DRE 1012 Research Design and Methodological Choices
DRE 1012 Research Design and Methodological Choices
Research design is commonly defined as a program or a blueprint that guides researchers through the process of collecting, analyzing and interpreting observations. Its essentialness is however rooted in its effects on the validity of knowledge claims. Research design is pivotal in affecting the strength, persuasiveness, and authoritativeness of claims concerning causality, external validity, and construct validity, to name a few. Research design is both a science and an art. While some of the major principles are firmly established, we continuously observe rejuvenations, extensions as well as bold innovations. The course examines in detail an amalgam of research designs and common design pitfalls with the aim of assisting students in designing research inquiry which is publishable, influential and important.
The aim of the course is to introduce students to an amalgam of research designs that can be employed and methodological tradeoffs and challenges that need to be addressed in the pursuance of designing research inquiry which is publishable, influential and important.
At the end of the doctoral course the students should be able to:
- Choose an appropriate research design
- Design research which is publishable and potentially influential
- Understand the strengths and weaknesses of various designs
- Critically appraise contemporary research designs
- Discuss the role of ethics in research
- Comprehend the variety of philosophical perspectives underlying research in the social sciences
Researcher skills: Design research projects publishable at leading international journals.
Reviewer skills: Evaluate research designs for leading international journals
Critical reflection concerning the validity of knowledge claims.
An appreciation of the pros and cons of a range of methodological designs.
Critical reflection concerning what a scientific contribution is and what research is and is not.
The course will cover a wide range of issues including:
- Research designs
- Validity
- Sampling
- Measurement
- Common method bias
- Unit of analysis
- Moderation and mediation effects
- Introduction to databases
- Theory and theoretical contribution
- Getting research published
- Research and ethics
The course requires high level of investment from all participants. The design necessitates ex-ante and ex-post course presentations of your research design, the development of your research design and evaluation of research designs published in leading international journals.
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Enrollment in a PhD Programme is a general requirement for participation in PhD courses at BI Norwegian Business School.
External candidates are kindly asked to attach confirmation of enrollment in a PhD programme when signing up for a course. Other candidates may be allowed to sit in on courses by approval of the courseleader. Sitting in on a course does not permit registration for the course, handing in exams or gaining credits for the course. Course certificates or confirmation letters will not be issued for sitting in on courses.
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| Assessments |
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Exam category: Activity Form of assessment: Presentation Weight: 20 Grouping: Individual Exam code: DRE10122 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: 30 Grouping: Individual Support materials:
Duration: 1 Hour(s) Exam code: DRE10122 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 Weight: 50 Grouping: Individual Duration: 1 Month(s) Exam code: DRE10122 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
| Activity | Duration | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Group work / Assignments | 230 Hour(s) | Specified learning activities (including reading) |
Student's own work with learning resources | 80 Hour(s) | Autonomous student learning (including exam preparation) |
Other in classroom | 10 Hour(s) | Two class presentations. |
Teaching | 60 Hour(s) |
A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 12 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 320 hours.