Undergraduate Course: Business Research Methods 2: Research Design and Application (BUST08056)
Course Outline
| School | Business School |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Business research has been defined as the systematic gathering, recording and analysing of data about problems relating to businesses. This course, which follows on from Business Research Methods I, introduces further aspects of business research and demonstrates the fundamental role and importance it plays in making of appropriate business decisions. It provides an understanding of the philosophical building blocks of research design, outlines both qualitative and quantitative techniques for data collection and analysis and gives students the chance to collect and analyse data for themselves. |
| Course description |
This course is core to the undergraduate programmes in Business Studies single honours and combined degrees, and International Business degrees. The course is designed to fill a gap in the application and analysis of core business research skills, building on key skills acquired in Business Research Methods I. Lectures present critical overviews of key concepts, processes and debates within the subject, relating theories to a wide range of current examples.
Outline content
- Introduction: Overview of the research process and Academic Research
- Research approaches and philosophies & How to conduct a literature review
- Qualitative Methodologies & Qualitative Methods of Data Collection
- Interviewing
- Focus groups
- Secondary & Documentary data
- Ethnography & Netnography
- Qualitative Analysis & Interpretation
- Basics of Quantitative Research: Measurement scales, questionnaire design, & sampling
- Further considerations of Quantitative Research: Sampling, response rate, & reliability and validity
- Different Types of Quantitative Research: Survey & Experiment
- Approaches to Quantitative Data Analysis: Preparing the data and choosing appropriate statistical tests
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Only available to students on UEBS degree programmes |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 8,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
168 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
60% Report (Individual) - 1,800 words - Assesses all course Learning Outcomes
40% Project report (Group) includes 30% peer evaluation - 2,500 words - Assesses course Learning Outcomes 1,2,3 |
| Feedback |
Formative: Feedback will be provided throughout the course.
Summative: Feedback will be provided on the assessments within agreed deadlines. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the nature and scope of business research, its process, and its philosophical foundations.
- Define research problems and formulate research questions grounded in relevant literature on a selected topic.
- Apply their understanding of the stages of the research process and adapt them to a specific research context.
- Demonstrate an appreciation of various research approaches and research methods (qualitative and quantitative) along with an awareness of both their contribution and limitations.
- Analyse the data using appropriate methods and tools.
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Reading List
Core text
Bell, Harley & Bryman (2022). Business Research Methods (6th edition) |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Communication, ICT, and Numeracy Skills
After completing this course, students should be able to:
Critically evaluate and present digital and other sources, research methods, data and information; discern their limitations, accuracy, validity, reliability and suitability; and apply responsibly in a wide variety of organisational contexts.
Knowledge and Understanding
After completing this course, students should be able to:
Demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of contemporary organisational disciplines; comprehend the role of business within the contemporary world; and critically evaluate and synthesise primary and secondary research and sources of evidence in order to make, and present, well informed and transparent organisation-related decisions, which have a positive global impact.
Identify, define and analyse theoretical and applied business and management problems, and develop approaches, informed by an understanding of appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative techniques, to explore and solve them responsibly. |
| Keywords | Business research,Methodologies,Research design,qualitative research,quantitative resesearch |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Kristina Auxtova
Tel:
Email: kristina.auxtova@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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