Research Methodology in Business Administration B69 7.5 credits

About the course

The aim of this course is to acquire a basic knowledge of scientific paradigms and research methods. Further, the aim is to develop the students’ ability, first to plan and in written form report a scientific study, and second, to evaluate and use scientific as well as other reports.

The course begins with a discussion on the process of knowledge creation, with an emphasis on the production of scientific knowledge. Important building blocks in this process are frames of reference, scientific ideals, problem formulation, scientific approaches and methods for data collection and analysis.

Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of a well thought-out choice of topic, problematisation, and a careful specification of the problem statement (research question). To this general scientific approach, research design and different types of research strategies are addressed. Further, the possibilities and limitations of quantitative and qualitative methods are discussed. Methods for sampling and data collection are scrutinized, among other things based on the possibilities of accessing information.

The course also includes activities that develops the students’ ability to find information in databases, to use different types of information in an appropriate manner, and to evaluate this information and the sources according to relevant criteria.