Course description for 2019/20
Research Theory and Methods
VT308E
Course description for 2019/20
Research Theory and Methods
VT308E
The course is formed by three complementary modules.The first module comprises lectures on general theories of science to allow students to position their research designs in the adequate scientific paradigm. The main purpose of the second module is to provide understanding of the choices, problems and opportunities that researchers are faced with in the process of planning and carrying out research. Therefore, a range of research methods, approaches to research and ways of carrying out data analysis are therefore presented and discussed in relation to theories of science. In the third module, students are requested to identify and examine methodological issues within their projects and critically reflect upon them on the basis of theories of science. The students are thus invited to reflect on the goals and ideals, approaches and methods of their own knowledge production.
It is possible to apply for admission to the course as a single course. There are reservations about the available capacity on the course. The single course applicant must meet the current admission requirements for the Master of Science in Business, Master of Science in Global Management or Master of Accounting and Auditing.
Must fulfill the requirements for admission to the two-year Master of Science in Business programme.
Students completing the course acquire the following:
Knowledge
- Explain how criteria like credibility, validity, reliability and truth are used in relation to the theories and methods employed in their projects.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the relation between theories of science, research design and research methods at a graduate level.
- Understand the processes of systematic literature review as a basis for developing appropriate research designs.
- Argue about the appropriate research design in relation to various kinds of research questions, and choosing appropriate qualitative or quantitative methods.
- Outline the key processes involved in the most commonly used research methods in business and management.
Skills
- Can apply critical reflection in relation to his or her own knowledge production, including reflections on relevance and legitimacy.
- Can construct their own research design or strategy in their projects, and to consider the appropriateness of and the implicit assumptions behind these designs and strategies with reference to relevant theories of science.
- Can analyze and deal critically with various sources of information relevant to the master thesis.
- Can perform qualitative and quantitative analysis by applying appropriate methods and techniques.
- Can communicate scientific research to an academic audience.
Compenteces
- Can reflect critically on project-related choices of theories of science and methods in the field of business and management.
- Can reflect critically on choices of qualitative and quantitative research methods in the fields of business and management.
- Can take responsibility for continuous professional development through acquisitions of new knowledge of the development and renewal of theories of science and research designs.
No costs except semester registration fee and syllabus literature.
Compulsory
The learning activities consists of lectures, hands on practice labs, essay writing and supervised assignment work where the students conducts one research project and write up final reports from these.
The study programme is evaluated annually by students by way of course evaluation studies (mid-term evaluation and final evaluation). These evaluations are included in the universitys quality assurance system.
Pen, pencil, ruler, bilingual dictionary and simple calculator.
In order to take this course, the student must fulfil the current requirements for enrolment at the Master of Science in Business program.
Overlap refers to a similarity between courses with the same content. Therefore, you will receive the following reduction in credits if you have taken the courses listed below:
EN311E - Research Methods - 7.5 credits
BØ300E - Research methods 3 - 6 credits
VT302E - Research Methods 2 - 7.5 credits