Business Research and Development Methods (5op)

Osaamistavoitteet

The main objective of this course is to introduce the main concepts and methods of business research and development activities. These include the most practical terms and ideas to be used in Master studies as well as in the Master thesis process. This course is also covering important issues such as topic and scope of a Master thesis, case company involvement, and thesis assessment criteria. By the end of this course, students will prepare a Thesis Research Proposal.
The main topics in the content of the course:
- Key concepts in business research. Research process. Types of research. Research paradigms (positivism, interpretivism, constructionism).Main concepts (topic, scope, questions, methodology, originality, plagiarism).Business research for MSc thesis.Classification of research methods and techniques.Logic of doing research.Reliability and validity.
- Research techniques.Information sources.Document analysis.Observations.Interviews.Questionnaires.
- Research methods. Case study.Survey. Action research. Other methods.
- Qualitative research design. Research questions and objectives of qualitative research. Approaches to data analysis. Analysis of interviews. Validity of qualitative research.
- Master thesis process. Timetable. Thesis scope and examples. Analysis of a published MSc thesis. Supervision process. How to select a topic? Involvement of case companies and their role. Thesis research proposal.

Sisältö

Academic / Scientific Writing:
Core aspects and practicesof academic / scientific writing for writing course work successfully.

Arviointikriteerit, tyydyttävä (1)

Grade 1 - 2
A student understands mostly correctly the main concepts of business research and a Master thesis scope.
The student is able to propose an relevant idea for thesis project and to complete the research proposal answering all the questions. By this, this completed research proposal has a room for further development although it doesn't include any serious methodological mistakes.
The student knows basic information on the research methods, data collection and analysis techniques and is able to select them for own thesis proposal. There is no indication of the use of literature on business research or the subject topic.
The thesis ideas proposed by the student, although mostly correct, need further development and refinement.

Arviointikriteerit, hyvä (3)

Grade 3 - 4
A student understands well the main concepts of business research and a Master thesis scope.
The student has some knowledge in philosophical paradigms used in business research and is able to apply them mostly correctly.
The student is able to select a theoretically and practically relevant topic for MSc thesis project and to elaborate on this topic completing the research proposal answering fully all the questions in there. Nevertheless, the thesis ideas might be developed on a more detailed level or these include some small methodological flaws.
The student has good knowledge of the research methods and data collection and analysis techniques and is able to plan their usage in thesis project.
The student is able to motivate and explain the methodological choices s/he made and uses correct academic and scientific writing practices most of time presenting own ideas in the text.
The student has read some relevant literature on business research methods and the subject topic which shows in the text of the proposal.

Arviointikriteerit, kiitettävä (5)

Grade 5
The student understands excellently the main concepts of business research and a Master thesis scope; philosophical paradigms used in business research and is able to apply them correctly in own research proposal.
The student is able to select a theoretically and practically relevant topic for MSc thesis project and elaborate on this topic completing the research proposal answering fully all the questions in there.
The student has very good knowledge of the research methods and data collection and analysis techniques and is able to plan their usage in thesis project.
The student is able to motivate and explain the methodological choices s/he made and uses correct academic and scientific writing practices presenting own ideas.
Finally, from the research proposal it is evident that the student has read the relevant literature on business research methods and the subject topic and is able to apply that knowledge practically.