6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 2023755BNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
Business Technology and Operations
Educational team
Ilse Scheerlinck
Leo Van Hove
Filip Van Droogenbroeck
Petrus Te Braak (course titular)
Emmelien De Roock
Lise Craninx
Activities and contact hours
22 contact hours Lecture
13 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
156 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) : Bijkomend studiemateriaal is beschikbaar, 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.

Learning Outcomes

General Competences

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
  • the student can, in a team, make a critical analysis of a scientific paper.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 85% of the final mark.
Other Exam determines 15% 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 85% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Group Project with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 15% 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.

In the group assignment, students will analyze a scientific article in groups of approximately 5 students and determine to what extent it meets the criteria of social scientific research.

A student must pass for both examination components separately. Only after passing both the written and group assignment, the student will pass this course unit. If the student did not pass for at least one of the examination components, the result of the unsuccessful exam part is the final result. 

The partial result of an exam component will be transferred to the second examination period, if the result is at least 10/20. The exam component for which the student has passed cannot be retaken in the second examination period.

Partial results of examination components are not transferred to a subsequent academic year.

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:
Bridging Programme Master of Science in Management: Track 1 (only offered in Dutch)
Bridging Programme Master of Science in Management: Track 2 (only offered in Dutch)
Bridging Programme Master of Teaching in Economics: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Preparatory Programme Master of Science in Management: Academische Bachelor (only offered in Dutch)