GRA 4148 Research Project for Business Analytics

GRA 4148 Research Project for Business Analytics

Course code: 
GRA 4148
Department: 
Marketing
Credits: 
18
Course coordinator: 
Auke Hunneman
Course name in Norwegian: 
Research Project for Business Analytics
Product category: 
Master
Portfolio: 
MSc in Business Analytics
Semester: 
2023 Autumn
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Master
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

This course provides students with experience in conducting an independent research project. The aim is to prepare students for a career in research or the pursuit of a PhD. The research project will involve several aspects of study design, namely sample selection, choice of the appropriate analytical tools, and the interpretation and presentation of the results to a relevant audience. To participate in this course, students team up with an academic supervisor with expert knowledge of the topic who can assist them in conducting the research project. The selected topic should match with the academic supervisor’s expertise and research interests. Given that students are doing the MSc in Business Analytics, the focus should be on analyzing a (secondary) dataset and interpreting the results.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

At the end of the research project, students should have developed an in-depth understanding of the chosen topic and the existing research literature on that topic. 

Learning outcomes - Skills

At the end of the research project, the student is expected to acquire skills in relation to:

  • Posing a thought-provoking, researchable research question(s) and explaining their significance;
  • Using the most appropriate data sources and research methods;
  • Conducting clear and insightful analyses that directly addresses the research questions;
  • Critical thinking and problem solving;
  • Time management and goal setting;
  • Communication (content and presentation).
General Competence

The student should reflect on the limitations of the data for answering the research question(s) and follow the ethical guidelines for academic research.

Course content

Students will work for one semester with an experienced faculty member with in-depth knowledge on a selected topic. Each student is entitled to a maximum of 15 hours of supervision.

Teaching and learning activities

The evaluation will be based on an oral presentation before the end of the term. The student is expected to:

  • Present a relevant research question(s) and the position it in the existing research literature on that topic;
  • Present the results from analyzing relevant data with state-of-the-art methodology;
  • Come up with clear conclusions and discuss the limitations of his research

The required computer-based tools depend on the topic and the data that the student is working with.

Software tools
Software defined under the section "Teaching and learning activities".
Additional information

All parts of the assessment must be passed in order to get a grade in the 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.

Disclaimer

Deviations in teaching and exams may occur if external conditions or unforeseen events call for this.

Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Weight: 
60
Grouping: 
Individual
Duration: 
1 Semester(s)
Comment: 
.
Exam code: 
GRA 41481
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination when next scheduled course
Exam category: 
Activity
Form of assessment: 
Presentation
Weight: 
40
Grouping: 
Individual
Comment: 
The student is expected to:
• Present a relevant research question(s) and the position it in the existing research literature on that topic;
• Present the results from analyzing relevant data with state-of-the-art methodology;
• Come up with clear conclusions and discuss the limitations of his/her research
Exam code: 
GRA 41482
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination when next scheduled course
Type of Assessment: 
Ordinary examination
All exams must be passed to get a grade in this course.
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
3 Hour(s)
Individual problem solving
477
Sum workload: 
480

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore acourse of 18 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 480 hours.