Research Design and Method D, 5 points / 7.5 ECTS


Syllabus:           Research Design and Method D
Course code:        FEKD62
Responsibility:     Umeå School of Business
Subject:            Business Administration
Level:              D (specialized)
Course credit:      7.5 ECTS / 5 points
Field of education: Social Sciences


This course is a course at specialized level in a MSc-degree at the 
University of Umeå. The course is also an elective course in the 
Master’s Programmes at Umeå School of Business (USBE). 
Further information: http://www.usbe.umu.se/master/index_eng.html


1. Resolution to arrange the course

The course was established by the Faculty of Social Sciences at Umeå 
University in June 2000 and the syllabus was confirmed by the Board of 
Umeå School of Business on May 29, 2006. The syllabus is valid from
August 28, 2006


2. Objective and contents

This course is designed to cover topics on how to plan, design and 
conduct a research study in business administration. The aim of the 
course is to prepare students for future research projects. This aim 
is fulfilled by the topics covered in the course and by exercises 
during the course. Topics to be covered are:

* What is the purpose of research and what is the purpose of 
  evaluative studies within firms and public organizations
* Different research and evaluation processes
* Different types of research design: interpretative, descriptive and 
  causal studies
* Different parts of a research process
    · Formulation of a research problem
    · How to do a literature review 
    · Determine unit of analysis 
    · Conducting quantitative studies
      - Building a model for quantitative testing:
        Constructs and assumed relations between these constructs 
        formulated as research hypotheses or propositions
        Types of variables, independent, dependent and control variables
        Testing hypotheses or propositions
      - Data collection through a survey
      - Analyzing data; exploring data, errors in data, missing data 
        and outliners, variance analyses, regressions, factor analyses, 
        use of SPSS
    · Conducting qualitative studies
      - Data collection through interviews, observation and field notes, 
        ethnographic studies 
      - Coding and structuring data, for example through the use of Nvivo
      - Analyzing data, through constant comparative analyses, grounded 
        theory, narrative analysis
    · Ethics and research


3. Prerequisites

Courses in Business Administration (90 ECTS)

A minimum of 40 points/60 ECTS from A-level and B-level 
courses (Management, Accounting, Financial Investments, 
Cost Accounting, Marketing)

At the advanced, C level, a minimum of 20 points/30 ECTS, 
including a Bachelor’s thesis or equivalent


4. Teaching methods
 
The course is based on lectures that outline general theories related 
to the course topics. Seminars will be utilized to examine the details 
of the theories and the practice of the topics under study. Students 
will also in practice use the methods thought. Moreover, group or 
individual assignments with both oral and written presentations will 
be used throughout the course. The student is expected to come to class 
regularly and participate in class discussions.


5. Examination

The examination comprises a written examination at the end of the 
course, and an assessment of completed cases and project reports. 
Complementary work on term papers and other compulsory tasks should be 
completed two weeks after the final date of the course, at the latest. 
Exams may include materials from textbook, handouts, readings, 
assignments and class discussions. 

Students who do not pass at the time of the normal written examination 
will be offered an opportunity to sit a further examination within 2-3 
weeks on courses having the normal pace of study. 

The following grading system is used: Pass With Distinction (Väl godkänd, 
Vg, 75% or more), Pass (Godkänd, G, 50% or more) and Fail (Underkänd, U, 
less than 50%). For exchange students the ECTS grading scale will be 
used upon request.

When a student has failed an examination on two occasions, he or she has 
a right to have another grading teacher. A written request should be 
handed to the director of studies no later than two weeks before the 
next examination opportunity.

Grades on the course are awarded when students have passed all 
examinations and compulsory course elements.


6.	Readings and other materials

Hair, Joseph F., Babin, Barbara. Money. Arthur H., Samouel. Phillip S. (2002) 
Essentials of Business Research Methods. 
John Wiley & Sons.

Hart, Cris. (1998) 
Doing a literature review: releasing the social 
science research imagination. 
Sage: London.

Maylor, H. & Blackmon, K. 2005, 
Researching Business and Management,
Pagrave MacMillan, Basingstoke, UK

Umeå School of Business, 
Articles 
(Student Office/Student-expeditionen)

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UMEÅ UNIVERSITY
Umeå School of Business,  
SE-901 87  Umeå, Sweden
www.usbe.umu.se