spring 2018
GEN-8001 Take Control of your PhD Journey: from (P)reflection to Publishing - 2 ECTS

Application deadline

1 Sept/1 Feb (Studentweb)

If more than 30 applicants, priority will be given as follows: 1. Participants admitted to the PhD programme at UiT, with priority given to those students admitted to the programme most recently. 2. Participants in the Associate Professor programme ("Førstelektorprogrammet").

Participants not in need for the ECTS (no exam), or not being eligible to the course, may attend if there are available spots. Please send a request to the course coordinator.


Type of course

Singular course at the PhD level, open to doctoral degree students.

Admission requirements

Fulfilled master's degree and admission to the PhD programme or to UiT's Associate Professor Programme (førstelektorprogrammet).

Course content

Day 1 (mandatory)

1. Academic integrity and the transparency of science This seminar provides a basis for the entire seminar series. The aim is to understand the importance of academic integrity for the different stages of the research process. With transparency as a guiding principle, the focus is on the whys and hows of using/creating sources correctly, both research papers and research data.

2. Literature search This seminar focuses on doing systematic literature searches and how to use scientific databases in an efficient and effective way. It further gives an introduction to searching for existing research data. A large component of the seminar is to address the various purposes of literature searches.

Participants can choose between 3 seminars: i) Humanities and Social Sciences, ii) Medicine and Health Sciences, and iii) Technology and Natural Sciences.

Day 2 (mandatory)

3. Open access publishing This seminar discusses what open access means, advantages and disadvantages for academics, and how our choices as researchers affect both the scientific and the general community. It particularly emphasizes on open access as compared to publishing with traditional publishers. Participants further learn how to evaluate OA publication channels, and receive information about the UiT Publication Fund.

4. Research data management This seminar is an introduction to best practices for research data management. This includes how to write a solid data management plan, how to structure, document, and preserve the data during the project, and, finally, how to archive and share the data in suitable repositories. Participants also receive information about the UiT institutional archive, UiT Open Research Data, as well as the UiT principles and guidelines for research data management, effective as of September 1st 2017.

Day 3 (optional)

5. Reference management This seminar introduces reference management and how reference management tools can be used in the various phases of the research process. The seminar will go in more detail into EndNote.

Part 1 is an introduction to EndNote, where focus lies on the basic functionalities of the software, such as creating an EndNote library and entering references into a Word document. Part 2 is an advanced course of EndNote, focusing on sharing, organizing and publishing references. Participants may participate in one or both parts.


Objectives of the course

By the end of the course the student has obtained the following:

Knowledge: 

  • Explain correct use of sources in an academic publication and questionable research practices.
  • Explain the purpose of literature search for the research process.
  • Explain the purpose and advantages of open science, for research and society in general.
  • Explain the main sections of a data management plan.

Skills:

  • Cite academic work in line with existing norms and conventions.
  • Select and use scientific databases for advanced literature searches.
  • Build advanced searches, using operators (AND, OR, NOT) and search history.
  • Evaluate and select suitable publication channels for own research.
  • Find and use repositories for archiving text (publications/manuscripts) and research data.
  • Structure and document research data in line with good academic practice.

Competence:

  • Carry out research with academic integrity.
  • Disseminate academic work in line with current publication trends and requirements.
  • Communicate with peers and the larger scholarly community about the concept of transparency of science.
  • Use the research support services at the University Library.

Language of instruction and examination

English.

Teaching methods

The course is organized as interactive sessions combining theory, plenary discussions, group activities, and individual practice. Participants are expected to be active prior to and during the sessions. Reading material and other preparatory tasks will be provided in advance.

The course is given during 3 days, as 3-hour-long seminars. The total number of teaching hours with mandatory participation is 12 hours. On day 3, with 6 teachings hours on reference management, participation is optional.


Assessment

Written examination, 1000-1500 words, with a given assignment text. Purpose: Reflect upon the acquired knowledge and skills and employ them in order to proceed in the PhD research process in an effective way.

The assignment will be handed out electronically after day 2, and must be handed in electronically within 4 weeks.

The examination is evaluated according to the pass/fail grading system. Students who have failed may not register for a re-sit examination.


Recommended reading/syllabus

Selected articles on the subjects of academic integrity and the transparency of science, literature search, open access publishing, and research data management (approximately 200 pages).

Error rendering component

  • About the course
  • Campus: Tromsø |
  • ECTS: 2
  • Course code: GEN-8001
  • Earlier years and semesters for this topic