3803260: Empirical Research Methods - IME

Description

• Research methodology 1: Basic of research; Philosophical issues
• Research methodology 2: Conceptualization, Operationalization, Measurement
• Literature Research; Critically reviewing the literature
• Designing management research (overview methods qualitative; quantitative)
• Qualitative field research
• Quantitative field research
• Quantitative methods: Sampling
• Quantitative methods: Data collection using questionnaires, interviews and observation
• Quantitative methods : Research Design
• Presentation Groupwork

Learning Outcomes

The course provides students with the methodological background for collecting empirical data.

By the end of the course students should

• be able to transform a relative vague term of ordinary language into precise objects of study with well-defined and measurable meanings
• appreciate what a literature reviews in research entails and why it is necessary
• understand and evaluate different sources of information
• learn about different styles of research (qualitative, quantitative)
• know major components of both styles
• identify the main issues to consider when preparing qualitative data for analysis
• learn about conducting qualitative field research
• Identify strengths and weaknesses of both qualitative and quantitative research
• understand the need for sampling in management research
• be aware of a range of probability and non probability techniques
• understand the advantages and disadvantages of questionnaires as a data collection method
• be able to classify research interviews in order to understand the purpose of each type
• understand the role that observation may play as a data collection method
• understand the importance of having thought carefully about the research design
• be able to write an expose
• have the relevant knowledge and skills needed to write a bachelor thesis

Lectures Method

Lecture with integrated practical exercises

Admission Requirements

Knowledge of mathematics and statistics (modules "Wirtschaftsmathematik", "Wirtschaftsstatistik");

Literature

Babbie, E. (2007). The practice of social research (11. ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.
Easterby-Smith, M.; Thorpe, R.; Jackson, P.R.; Lowe, A. (2008): Management research, London: Sage
Trochim, William M.; Donnelly, James P. (2008): Research methods knowledge base. 3. ed. London: Thomson

Prerequisities

The following conditions need to be met prior to registering for the module exam:

• successful completion of all first year full-time programme modules

• succesful completion of the module "Communication in English for Business"

• BEC II certificate

• succesful completion of the module "Communication in English for Business"