Research Theory and Methods

VT308E

The purpose of the course is development of students’ critical and reflective relationship with their own research, as well as ability to assess research in general. This requires knowledge of the history of scientific development, philosophy of science and methodological approaches.

The course is formed by two complementary modules. The first module comprises lectures on different perspectives of philosophy of science, the demarcation line between science and non-science, research ethics, and between explanation and understanding. This allows students to position their research designs in an adequate scientific paradigm.

The main purpose of the second module is to provide understanding of the choices, problems and opportunities that researchers are faced with in the process of planning and carrying out research. Therefore, a range of research methods, approaches to research and ways of carrying out data analysis are therefore presented and discussed in relation to theories of science. As part of both methods, students are requested to identify and examine methodological issues within their projects and critically reflect upon them on the basis of theories of science. The students are thus invited to reflect on the goals and ideals, approaches and methods of their own knowledge production.

It is possible to apply for admission to the course as a single course. There are reservations about the available capacity on the course. The single course applicant must meet the current admission requirements for the Master of Science in Business, Master of Science in Global Management or Master of Accounting and Auditing.

More information about single courses and deadlines.

Students completing the course acquire the following:

Knowledge

The student has in-depth knowledge of the historical scientific development and its implications for business and management research.
The student has advanced knowledge of relevant scientific paradigms for business and management research.
The student has extensive knowledge of the basic values of science, and research ethics.
The student has advanced knowledge about how criterions like credibility, validity, reliability and truth are used in relation to the theories and methods employed in business and management research projects.
The student has in-depth knowledge about the appropriate research design in relation to various kinds of research questions, and choosing appropriate qualitative or quantitative methods.
The student has extensive knowledge on the key processes involved in the most commonly used research methods in business and management

Skills

The student can critically reflect in relation to his or her own knowledge production, including reflections on relevance and legitimacy.
The student can construct his or her own research design or strategy in his or her projects, and to consider the appropriateness of and the implicit assumptions behind these designs and strategies with reference to relevant theories of science.
The student can critically assess the ethical implications of his, her own or others’ research
The student can perform qualitative and quantitative analysis by applying appropriate methods and techniques
The student can communicate scientific research to a diverse academic audience

Compenteces

The student can explain the ethical and political importance of science in the international community
The student can critically reflect on project-related choices of theories of science and methods in the field of business and management
The student can critically reflect on choices of qualitative and quantitative research methods in the fields of business and management
The student can take responsibility for his or her continuous professional development through acquisition of new knowledge about the development and renewal of theories of science and research designs.

Paid semester fee and syllabus literature. It is also required that students have a laptop at their disposal.

Compulsory

The learning activities consists of lectures, essay writing and supervised assignment work where the students integrate theories with practical assigments.

The study programme is evaluated annually by students by way of course evaluation studies. These evaluations are included in the universitys quality assurance system.

All support materials allowed.

Overlap refers to a similarity between courses with the same content. Therefore, you will receive the following reduction in credits if you have taken the courses listed below:

EN311E - Research Methods - 7.5 credits

BØ300E - Research methods 3 - 6 credits

VT302E - Research Methods 2 - 7.5 credits