COURSE SYLLABUS
Research Methods: Design, Implementation and Analysis, 7.5 credits
Research Methods: Design, Implementation and Analysis, 7,5 högskolepoäng
Course Syllabus for students Spring 2019
Course Code: | JRMK14 |
Confirmed by: | Council for Undergraduate and Masters Education Sep 15, 2014 |
Revised by: | Examiner Sep 26, 2018 |
Valid From: | Oct 2, 2018 |
Version: | 4 |
Education Cycle: | First-cycle level |
Disciplinary domain: | Social sciences (70%) and technology (30%)
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Subject group: | FE1
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Specialised in: | G1F
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Main field of study: | Business Administration |
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)
On completion of the course the students will be able to:
Knowledge and understanding
- Elaborate on - and describe the epistemological views on creating new knowledge.
- Evaluate the role of theory and empirical research in the creation of research questions and the building of new theory.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the research process.
Skills and abilities
- Use theory and empirical research in order to formulate relevant research questions.
- Independently design, implement and analyze qualitative and quantitative research.
- Demonstrate the skills needed to write academically and appeal to various audiences.
Judgement and approach
- Assess and critically evaluate the issue of demarcation between science and pseudoscience.
Contents
The importance and relevance of conducting scientific research is imperative for our understanding of phenomena, issues and problems which are around us. Therefore, it is of immense importance that students understand how to conduct, design, implement, analyze and interpret research with a scientific and systematic approach. Specifically, the course will help students to understand, the philosophical roots underpinning research such as the epistemological basis for generating scientific knowledge and the demarcation between science and pseudoscience. Furthermore, the course provides students an opportunity to discuss approaches for searching relevant literature in order to form sound empirical and theoretical understanding of the phenomenon being investigated. The course also covers aspects of crafting research reports, understanding the research process, advice on how to write a thesis, and how to begin problematizing and formulating a purpose for a research project and its relevance for practice. A number of research methodologies are introduced which will help students to determine an appropriate data collection strategy. Included (among other topics) are sampling issues, case study research, surveys, interviews and experiments. Finally, methods for analyzing and presenting your data, such as inferential statistics, qualitative/quantitative content analysis, grounded theory are presented.
Type of instruction
Lectures, guest lectures, seminars, student presentations, quantitative and writing labs.
The teaching is conducted in English.
Prerequisites
30 credits in Business Administration or Economics (or the equivalent).
Examination and grades
The course is graded A, B, C, D, E, FX or F.
All requirements in the form of examinations must be fulfilled, and all assignments approved before the student obtains a grade on the course. The final course grade totals the points accumulated across the assignments. The character of these assignments will vary in order to examine the different learning objectives. The assignments include individual essays, seminars, group presentations, labs, quizzes and final exam.
Registration of examination:
Name of the Test | Value | Grading |
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Examination1 | 7.5 credits | A/B/C/D/E/FX/F |
1 Determines the final grade of the course, which is issued only when all course units have been passed.
Course evaluation
It is the responsibility of the examiner to ensure that each course is evaluated. At the outset of the course, evaluators must be identified (elected) among the students. The course evaluation is carried out continuously as well as at the end of the course. On the completion of the course the course evaluators and course examiner discuss the course evaluation and possible improvements. A summary report is created and archived. The reports are followed up by program directors and discussed in program groups and with relevant others (depending on issue e.g. Associate Dean of Education, Associate Dean of faculty, Director of PhD Candidates, Dean and Director of Studies). The next time the course runs, students should be informed of any measures taken to improve the course based on the previous course evaluation.
Other information
JIBS students are expected to maintain a strong academic integrity. This implies to behave within the boundaries of academic rules and expectations relating to all types of teaching and examination.
Copying someone else’s work is a particularly serious offence and can lead to disciplinary action. When you copy someone else’s work, you are plagiarizing. You must not copy sections of work (such as paragraphs, diagrams, tables and words) from any other person, including another student or any other author. Cutting and pasting is a clear example of plagiarism. There is a workshop and online resources to assist you in not plagiarizing called the Interactive Anti-Plagiarism Guide.
Other forms of breaking academic integrity include (but are not limited to) adding your name to a project you did not work on (or allowing someone to add their name), cheating on an examination, helping other students to cheat and submitting other students work as your own, and using non-allowed electronic equipment during an examination. All of these make you liable to disciplinary action.
Course literature
Literature
- Collis, J. and Hussey, R. Business Research: a practical guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Palgrave Macmillan. Latest edition.
- Articles and Internet sources.