GRA 2243 Research Methodology for Organisational Behaviour

GRA 2243 Research Methodology for Organisational Behaviour

Course code: 
GRA 2243
Department: 
Leadership and Organizational Behaviour
Credits: 
6
Course coordinator: 
Anders Dysvik
Jon Erland B Lervik
Course name in Norwegian: 
Research Methodology for Organisational Behaviour
Product category: 
Master
Portfolio: 
MSc - Core course
Semester: 
2020 Spring
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Master
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

The purpose of this course is to develop your competence in doing and using research in your roles as students and future professionals. The aim is threefold. First, to provide students with knowledge and skills that enable them to conduct the initial phase of their Thesis projects. Second, to guide students towards becoming critical readers and users of OB research. Third, to promote sound research methods to inform analysis and decision making in your future professional careers. 

The course is process-oriented and has an applied focus, where students are initially given a general introduction to research methods covering major types of research designs, crucial issues in research ethics, searching and critically examining sources of scientific knowledge. The course further covers key approaches in research methods regarding sampling, data collection and analysis. Students are also trained in critical evaluation of research conducted by others as well as their own research.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge
  • Concepts and tools to collect and analyse data
  • Strengths and weaknesses of different methodologies and data sources
  • Knowledge about appropriate research designs (ways to conduct research) to answer different types of questions
Learning outcomes - Skills
  • Methods for information harvesting and search
  • Critically evaluating information sources
  • Compare and critique different research designs and research methods
General Competence
  • Ethical issues and dilemmas in business research
  • Critical thinking in evaluating the research process and outcomes
Course content

The learning outcomes will be realized by twelve course components consisting of:

1 Introduction to OB research

2 Research questions and designs

3 Literature search

4 Cross-sectional designs

5 Experimental designs

6 Case study designs

7 Research Ethics

8 Data and Measurement 

9 Quantitative analysis

10 Interviewing

11 Qualitative analysis

12 Advanced topics and summary
 

During the semester there will be additional Thesis Seminars to guide the students towards writing a Thesis Registration form. These sessions are complimentary to the course. 

Teaching and learning activities

Research Methodology is a very important course in the MSc Programme as the course is central to the thesis work. Please make sure you read the information about the thesis work in the student portal.

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Additional information

Please note that while attendance is not compulsory in all courses, it is the student’s own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class.

This is a course with continuous assessment (several exam components) and one final exam code. Each exam component is graded by using points on a scale from 0-100. The components will be weighted together according to the information in the course description in order to calculate the final letter grade for the examination code (course). Students who fail to participate in one/some/all exam elements will get a lower grade or may fail the course. You will find detailed information about the point system and the cut off points with reference to the letter grades when the course starts.

At resit, all exam components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course.

Qualifications

All courses in the Masters programme will assume that students have fulfilled the admission requirements for the programme. In addition, courses in second, third and/or fourth semester can have specific prerequisites and will assume that students have followed normal study progression. For double degree and exchange students, please note that equivalent courses are accepted.

Required prerequisite knowledge

A Bachelor's degree qualifying for admission to the Master programme. Students should have basic knowledge in methods and statistics and in the use of library sources and search techniques.

Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Weight: 
10
Grouping: 
Group/Individual (1 - 3)
Duration: 
1 Week(s)
Comment: 
Library assignment
Exam code: 
GRA 22431
Grading scale: 
Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade
Resit: 
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Invigilation
Weight: 
90
Grouping: 
Individual
Support materials: 
  • Bilingual dictionary
Duration: 
3 Hour(s)
Comment: 
Written examination under supervision.
Exam code: 
GRA 22431
Grading scale: 
Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade
Resit: 
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Type of Assessment: 
Continuous assessment
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Total weight: 
100
Sum workload: 
0

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 6 ECTS credits corresponds to a workload of at least 160 hours.