CTP-20506 Research Topics on Food and Society, a Gamma-Beta Approach

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

Dutch

Assumed knowledge on:

Research Methods in the Life Sciences CTP-10406 (for BBC or BIN students)

Contents:

This course is a follow up of the course Research Methods in the Life Sciences. In this PO-course students will gain experience in setting up and execute a beta-gamma interacting research. Led by themes related to the food-production chain, differences in the beta and gamma approach will be explained. Organisations from within the society will deliver the relevant research questions. These organisations will also provide background information related to the research question and will be informant if necessary. This course is compulsory for BBC students and is optional for BLT and other students. The students will develop together a scientific question, which will be answered with coherent beta and gamma methods. The concepts in the research question need to be operationalized. The next step is to (partly) execute the gamma and beta research. In the data analyses, the gamma and beta research results will be aggregated. The end result could be a programme of wishes and demands for a new product. Technical as well as Socio-economical claims need to be part of this result. The students will work in groups of five or six persons together and will deliver a written report. Depending of the total number of participants also an oral presentation can be asked.

Aims:

Having followed this course, the student will be able to: - indicate differences between different disciplinary approaches of food topics;
- describe methods of gathering data in beta and gamma disciplines;
- name a number of beta and gamma aspects of food topics;
- analyse a food topic in terms of beta and gamma items;
- operationalize a food topic in terms of beta and gamma items;
- set up a research that will use both beta and gamma research methods;
- come to an integration of both gamma and beta research results of food topics;
- communicate and report in terms of both beta and gamma sciences;
- show the surplus value of a gamma-beta interactive approach;
- formulate a programme of wishes and demands for a product or service with both gamma and beta conditions.

Activities:

- follow lectures;
- exercising the setting up and execution of a gamma or beta-scientific research;
- formulation of a programme of wishes and demands for a product or service from both a gamma and a beta point of view;
- report and present the results.

Examination:

- written report of PO assignment;
- written exam.

Literature:

Yes.