Research methods (5 cr)

Objective

You are able to plan a research project and formulate the research questions.

You are able to select and justify suitable qualitative and quantitative methods for a given project.

You are able to select and apply appropriate data analysis techniques.

You are able to evaluate the quality of your own research.

You are able to apply ethical principles in research work.

Content

How to generate new ideas for research?

How to formulate the research question properly?

What are the different qualitative and quantitative research methods?

How to analyze the collected data through various procedures?

How to determine if the study is reliable, valid and ethical?

Course material

The course material consists of lecture notes and materials posted in the Learn platform. The following textbook is an example of recommended supplementary source but it is not compulsory:
Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A., 2016. Research Methods for Business Students. Essex: Pearson Education Limited.

Study forms and methods

Individual study tracks can be negotiated with the instructor. It will be available only if the student can provide sufficient basis for such implementation. There can be a pre-test to assess the students’ ability and suitability to complete the course individually.

RDI and work-related cooperation

The tasks will support students’ own thesis work. Tasks can be part of the students’ own project to support development work at their own organization if they are employed. Guest lecturers and company related projects are possible from existing RDI projects at XAMK or sourced locally.

Timing of exams and assignments

There is no written exam at the end. There are two main assignments in the course: one for qualitative research methods and another for quantitative research methods. There will be theme tasks during the course.

There is a small assignment in the beginning of the course; the deadline for this assignment is 12.9.2023 at 21:00. This assignment is evaluated by Heli Bergström.
The deadline for the final assignment of qualitative research methods is 22.10.2023 at 21:00 if you want your grade during October 2023, and, 17.11.2023 at 21:00 at the latest. Evaluator of this task: Heli Bergström

The deadline for the final assignment of quantitative research methods is 17.11.2023 at 21:00 at the latest. Evaluator of this task: Hoa Ngo.

International cooperation

Students have possibilities to complete theme tasks in international and multicultural groups. The case assigned for the theme specific project report can involve collaborating with SMEs aiming to internationalize abroad.

Student workload

There are five meetings which combine lectures and workshops. Dates and times for meetings are as follows: 6.9.2023 at 13:00-16:00 (qualitative methods), 11.9.2023 at 13:30-17:00 (qualitative methods), 18.9.2023 at 10:00-13:45 (qualitative methods), 18.9.2023 at 14:00-16:00 (quantitative methods), 25.9.2023 at 10:00-16:00 (quantitative methods) and 9.10.2023 at 10:00-16:00 (quantitative methods).

The theme specific tasks will be done mainly during workshops and they all support the final assignments. The theme tasks will be completed concurrently with the discussion of the theme background material.

Course part description

Qualitative research methods: Research process, Data gathering, Data analysis, Reporting the study & reliability of the study.

Quantitative research methods: Statistics, SPSS & Dependence between two variables.

Further information

Please contact heli.bergstrom@xamk.fi directly for further information (qualitative research methods and general course issues) or hoa.ngo@xamk.fi (quantitative research methods).

Evaluation scale

1-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Students can

a. look for information in the key information sources of the field

b. identify interrelated tasks

c. use the key models, methods, software and technologies of the professional field

d. work as a team member in a goal-oriented way

e. justify your actions according to the ethical principles of the professional field