Quantitative Research (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Objective

You will acquire the knowledge, understanding and applied skills of quantitative research including its conceptual and methodological aspects. You will understand the role and relevance of quantitative methods in the context of empirical research including their limitations.

You will develop the ability to conduct a quantitative research to your own field of research and development work. You can identify the applicability of various types of quantitative data and methods for solving different types of research questions.

You are expected to acquire the following competencies in this course:

Learning to learn
• You recognize your strengths and needs for learning.
• You make use of learning methods and tools that support your learning best.
• You seek, acquire, and critically assess information from reliable sources.

Proactive development
• You identify development areas by anticipating the future of your field.
• You apply existing knowledge and utilize appropriate research methods in development projects.
• You develop the ability to think out of the box and challenge the limits to come up with creative and innovative solutions.

Sustainable global business management
• You critically review and understand core concepts of global business management and sustainability from multidisciplinary perspectives of marketing, sales, strategy, finance, and management.
• You apply disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge to analyze global business challenges and propose sustainable business solutions to grow new ventures in global markets.

Content

Epistemological grounds of quantitative research, definition of the research topic, formulation of the research questions, process of quantitative research, methods of data collection, main analysis methods for Master's thesis, reliability of quantitative research, ethics in quantitative research.

Quantitative Research
Hypotheses testing
Populations and samples,
Normality assumption of data,
Descriptive statistics,
Correlational analysis
Regression analysis (simple, linear),
T-tests and ANOVA
Validity and reliability of data, assumptions of parametric data
Logistic regression and non-linear regression,
Explorative Factor analysis,
Non-parametric tests
Revisiting assumptions of parametric data
Multi-collinearity, Autocorrelation and Heteroscedasticity

Location and time

The course is held in the autumn semester. There will be a two-hour long lecture and one hour of workshop per week.

Teaching methods

The primary modes of delivery are face-to-face learning (lectures, workshops, presentations), distance learning (e.g. online lectures and presentations) and hyflex learning mode.

Exam schedules

Exam will be held during the last week of the course and details of the exam date, timings and venue will be notified at the learning platform. The retake exam will be held once in the Spring semester and Autumn semester.

International connections

There are possibilities of having collaborations with other universities in Finland and abroad with respect to joint research, and corporate projects.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Sufficient 1:
You demonstrate an understanding of the epistemological grounds of quantitative research as well as its strengths and weaknesses. You recognize different quantitative materials and methods that are suited for the solution of different types of research assignments. You have basic preparedness to carry out quantitative research. You perceive how quantitative research is assessed.

You have demonstrated a basic level of knowledge, skills, applications in all the three competences: Learning to learn, Proactive development and Sustainable global business management.

Satisfactory 2:
You demonstrate an understanding of the epistemological grounds of quantitative research as well as its strengths and weaknesses. You recognize and are able to select different quantitative materials and methods that are suited for the solution of different types of research assignments. You have basic preparedness to carry out quantitative research. You perceive how quantitative research is assessed and apply the information to the research and development work of your own field.

You have demonstrated an intermediate level of knowledge, skills, applications in one and basic level in the remaining two competences out of a total three competences: Learning to learn, Proactive development and Sustainable global business management.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good 3:
You demonstrate an understanding of the epistemological grounds of quantitative research as well as its strengths and weaknesses. You select and justify your choice of quantitative material and methods that are suited to solving the research assignments of your thesis. You have good preparedness to carry out quantitative research. You can assess quantitative research and apply the information to the research and development work of your own field.

You have demonstrated an excellent level of knowledge, skills, applications in one and intermediate level in the remaining two competences out of a total three competences: Learning to learn, Proactive development and Sustainable global business management.

Very good 4:
You specify with justifications the epistemological grounds and methods of your quantitative research. You competently examine the strengths and weaknesses of quantitative research. You assess the suitability of different quantitative materials and methods to solving different types of research assignments. You have very good preparedness to carry out quantitative research. You assess quantitative research and its applicability to the research and development work of your own field.

You have demonstrated an excellent level of knowledge, skills, applications in two and intermediate level in the remaining competence out of a total three competences: Learning to learn, Proactive development and Sustainable global business management.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

You specify with justifications the epistemological grounds and methods of your quantitative research. You competently examine the strengths and weaknesses of quantitative research. You assess the suitability of different quantitative materials and methods to solving different types of research assignments. You have excellent preparedness to carry out quantitative research. You critically assess quantitative research and its applicability to the research and development work of your own field.

You have demonstrated an excellent level of knowledge, skills, applications in all the three competences: Learning to learn, Proactive development and Sustainable global business management.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree