Study Guide

Objective

This course is an essential part in the overall learning process during Master studies. 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 applied in Master studies as well as in the Master thesis process. Students get practical knowledge and skills on selecting and defining the business development problem in the case company. During this course, students prepare a research proposal, which is the actual beginning of the Master thesis work.

Content

The main topics in this course are:
-Key concepts of business research. Research process in general. Research paradigms: positivism, interpretivism, constructionism. Main concepts of research, such as topic, scope, questions, methodology, originality, plagiarism. Business research and development. Logic of doing research. Reliability and validity.
-Research techniques and methods. Information sources. Document analysis. Observations. Interviews. Questionnaires. 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 already completed Master theses. Supervision process. Involvement of case companies and their role. Master thesis research proposal.

Location and time

Tue 10.1.2023 9:00-12:00 Tornio / online Zoom
Thu 2.3.2023 17:30-20:30 online Zoom
Thu 16.3.2023 17:30-20:30 online Zoom
Thu 20.4.2023 17:30-20:30 online Zoom

Materials

Yin. R.K. 2016. Qualitative research from start to finish. 2nd ed. New York. The Guilford Press.

Beverland M. and Lindgreen A. 2021. What makes a good case study? A positivist review of qualitative case research published in Industrial Marketing Management, 1971-2006. Industrial Marketing Management, 39, pp. 56-63.

Additional literature consists of relevant scientific publications and books recommend by the teacher or suggested by the students in their assignments.

Teaching methods

Contact lessons and assignment in which problem based learning, learning by writing, and case learning is used as a teaching method.

The main objective is to introduce the main concepts and methods of business research and development activities.
This module covers important concepts such as research methodology, data collection and analysis, as well as the case company involvement.

Every course session includes discussions between the instructor(s) and participating students. Students get feedback on their research design part of their thesis and are expected to be active and contribute to the sessions.

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

0. The student did not submit the course assignments or these assignments did not meet the minimal quality requirements presented in the class.
1-2. The student understands mostly correctly the main concepts of business research and a Master thesis scope. The student is able to propose a 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.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

3-4. The 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. Additionally, 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. Finally, the student has read some relevant literature on business research methods and the subject topic, which shows in the text of the proposal.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

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. Additionally, 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.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

The student understands mostly correctly the main concepts of business research and a Master thesis scope.

The student knows basic information on the research methods, data collection and analysis techniques and is able to select them for own thesis proposal.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

The 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 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.

Assessment criteria, excellent (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 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.