MET401 Research Methods and statistics (Autumn 2026)
- ECTS Credits:
- 10
- Responsible department:
- Departement of Sports Medicine
- Course Leader:
- Jostein Steene-Johannessen
- Lecture Semester:
- Autumn
- Duration:
- ½ year
Table of contents
Introduction
Through this course, students will be introduced to the most commonly applied quantitative and qualitative research methods used across different scientific traditions in natural sciences, medicine/health sciences, and social sciences. Emphasis will be placed on the theoretical foundation of research methods and practical approaches within sports medicine, exercise physiology, and biomechanics. Students will further develop their competence in applying various statistical methods relevant to sports science research and in interpreting and communicating statistical findings. The course aims to qualify students for supervised research projects within the field of sport and exercise sciences, providing them with analytical tools to critically assess and apply diverse research methodologies, study designs, and quantitative analyses.
Prerequisite
None required within the program.
Admission to the course
Open to students enrolled in the following programs: MAIM, MAIF, MAIE and MAIB.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- Describe and explain the different stages of the research process.
- Explain and justify the most used research designs in the fields of sports medicine and exercise physiology, and assess their suitability for addressing various research questions.
- Critically evaluate research results considering methodological quality and the sensitivity, reliability, and validity of measurement methods.
- Conduct, present, and interpret statistical analyses that explore relationships between variables based on different research designs.
- Independently use statistical software to analyze data.
- Critically discuss ethical challenges in empirical research involving human participants
Learning methods and activities
The teaching and learning activities will vary between video lectures with exercises, physical in-person workshops, taskwork with suggested solutions and compulsory and suggested readings The course is delivered in a mixed format including digital learning activities and structured into topical modules. Each module builds on specific aspects of scientific methodology and includes several components designed to support learning and application.
Work requirements
The coursework consists of two mandatory assignments that must be approved before the student can sit for the final examination.
Assessment/exam
Written on-campus examination, 4 hours in duration, graded on a scale from A to F.
All submitted assignments in Canvas and WISEflow are checked for plagiarism
All submitted assignments in Canvas and WISEflow are checked for plagiarism
Core literature
Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem)
Oct. 15, 2026 3:17:08 AM