Research Methods in Management: Data Analysis for Sustainability Evaluation

Master 2022/2023

Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'

Category 'Best Course for New Knowledge and Skills'

Type: Compulsory course (Sustainable Business Management)

Area of studies: Management

Delivered by: Department of Strategic and International Management

Where: Graduate School of Business

When: 1 year, 1, 2 module

Mode of studies: offline

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Ekaterina Ivanova

Master’s programme: Management of Corporate Sustainable Development

Language: English

ECTS credits: 6

Contact hours: 48

Full Syllabus

Abstract

This course aims to introduce students to a scientific approach to the study of management in the context of urgent problems on the sustainability management agenda. The focus is on providing students with the fundamental knowledge and skills to critically reflect research conducted by others and for undertaking their own qualitative and quantitative research. The course is divided into six interrelated parts: introduction to research methods, research methods in management science, problem formulation, research implementation, research design and data analysis, communication of research findings (discussion and publication) supported by the individual mentoring sessions. The course begins with broad questions about knowledge acquisition that underpin any sociological, management or organizational inquiry. Then the course takes a deep look into the research conceptualization, sampling, measurement, design, analysis and communication techniques implemented in both qualitative and quantitative studies. As part of the course, students will learn the foundations of academic writing and will develop their individual research proposal as an important step in getting prepared to defend a master's thesis. This course is based on the flipped classroom approach, which requires students to come prepared to each class and take an active part in class. By the end of the course, students can expect to have acquired an appreciation of the responsible management research process both as a methodology and as craft.

Learning Objectives

Understand how social scientists generate knowledge about the social world, and why it is done the ways it is done.
Construct and formulate research questions with a positive impact for the society and respect for the nature and ability to find answers to them.
Understand the foundations of conducting a research project and how quantitative and qualitative research methods are applied in managing sustainability responsibly.
Learn how to design and conduct a study by collecting, analyzing, interpreting and visualizing qualitative and quantitative data for sustainability evaluation.
Hone academic writing skills through developing a research proposal for the master’s thesis with an individual mentoring support of the course instructor.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate an understanding of the philosophical foundations of the different methodological approaches applied in responsible management research.
Identify sustainable business management problems and resulting research needs through the critical reflection of extant body of knowledge and the different research approaches and designs used in them.
Recognize the role and utilisation of the scientific method when transforming responsible management research needs into research questions and goals.
Apply inquiry to investigate sustainable business management issues with the goal to expand theoretical knowledge and/or make a practical contribution in the field by using the scientific method.
Develop a research proposal that acknowledges the role of responsible research values and ethics in the unique kinds of theorizing and explaining the sustainable business management phenomena.

Course Contents

1. Introduction to research methods
2. Research methods in management science
3. Problem formulation
4. Research implementation
5. Research design and data analysis
6. Communication of research findings

Assessment Elements

Informed Class Participation (attendance and presence)
Essence of Research Methodology Presentations (mid-term group assignment)
Research Methods Knowledge Base Presentations (mid-term group assignment)
Academic Writing Skills Presentations (mid-term group assignment)
Research Proposal: Elaboration and Defense (final individual assignment)

Interim Assessment

2022/2023 2nd module
0.2 * Academic Writing Skills Presentations (mid-term group assignment) + 0.1 * Essence of Research Methodology Presentations (mid-term group assignment) + 0.2 * Research Methods Knowledge Base Presentations (mid-term group assignment) + 0.1 * Informed Class Participation (attendance and presence) + 0.4 * Research Proposal: Elaboration and Defense (final individual assignment)

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

How to write a thesis, Eco, U., 2015
The essence of research methodology : a concise guide for master and PhD students in management science, Jonker, J., 2010

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Cooperrider, D. L., Stavros, J. M., & Whitney, D. K. (2008). The Appreciative Inquiry Handbook : For Leaders of Change (Vol. 2nd ed). Brunswick, OH: Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=260682
Silverman, D. (DE-588)141743867, (DE-576)163079072. (2010). Doing qualitative research : a practical handbook / David Silverman. Los Angeles [u.a.]: SAGE. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.307026035

Course Syllabus