APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2015/2016

GRA 6345 Research Methods in Business and Leadership

Responsible for the course
Jon Erland Lervik, Arne Carlsen

Department
Department of Leadership and Organizational Behaviour

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
6

Language of instruction
English

Introduction
The main aim of the course is to provide students with the knowledge and skills to critically evaluate and use research results as well as preparing students for planning and executing a master|s thesis. The course will inquire into the philosophy and methods of how to generate valid and reliable knowledge by use of scientific methods and analytical tools. Students are also trained in critical evaluation of research conducted by others as well as their own research. The course is specially directed towards familiarizing students with the most common research designs and methods in International Business and Leadership & Change

Learning outcome
Acquired knowledge
(i) To gain knowledge of concepts and tools to collect and analyse data for research in international business.
(ii) To understand and appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of different methodologies and data sources.
(iii) Knowledge of central research questions and appropriate research designs in various subfields of international business research

Acquired skills
(i) To be able to use advanced methods for information ‘harvesting’ and search techniques, and critically evaluate information sources.
(ii) To understand what a critical literature review is and how it can be designed and executed.
(iii) To be able to compare and critique different research designs, methodologies and data collection methods.
(iv) To be able to design and develop research designs and methods uniquely appropriate to specific research questions

Reflection
(i) Awareness of ethical issues in doing research and disseminating research
(ii) To appreciate how to conduct original research at the MSc level and evaluate the research process.

Prerequisites

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 spesific prerequisites and will assume that students have followed normal study progression. For double degree and exchange students, please note that equivalent courses are accepted.

Compulsory reading
Books:
Bryman, Alan, Emma Bell. 2015. Business research methods. 4th ed. Oxford University Press

Other:
During the course there may be hand-outs and other material on additional topics relevant for the course and the examination.


Recommended reading
Books:
Piekkari, Rebecca, Catherine Welch, eds. 2011. Rethinking the case study in international business and management research. Edward Elgar
Thietart, Raymond Alain ... [et al.]. 2001. Doing management research : a comprehensive guide. Sage. available electronically

Course outline
The course will cover the following themes:
- Introduction to the Research Process - philosophy of science, research proposals, research process, research ethics
- Systematic and explorative Research Designs
- Search and evaluation of information sources
- Quantitative approaches: data and measurement, survey studies, quantitative analysis, panel data
- Qualitative approaches: Doing qualitative research, interviewing, qualitative analysis
- Writing up research

Computer-based tools
Not applicable

Learning process and workload
A course of 6 ECTS credits corresponds to a workload of 160-180 hours.
Students are expected to participate actively and to be well prepared before attending class.

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 that is not included on the course homepage/It's learning or text book.

Research Methodology is a very important course in the MSc Programme as the course is central to the thesis work. Please make sure you read the information about the thesis work in the student portal @bi


Examination
Your course grade will be based on the following activities and weights:
- A completed and approved work assignment given by the library (accounts for 10% of the final grade)
- Group presentation of assigned empirical article (accounts for 10% of the final grade)
- Written assignment - Literature review, can be written in groups up to two students (accounts for 30% of the final grade)
- 3-hour written individual final examination (accounts for 50 % of the final grade)