GRA 6836 Research Methodology for Strategy

GRA 6836 Research Methodology for Strategy

Course code: 
GRA 6836
Department: 
Strategy and Entrepreneurship
Credits: 
6
Course coordinator: 
Erik Aadland
Course name in Norwegian: 
Research Methodology for Strategy
Product category: 
Master
Portfolio: 
MSc - Core course
Semester: 
2024 Spring
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Master
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

Students participating in this course will be guided towards the completion of a research proposal. The main aim of the course is to provide students with the knowledge and skills in order to successfully complete a master thesis.

The first part of the course covers the philosophical underpinnings of research in the strategy field. This includes the fundamentals of research design. The main section of the course covers both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge
  • To understand how to write a research proposal.
  • To gain knowledge of concepts and tools to collect and analyse data for strategy research.
  • To understand and appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of different research designs, methodologies and data sources.
Learning outcomes - Skills
  • To be able to compare and critique different research designs, methodologies and data collection methods.
  • To be able to design samples, research questions and research proposals appropriately.
  • To understand what a critical literature review is and how it can be designed and executed.
  • To understand strategies for information harvesting, including search techniques and critical evaluation of sources
General Competence
  • To understand how research design influences and is influenced by the theme of interest.
  • To appreciate how to conduct original research at the MSc level and evaluate the research process.
Course content
  • Introduction to the Research Process - philosophy of science, research proposals, research process, research ethics
  • Research Design - problems, questions, collection and design
  • Secondary Research and Analysis - literature searching, literature reviews, review articles.
  • Qualitative Research - assumptions, ideas, methodologies and methods
  • Computer-assisted data analysis
  • Qualitative and quantitative methodology, either one or combined, with a focus on the needs of designing strategy research

During the semester there will be thesis seminars to guide the students towards writing a thesis registration form. This is conducted outside the course.

Teaching and learning activities

Students are expected to participate actively and to be well prepared before attending class. 

Software tools
Stata
Additional information

The exam for this course has been changed starting academic year 2023/2024. The course now has two exam codes instead of one. It is not possible to retake the old version of the exam. Please note new exam codes in the Exam section of the course description. 

It is the student’s own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class.

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
Grouping: 
Group/Individual (1 - 3)
Duration: 
1 Week(s)
Comment: 
Library assignment
Exam code: 
GRA 68364
Grading scale: 
Pass/fail
Resit: 
Examination when next scheduled course
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Weight: 
100
Grouping: 
Group (2 - 3)
Duration: 
1 Semester(s)
Comment: 
Term paper
Exam code: 
GRA 68365
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
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.