GRA 6228 Research Methods for Master of Accounting and Auditing

GRA 6228 Research Methods for Master of Accounting and Auditing

Course code: 
GRA 6228
Department: 
Accounting and Operations Management
Credits: 
6
Course coordinator: 
Zhenyang Shi
Course name in Norwegian: 
Research Methods for Master of Accounting and Auditing
Product category: 
Master
Portfolio: 
MSc - Core course
Semester: 
2024 Autumn
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Master
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

This course is an introductory course for students who will write their master’s thesis as a part of the Master in Accounting and Auditing (GRA 1920). In place of this course, students may take an equivalent methods course at the master’s level.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

Upon completion of this course, the students will be able to:

  • Understand how to write a research proposal.
  • Understand some of the most relevant methodologies and data sources.
Learning outcomes - Skills

Upon completion of this course, the students will be able to:

  • Plan and conduct research.
  • Decide which methodology is more appropriate for their research.
  • Understand the limitations of their chosen methodology.
  • Find reliable data to answer research questions and test hypotheses.
  • Write a proper literature review.
  • Understand strategies of information harvesting, including search techniques and critical evaluation of sources.
General Competence

​Upon completion of this course, the students will be able to:

  • Understand the research process.
  • Understand how the research design and methodology influence and are influenced by the theme of interest.
  • Conduct research at the MSc level and critically evaluate the research process.
  • Revision of general accounting topics, such as accounting transparency, information disclosure, financial reporting quality, earning management, and corporate social responsibility (CSR). 
Course content
  • Philosophy of science.
  • The research process.
  • Formulating problems to be addressed.
  • Research designs.
  • Problems relating to research ethics.
  • Data collection.
  • Data analysis.
  • Advice on writing the master thesis.
  • Literature search and evaluation of sources.
Teaching and learning activities

The course has two components: A synchronous part (24 hours) and an asynchronous part (12 hours). The first part is in-class lectures, and the second part includes STATA videos and voluntary assignments. After each chapter, students will have a voluntary problem set. Feedback will be provided if the problem set is submitted (by email, hard copy, or during office hours). Class participation is encouraged, and a discussion forum is set in itslearning to debate the topics.

There will be a session in preparation for the exam.

Software tools
Stata
Zotero
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.

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

Continuous assessment will no longer exist as an examination form from autumn 2023. For questions regarding previous results, contact InfoHub.

 

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.

Required prerequisite knowledge

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Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Submission PDF
Exam/hand-in semester: 
First Semester
Grouping: 
Group/Individual (1 - 4)
Duration: 
1 Week(s)
Comment: 
Library Assignment.
Exam code: 
GRA 62283
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 (1 - 4)
Duration: 
1 Month(s)
Comment: 
Hand-in (STATA)
Exam code: 
GRA 62284
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination when next scheduled course
Exam category: 
School Exam
Form of assessment: 
Written School Exam - digital
Exam/hand-in semester: 
First Semester
Weight: 
70
Grouping: 
Individual
Support materials: 
  • BI-approved exam calculator
  • Simple calculator
  • Bilingual dictionary
Duration: 
3 Hour(s)
Comment: 
Written examination under supervision.
Exam code: 
GRA 62285
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
24 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
52 Hour(s)
Examination
30 Hour(s)
Prepare for teaching
10 Hour(s)
Sum workload: 
160

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.