Research Methods in Business

Catalog description

This is an introductory research methods course intended for students with little or no prior knowledge and experience of qualitative and quantitative methods. The course addresses aspects of research useful for academic and professional investigation, including: problem definition, framing research questions, formulating hypothesis, choosing a research design, research ethics, and evaluating a variety of research methods. We will consider issues in the context of qualitative (e.g., interviews, focus groups, participant observation), and quantitative (e.g., surveys, experiments) research. In addition, students will be introduced to some approaches to analysis of quantitative and qualitative data (Please note that this course will not examine data analysis techniques in detail, as that content is covered in other courses). The main aim of this course is to equip students with the tools, imagination and independence to develop their own ideas and abilities for conducting research.