Actualités et agenda
Nos formations
Présentation
There are no mandatory prerequisites for this course. However, it is recommended that you have already taken statistics or data analysis courses before. Good comprehension of English. You are expected to do additional reading and to familiarize yourself with the software R.
Research methods in Management aims to introduce students to a scientific approach to the study of business issues. The objective is to equip students with the fundamental know-how for undertaking both quantitative and qualitative research to conduct their own research thesis.
The course introduces students to the main tools used for data analysis and applied empirical research focusing in particular on the validation of causal relationships. The acquired knowledge and skills will serve to conduct more effective course-related research and to perform more effectively in the workplace in data analyses.
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Formulate research questions;
- Review literature;
- Select and implement appropriate research designs;
- Collect data;
- Conduct data analysis with computer software such as R;
- Interpret results based on relevant theories and research evidence;
- Write master thesis.
Module 1: Foundations (V. Flambard, 2 hours)
Introduction to Research and the research process
Module 2: Qualitative Research (F. Claeyé, 6 hours)
The nature of qualitative research
Interviewing in qualitative research
(Non)-participant observations and focus groups
Qualitative data analysis
Module 3: Quantitative Research – Exploratory analysis (V. Flambard, 6 hours)
Introduction to quantitative research, design and methods
Data collection and analysis
Descriptive statistics (Frequency tables, graphs and cross-tabulations)
Hypothesis testing
Multivariate analysis- Factor analysis
Module 4: Quantitative Research - Causality analysis (V. Flambard, 4 hours)
Causality and linear regression
Binary outcomes and logit analysis
Analysis and interpretation of results
Concluding
Modalités
The learning approach will include discussions, classroom exercises, assigned preparations and a final project.
Students are expected to attend and actively participate in every class module. In-class activities will be a very important part of the course. Students will need to bring their laptops to each class.
The different learning outcomes described previously will be evaluated. Evaluation is based on three elements (all elaborated in groups of up to three individuals)
· In-class activities 60%
· Group project 40%
Course participants should demonstrate their ability to analyze data to answer to a research question. The empirical project is elaborated in groups of up to 3 members.
In-class activities, worth 60% of the final mark: In each module, you will have an evaluation. Each of the three lecturers will give you more information about his evaluation. The mark will be the average of the 2 best marks (out of the 3) obtained on the three activities.
Group project, worth 40%: By group of 2, you will work on a research project (which could be the basis of a master’s thesis or of a research article). The aim is to formulate a research question and to choose an appropriate methodology. In a 2,000 word document you will justify the use of the methodology and provide a brief literature review to show how your research is positioned in the literature. Alternatively, the term paper can be a research question with an applied analysis of data. You will have to check with one of us that you project is appropriate.
Ressources
|| Creswell, J. W.. <i>Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches</i>. 4th Ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2014.|| Saunders, M., P. Lewis and A. Thornhill. <i> Research Methods for Business Students</i>, 5th edition, FT Prentice Hall, 2009|| Stock J, & M. Watson (2011). Introduction to Econometrics, 3rd édition, Pearson.