Course Introductory Course in Research

Course description

The purpose of this course is to give PhD students in the initial phase of their project an opportunity to discuss important theoretical, methodological and analytical aspects of their research projects and to reflect on some of the central questions that research processes bring to the fore. We aim to create a safe space with an informal, inspirational and supportive atmosphere where all participants will feel confident sharing not only their great ideas but also their doubts and challenges. During the course, the participants will get to know each other’s interests and projects, thereby facilitating future conversations and exchanges. 

The course will take its point of departure in the projects of the participating PhD students. Building on previous iterations the course consists of three day-sessions. The first will focus on project presentations and feedback, the second on theory and methodology, and the third on analysis.

The course will be held in English (unless everyone speaks fluently Danish).

Day 1: Project Presentations & Discussions

The first day focuses on project presentations and feedback. A week in advance each of you send your project description to everyone in the group – preferably an updated, revised or expanded version, but no more than 5-7 pages. This means that the oral presentation itself can focus on an exemplification, a case or a particular problem that can serve as a starting point for the discussion.

At the workshop, you have around 15 minutes for the presentation, followed by around 15 minutes opposition/response from another participant and a general discussion. The exact timing will depend on the number of participants. An agenda for the day (with respondents and time slots) will be distributed after the deadline for registration.

Day 2: Theory & Methodology

The second day focuses on theory and methodology. The aim is to meta-critically discuss what theory and method are and can be, how they relate, and how they are applied in aesthetic and cultural analysis. With the help from a set of inspirational texts each participant prepares a 15-minute presentation trying to explain the uses of theory and method in the project and their relationship to the handling of the analytic material. What role does theory play in your project? In the way in which you have formulated your research questions/problem? Is theory for instance a way of framing or approaching your material, or is it also in itself made into an object of analysis? And what role does method play? Does it for instance put theory to the test of practice? Can it disrupt your preconceptions of what you are researching? And how do theory and method relate to what you find important in your empirical material and generally? Each presentation is followed by a general discussion.

No later than a week in advance, Birgit will send out preparatory texts for the discussion as well as an agenda for the day.

Day 3: Analysis

The third day is dedicated to analysis. Each of you chooses some of the empirical material that is central to your project (a poem, an image, a video, a newspaper article, the documentation of an event…). Try to pick some material that is accessible and not too long, and send it to everyone, along with 10-15 lines explaining the motivation for choosing the particular material. On the day of the course, you present a preliminary analysis of your chosen material. The presentation is followed by a general discussion, where all participants try to contribute to the analysis.

No later than a week in advance, Birgit will send out an agenda for the day.

Aim/Learning outcomes

• Ability to and confidence in presenting and discussing one’s own research project and in giving and receiving feedback
• Insights into each other’s research projects, including collaborative identification of theoretical and methodological differences, similarities, as well as potential inspirations and synergies between the projects
• Reflection on important theoretical, methodological and analytical aspects of the research projects in question and research processes in general

Requirements for participation

• Inscription at the programme in Art, Literature and Cultural Studies at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University

Target group/Participants

• PhD students in the initial phase of their project

Workload

• Course/ teaching hours: 15
• Preparation hours: 60
• Written assignments etc.: PhD application, short introductions to texts

Language 

• English (unless everyone speaks fluently Danish)

Lecturers

• Birgit Eriksson, Professor, School of Communication and Culture, Aarhus University

Literature

• To be distributed after the application deadline.

Venue

• Langelandsgade 141 , 8000 Aarhus C. Building 1586, room 114

Course dates:

• 26 February 2026 09:15 - 14:00
• 11 March 2026 09:15 - 14:00
• 26 March 2026 09:15 - 14:00