GRA 6278 Research Methodology in Accounting and Business Control
GRA 6278 Research Methodology in Accounting and Business Control
The Research Methodology in Accounting and Business Control course is an essential component of the MSc in Business with a major in Accounting and Business Control. Designed as a preparatory module for the Master's thesis, this course equips students with foundational skills to identify and produce high-quality research contributing to the economy and society.
As students progress through this course, they will not only grasp the fundamental principles of research design and methodology but also cultivate the ability to critically evaluate and apply these methods to real-world scenarios. The journey involves acquiring the skills needed to formulate and address problems, select appropriate methodologies, and harness reliable data for effective decision-making.
Beyond the academic context, this course equips students with a profound understanding of the research process, instilling in them a sense of responsibility in conducting research at the MSc level. This course is designed not only to meet academic requirements but to elevate students to a level where they can critically assess and contribute to the ongoing discourse in the Accounting and Business Control domains.
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the process of writing a research proposal comprehensively.
- Acquire insights into various relevant qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and data sources.
- Demonstrate proficiency in crafting a robust literature review.
- Critically assess and evaluate academic research articles to discern their contributions and limitations.
After finishing this course, students will be able to:
- Plan and execute research effectively.
- Evaluate and select the most suitable research methodology.
- Understand the limitations inherent in chosen methodologies.
- Locate reliable data to address research questions and test hypotheses.
- Implement information harvesting strategies, including search techniques and critical source evaluation.
- Apply quantitative methods techniques using STATA for data analysis.
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Students will acquire:
- A deep understanding of the research process.
- Insights into how research design and methodology impact chosen themes.
- The ability to conduct research at the MSc level and critically evaluate the research process.
- Philosophy of science
- The research process
- Problem formulation
- Ethical considerations in research
- Data collection and analysis
- Guidance on writing the master thesis
- Literature search and source evaluation
- Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research
- Hypothesis testing
- Regression Analysis with Cross-Sectional Data
- Panel data
- Revision of key accounting research topics, including transparency, information disclosure, financial reporting quality, earnings management, and corporate social responsibility.
The course comprises synchronous in-class lectures and asynchronous STATA videos with voluntary assignments. Students will have problem sets after each chapter, with feedback provided upon submission. Class participation is strongly encouraged. A discussion forum is set in itslearning to debate the topics covered.
Continuous assessment is no longer applicable. Students must pass the Library Assignment and the two other exams to get a course grade. For questions regarding previous exam results, contact InfoHub.
Students are responsible for obtaining information provided in class.
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 |
|---|
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Submission PDF Exam/hand-in semester: First Semester Grouping: Group/Individual (1 - 2) Duration: 1 Week(s) Comment: Library assignment Exam code: GRA 62784 Grading scale: Pass/fail Resit: Examination when next scheduled course |
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Submission PDF Exam/hand-in semester: First Semester Weight: 30 Grouping: Group (2 - 4) Duration: 1 Month(s) Comment: Hand-in (STATA) Exam code: GRA 62785 Grading scale: ECTS Resit: Examination when next scheduled course |
Exam category: School Exam Form of assessment: Structured Test Exam/hand-in semester: First Semester Weight: 70 Grouping: Individual Support materials:
Duration: 3 Hour(s) Exam code: GRA 62786 Grading scale: ECTS Resit: Examination when next scheduled course |
All exams must be passed to get a grade in this course.
| Activity | Duration | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Teaching | 36 Hour(s) | |
Group work / Assignments | 24 Hour(s) | |
Digital resources
| 12 Hour(s) | |
Feedback activities and counselling | 8 Hour(s) | |
Student's own work with learning resources | 40 Hour(s) | |
Examination | 30 Hour(s) | |
Prepare for teaching | 10 Hour(s) |
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.