Lecturer: Olivia Levrini, Giulia Tasquier
Duration: 12 hours
Learning outcomes: By the end of the course, students will develop a critical understanding of key approaches and research methods used in Physics Education Research (PER). They will be able to orient themselves among major qualitative and mixed-method methodologies and articulate the methodological principles that guide research design, analysis, and scholarly writing in the field. They will engage with both theoretical perspectives (e.g., Grounded Theory, Knowledge Analysis, Epistemic Network Analysis) and hands-on analytical work on real data, including thematic, micro-genetic, and network-based analyses. Students will also be able to recognise how different methodological families operate, whether by synthesising data, generating theory, or unpacking complexity, and reflect on the interpretive and epistemic stance required to analyse learning processes in physics education.
Exam: The exam consists of the presentation and critical discussion of a research article chosen by the student and based on one of the methodological approaches addressed in the course. Evaluation criteria include clarity, methodological accuracy, critical depth, and the ability to link the article to the broader conceptual framework of the course.
Period: Feb-Mar 2026
Dates: please look here