6 ECTS credits
157 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 3018123DNW for working students in the 1st semester
at
a (D) Master - preliminary level.
- Semester
- 1st semester
- Enrollment based on exam contract
- Impossible
- Grading method
- Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
- Can retake in second session
- Yes
- Enrollment Requirements
- If you want to enroll for the Research Methods for Business, you must be able to graduate. In other words: you can only enroll for this course when you are able to finish the programm
- Taught in
- English
- Faculty
- Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
- Department
- Business Technology and Operations
- Educational team
- Ilse Scheerlinck
Leo Van Hove
Filip Van Droogenbroeck
(course titular)
Emmelien De Roock
- Activities and contact hours
- 20 contact hours Lecture
13 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
124 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
- Course Content
This course provides an introduction to research methodology. Different aspects of scientific research in the domains of business and management are covered. We consider both the research process and research methods.
In a step-by-step approach we guide the student through the different stages of a research process. Students are introduced in the consultation, reading and processing of scientific literature with particular attention for the practices of correct referencing and citing. Next the formulation of the research problem and the research questions is addressed. Via an introduction in a spectrum of research methods for business and management, the students are prepared to independently compile a research design and to plan a research project. Attention is also attributed to the written and oral presentation of scientific research.
- Course material
- Handbook (Required) : Research Methods for Business, A Skill Building Approach, Roger Bougie - Uma Sekaran, 8de, Wiley, 9781119663706, 2020
Digital course material (Required) : Additional study material will be available, Canvas
- Additional info
The digital course material is available on the digital platform Canvas.
In case guest lectures are organised, attending the sessions is mandatory and the content of the presentation is integrally part of the course content.
Teaching Methods
- Lecture: collective contact-dependent moments during which the lecturer engages with learning materials
- Seminar, Exercises or Practicals (Practical): collective or individual contact-dependent moments during which the students are guided to actively engage with learning materials
- Independent or External Form of Study (Self): independent study
This description of the teaching methods is indicative, in order to assess the expected study load.
Regular and working students
Lecture: 20 hours
- lectures: 18 hours (6 x 3 hours)
- guest lecture: 2 hours (1 x 2 hours)
Practical: 13 hours
- 4 workshops of 2 hours for application of theory by using cases: 8 hours
- workshop during which assistant and students actively train citing and referencing practices: 2 hours
- individual feedback (questions via email or during contact hours concerning theory, cases or assignment): 1 hour
- feedback in January: 1 hour
- feedback in August: 1 hour
Self: 124 hours
- keeping up with the course material during the semester, amounting to 3 hour per hour lecture: 60 hours
- preparation and study for workshops during the semester: 24 hours
- preparation written exam: 40 hours
- Learning Outcomes
-
Kennis
After successfully completing the course:
- the student has knowledge of the scientific research process and the main research methods in business sciences
- the student is able to explain the different steps in the research process and research methods, and has insight into the applicability and advantages and disadvantages of the methods in a given context.
- the student can make connections between the different parts of the research process (e.g., relationship between research question, literature study, conceptual framework, and chosen research method to answer the research question)
- the student can identify a (business) economic problem and formulate a relevant, well-founded scientific research question;
- the student can, in function of a research topic, make a well-founded choice for a suitable research strategy and observation method and know the advantages and disadvantages of different methods
- the student can critically assess research based on the criteria for scientific research
- the student develops a critical attitude towards research results in academic literature, society and media
- the student knows how to search, collect and process scientific literature
- the student knows how to approach a literature study in a scientific article
- Grading
-
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
- Written Exam
with a relative weight of 1
which comprises 100% of the final mark.
- Additional info regarding evaluation
The exam consists of 20 multiple choice questions with 5 options each.
The cut-off mark for this exam is raised to compensate for questions that the student has answered correctly by guessing. With 20 multiple choice questions and 5 options, the student must achieve at least 12/20 to pass this course. The number of correct questions is then recalculated to the final mark at /20 using the higher cut-off mark. For example, if you pass the cut-off point 12/20, you will get a score of 10/20. If you don't get any questions right, it corresponds to a negative number that converts to 0 and if you get all the questions right, you get the maximum score or 20/20.
- Allowed unsatisfactory mark
- The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.
Academic context
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Preparatory Programme Master of Science in Management: Academische Bachelor