation of research defense speech. Procedure for defending final theses.
Requirements for awarding credit points
Final exam with mark.
The Master thesis conform of with TF methodological guidelines for the development and presentation of the Master thesis.
Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work
Master thesis development.
Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes
Master thesis is evaluated on a 10-point scale.
The evaluation of the study course (mark) is the successful defense of the Master's thesis in the MEK (Master's Examination Commission).
Compulsory reading
• Metodiskie norādījumi maģistra darba izstrādāšanai un aizstāvēšanai. Jelgava: LLU TF, 2018. 35 lpp. Pieejams: http://ejuz.lv/mv9
• Mārtinsone K., Pipere A., Kamerāde D. Pētniecība: teorija un prakse. Rīga: RaKa, 2016. 546 lpp.
• Arhipova I., Bāliņa S. Statistika ekonomikā un biznesā. Rīga: Datorzinību centrs, 2006. 352 lpp.
• Paura L., Arhipova I. Neparametriskās metodes: SPSS datorprogramma: Mācību līdzeklis. Jelgava: LLKC, 2002. 148 lpp.
Further reading
• Raščevska M. Psiholoģisko testu un aptauju konstruēšana un adaptācija. Rīga: RaKa, 2005. 281 lpp.
• Ievads pētniecībā: stratēģijas, dizaini, metodes. Sastādītāja Kristīne Mārtinsone. Rīga: RaKa, 2011. 284 lpp.
Periodicals and other sources
1. American Psychological Association. Using American Psychological Association (APA) Format. (Updated to 5th Edition). Purdue University Online Writing Lab. 2010. Available: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html
2. Higher Education.The International Journal of Higher Education Research. Print ISSN: 0018-1560. Online ISSN: 1573-174X