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2025-2026 / SEMI0730-2

Seminar on research methodology in labours sciences

In professional situations

In professional immersion

Duration

In professional situations : 30h Th
In professional immersion : 10h Th

Number of credits

 Master in labour sciences, professional focus (en alternance - Réinscription uniquement, pas de nouvelle inscription)8 crédits 

Lecturer

In professional situations : Bruno Frère, Manoée Thiry
In professional immersion : Bruno Frère

Coordinator

Bruno Frère

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

All year long, with partial in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

In professional situations

 
This research method seminar aims to:

  • familiarize students with the social science research process (learning the different stages through homework);
  • provide students with the methodological tools needed to build a research approach in all its aspects;
  • accompany students in the conduct of a first scientific research in the social sciences.

In professional immersion

This research method seminar aims to:
familiarize students with the social science research process (learning the different stages through homework); provide students with the methodological tools needed to build a research approach in all its aspects; accompany students in the conduct of a first scientific research in the social sciences (=a short master thesis).

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

In professional situations

 

At the end of this seminar, the student will be able to:

  • Identify a concrete object to be analysed;
  • Formulate correctly (criteria seen during the seminar) a starting question and a research question;
  • Choose a theoretical approach consistent with the concerned object;
  • Research and use literature consistent with the theoretical approach;
  • Collect relevant field data;
  • Formulate hypotheses (criteria seen during the seminar);
  • Analyse collected field data;
  • Describe the results of the research carried out, in accordance with the instructions given by the teacher.

In professional immersion

At the end of this seminar, the student will be able to:
-Identify a concrete object to be analysed; -Formulate correctly (criteria seen during the seminar) a starting question and a research question; -Choose a problem/an angle of approach consistent with the concerned object; -Research literature consistent with the problematic; -Collect field data (document analysis, interviews & observations) : -Formulate hypotheses (criteria seen during the seminar); -Analyse harvested field data; -Write a proper research report (red thread, coherence, distance, ...).

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

In professional situations

An introductory course in the humanities is highly recommended. If not, the student will be able to update himself/herself through various readings (see with the teachers).

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

In professional situations

 

The seminar is organized around:

  • Ex cathedra sessions accompanied by video podcasts for theoretical input;
  • Individual assignments with individual feedbacks (eCampus) and collective discussions (questions and answers sessions);
  • A moment of individual student coaching is also provided during the year.

In professional immersion

The face-to-face seminar sessions will allow to bring the more theoretical elements, few collective feedbacks and also to carry out small exercises in groups. The homeworks will allow students to benefit from more individual feedback throughout the year. An individual coaching is also planned during the year in order to redirect the student if necessary.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

In professional situations

Blended learning


Further information:

The seminar is given in a hybrid way : video clips complement the sessions in class, in order to go deeper or to press on certain theoretical elements. The sessions will be recorder in order for the students who cannot attend to be able to follow them afterwards.

In professional immersion

The research methodology seminar will combine face-to-face sessions (=theoretical input & collective exercises) and assessed practical exercises that will be realised beside the seminar sessions (=homework).

Course materials and recommended or required readings

In professional situations

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

 Course materials :

  • Slides of the different courses ;
  • Vidéo clips;
  • Recordings of the sessions;
  • Documents and other resources (see Ecampus);

In professional immersion

Becker, H. (2002). Les ficellesdu me¿tier, La De¿couverte, Paris. Beaud, S., Weber F. (2010). Guide de l'enque¿te deterrain, La De¿couverte, Paris. Demailly, L. (2008). Politiques de la relation. Approche sociologique des me¿tiers et activite¿s professionnelles relationnelles, Presses universitaires du Septentrion, Paris. Friedberg, E. (1988). L'analyse sociologiquedes organisations, POUR, n°28, pp. 103-122. Kaufmann, J-C. (2011). L'enque¿te et sesme¿thodes. L'entretien compre¿hensif, 3e e¿dition, Armand Colin, Paris. Van Campenhoudt, L., Marquet, J., Quivy, R. (2011). Manuel derecherche en sciences sociales, 4e e¿dition, Dunod, Paris. Orianne, J-F., Petit pre¿cis de the¿orie sociologique, In Press. Paille¿, P., Mucchielli, A. (2012). L'analyse qualitative en sciences humaines et sociales. Paris: Armand Colin. doi:10.3917/arco.paill.2012.01. Peneff, J. (2009). Le gou¿t de l'observation. Comprendre et pratiquer l'observation participante en sciences sociales, La De¿couverte, Paris. Peretz, H. (2004). Les me¿thodes en sociologie : l'observation, La De¿couverte, Paris. Strauss, A., Corbin, J. (2004). Les fondementsde la recherche qualitative, Academic Press Fribourg, Fribourg.

In professional situations

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- Remote

written exam

Written work / report


Further information:

The assessment will be based on the various assignments submitted throughout the year. Each assignment will be graded as follows:

- Assignment 1: /15

- Assignment 2: /15

- Final assignment: /70

The total of these marks will be converted to a mark out of 20, which will constitute the final mark for the seminar.

 

If the student does not wish to validate the seminar during the following session and obtain a pass mark (P) instead of a fail mark (A) for the assessment, they must submit a request to the teacher by email no later than the deadline for the final assignment.

