| CODE | MGT5810 | ||||||
| TITLE | Research Methods for Business | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Management | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit is organized in three parts reflecting the main issues and concepts governing the approach and implementation of research projects. The first part introduces students to the philosophical rationale that informs researchers on the appropriate philosophical stance that fits the research question. The discussion covers logical positivism, phenomenology, deductive and inductive processes, mixed methods the research process, generating primary data, research design and writing up the research report. Part two covers Quantitative methods starting with an introduction to Quantitative Research and moving on to the stages of a statistical investigation, types of variables (discrete, continuous, dichotomous) and measurement scales (nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio), descriptive statistics (measures of central tendency, measures of spread and statistical diagrams), describing relationships (correlations and linear regression to predict scores), statistical Error versus statistical Power, statistical inference and hypothesis testing (parametric and non-parametric procedures), survey methods (probability sampling techniques, non-probability sampling techniques, designing a questionnaire, sample size determination) and reliability and validity of instruments (test-retest reliability, internal consistency reliability, face/content validity, criterion-related validity and construct validity, threats to internal and external validity). The third part delves into Qualitative research methods covering inductive analysis, the generation of Qualitative Data through semi-structured and depth interviews, focus groups and participant observation, sampling, coding and analysing data, Computer Aided Qualitative Analysis Software (CAQDAS), developing understanding/explanations, ethical issues, rigour in qualitative research and writing ‘out’. Study-unit Aims This study-unit aims to introduce the students to the diverse approaches and research stances available and to provide them with sound guidelines for the selection of the appropriate methodological option in their dissertation and in business decisions. Applied examples of actual research problems, current issues, hands-on activities, case studies and practitioner-oriented simulations are used to facilitate deeper understanding of the processes and procedures involved in ethically correct and rigorous research. Learning Outcomes 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - make effective and better decisions by using knowledge that only research can create; - understand the application of qualitative and quantitative methods in real situations; - use research principles and methods to better cope with the fast-paced decision-making business environment today and tomorrow. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - to generate qualitative and quantitative primary data; - to use technically sound and rigorous techniques, processes and procedures to analyse primary and secondary data; - to use computer aided qualitative and quantitative analysis design softwares (e.g. PASW or SPSS 18.0 and NVIVO or HYPERRESEARCH); - to write academic and executive reports to communicate and disseminate their findings. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings Main Texts: -Hair, J. F., Money, A.H., Samouel, P. & Page, M. (2007) Research Methods for Business. John Wiley & Sons. - Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2009). Research Methods for Business Students (5e). England, Essex: Prentice Hall – Pearson Education. Supplementary Readings: - Denscombe, M. (2005) The Good Research Guide: for small-scale social research projects. Berkshire: Open Press University. - Field, A. (2009), Discovering Statistics using SPSS (3rd ed.), London: Sage Publications. - Morse, J.M. and Richards, L. (2002) Read me First: for a User’s Guide to Qualitative Methods. London: Sage |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Frank H. Bezzina Vincent Cassar |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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