Postgraduate Course: Research Methods for International Business (CMSE11208)
Course Outline
| School | Business School |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 15 |
ECTS Credits | 7.5 |
| Summary | The course provides students with basic ideas about scientific research processes. The course offers students a good arena to understand how to plan and conduct a scientific research, how to look for suitable journal articles, and analyse data. |
| Course description |
The course aims to help students identify the role of international business research in the discipline of business. It provides the basis to understand different ontologies and epistemologies, understand the differences between quantitative and qualitative research methods, frame a study, understand research ethics, plan and conduct different methods of data collection ,analyse quantitative and qualitative data, and generate a research proposal for a dissertation.
Syllabus
Nature of research
Research ethics
Research design
Survey design
SPSS workshop
Case studies
Interviewing
Observation & ethnography
Qualitative data analysis & Writing up
Content analysis
Student Learning Experience
The course consists of lectures and workshops. The lectures are intended to provide information about key aspects of research design, facilitate discussions about the material covered in the readings, and provide opportunities to work on selected assignments. The approach is highly interactive, and relies upon student engagement . Workshops are designed to provide hands-on experience with data analyses techniques.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | For Business School PG students only, or by special permission of the School. Please contact the course secretary. |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
150
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Formative Assessment Hours 72,
Other Study Hours 35,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 3,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
0 )
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| Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) |
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assessment is 100% based on a 4,000 word research proposal.
In the proposal the students will:
1. Identify clearly their research question,
2. Critically evaluate the key literature that underpins this question,
3. Review the data collection and analysis methods selected
4. Present their chosen approach and the rationale for it. |
| Feedback |
All students will be given at least one formative feedback or feedforward event for every course they undertake, provided during the semester in which the course is taken and in time to be useful in the completion of summative work on the course. Such feedback may be at course or programme level, but must include input of relevance to each course in the latter case.
Feedback deadlines
Feedback on formative assessed work will be provided within 15 working days of submission, or in time to be of use in subsequent assessments within the course, whichever is sooner. Summative marks will be returned on a published timetable, which has been made clear to students at the start of the academic year.
Students will gain feedback on their understanding of the material when they discuss their answers to the tutorial questions in the tutorials. Students may also ask questions in Lectures to assess their knowledge.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Identify the role of international business research in the discipline of business.
- Understand and critically discuss different ontologies and epistemologies and the differences between quantitative and qualitative research methods.
- Frame a study, plan and conduct different methods of data collection and analyse quantitative and qualitative data.
- Understand and discuss critically research ethics.
- Generate a research proposal for a dissertation
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Reading List
Sekaran, U. & Bougie, R. (2013). Research Methods for Business: A Skill-Building Approach (6th edition). Chichester: Wiley.
Eriksson, P. & Kovalainen, A. (2008). Qualitative Methods in Business Research. London: Sage. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Cognitive and generic skills:
Identification of a significant contribution
Application of relevant academic theories
Appropriateness of facts
Expression of persuasive arguments
Flow of information
Depth of coverage
Original and creative thought
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| Keywords | IBEM-RM in IB |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Ron Kerr
Tel: (0131 6)51 5582
Email: Ron.Kerr@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Peter Newcombe
Tel: (0131 6)51 3013
Email: Peter.Newcombe@ed.ac.uk |
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