A few points to note:

- Access to the final assignment in the first session is conditional on participation in the individual support sessions organised during the year. In the event of an unjustified absence from the individual support sessions, the student will receive an absence mark (A) for the final assignment and will have to resubmit it in the August session.

- Absorbing grade principle: students must obtain at least 28/70 on the final assignment to pass the seminar. If the grade is lower, the final grade in the first session corresponds to the final assignment grade only. In other words, if the final assignment grade is too low, the grades for the other assignments cannot be used to make up for the final grade.

-During their research process, students must conduct a minimum number of interviews (instructions given at the beginning of the year). If this number is not reached, 1 point will be deducted from the final grade for each missing interview. The teacher reserves the right to ask students for proof that the interviews were conducted if there is any doubt as to their veracity.

- She also reserves the right to request further details or even organise an additional test in the event of suspected unauthorised use of artificial intelligence, in accordance with the ULiège Charter on this subject: https://www.student.uliege.be/cms/c_19230399/fr/faq-student-charte-uliege-d-utilisation-des-intelligences-artificielles-generatives-dans-les-travaux-universitaires

 

 

Organisation of the second session for students who obtained a mark lower than 10/20 for the seminar:
- If the student failed (or was unable to submit, due to non-participation in the AI) the final assignment, a new version of it must be submitted.

- If the student failed one or more assignments among Assignments 1 or 2, a reflective practice grade must be submitted for the assignment(s) concerned. Instructions for the reflective practice grade(s) will be given by the teacher via eCampus and by email.

The new mark for the assignment(s) submitted in the second session replaces the mark for the assignment(s) in the first session, and the same weighting as in the first session is applied with the other assignments and any internship. The principle of absorbing marks remains applicable.

In the event of a further failure in the second session, the student must re-enrol in the seminar the following year and retake all assessments.

 

For students who undertake an internship instead of professional employment (see 'Internship' section), the final seminar mark is calculated as follows:

- Assignment 1: /15

- Assignment 2: /15

- Final assignment: /50

- Internship report: /10

- Grade awarded by the internship supervisor via the assessment grid that he or she will have completed: /10

The total of these marks will be converted to a mark out of 20, which will constitute the final mark for the seminar.

If the student passes the 'assignments' part of the seminar but does not validate their internship, an absence mark (A) will be indicated on the report card. Validation of the seminar is therefore conditional on completion of the internship. If the situation continues into the second session, the student will have to re-enrol in the seminar the following year. The homework marks will be retained and included in the calculation of the final seminar mark once the internship has been completed.

If the student passes the internship but fails the assignments, they will have to re-enrol in the seminar the following year and retake the various assignments, but will not have to repeat the internship. The grade awarded for their internship the previous year will be retained and used to calculate their final grade the following year.

In professional immersion

or the first session (may/june), the evaluation will focus on the various intermediate works carried out throughout the quadrimestre as well as on an oral test.
Intermediate exercises (homework) = 40% of score
Research report = 60% of score
In the second session (august/september), the evaluation will consist in a research report.

Work placement(s)

In professional situations

For students enrolled in the 60 ECTS master, the successful completion of this research seminar is conditioned by the actual exercice of a regular professional activity.

Only a valid and signed certificate of employment from the employer will be considered sufficient proof of regular employment. This certificate must be delivered by 31 October at the latest. In the absence of a regular professional activity, the student enrolled in the Master in Work Sciences 60 ECTS must complete a long-term internship (60 days) in a host organisation. This is a prerequisite for crediting the research seminar in a professional situation. You can find the rules of this internship through this link: https://www.student.fass.uliege.be/cms/c_12729276/fr/st-reglement-stage-60-ects?preview=true&details=true

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

In professional situations

The research methodology seminar takes place throughout the academic year. The precise dates, times and premises are provided via CELCAT.

The eCampus platform and the e-mail address @student.uliege.be will be the preferred means of communication with the course teachers.

The eCampus platform will also be used to submit assignments and various documents and teaching resources (PowerPoint presentations).

Students are advised to consult CELCAT, ECampus and their e-mail inbox regularly, as they may change location or timetable.

 

From year to year, the course and its organisational and assessment methods may change. Students who may have to retake the course after failing in a previous year must comply with the new rules in force in order to validate the course. It is therefore the responsibility of students in this situation to keep themselves informed of any changes and to comply with them.

In professional immersion

The research methodology seminar will be held throughout the academic year. The precise dates, schedulde and classroom are updated in CELCAT. The platform "e-Campus" or "Myulie¿ge" will be the preferred communication tool with instructors. Information regarding the chosen platform will be given at the beginning of the year. This platform will be used to post the forms for the assignments as well as the various documents and teaching resources (slides).
As a change of classroom or schedule is possible, students are required to consult CELCAT and their mailbox on a regular basis.

Contacts

In professional situations

Manoée THIRY (Pedagogic assistant)

Mail : manoee.thiry@uliege.be 


Bruno FRERE (Professor)

Mail : bfrere@uliege.be

In professional immersion

Jessica Joiris
Jessica.joiris@uliege.be

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