Quantitative Research (5cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Content scheduling

The following course contents will be included in the course:

Research plan,
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)

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.

You will acquire the knowledge and understanding of quantitative research methods and methodology. You will understands the strengths and the weaknesses of quantitative research. You will be able to conduct a quantitative research and assess it as well as its applicability to your own field of research and development work. You can identify the applications of well-reasoned methods pertaining to quantitative data for solving different types of research questions.

Execution methods

The modes of course delivery is online. The teaching methods are comprising of lecture-based learning with explicit focus on technology-based learning, Group learning involving students analyzing data by applying multiple techniques, and individual learning whereby students reflecting their knowledge and skills.

Content

The focus of the course will be on the following aspects:
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

To understand the above the following course contents will be included in the course:

Research plan,
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)


Items of Assessment:
Research Plan (Written Assignment) Data Analysis Report Critical Reflection Essay (Ethic Online Quizzes Final Project or Mini-Thesis

Location and time

The course is held in the spring semester.

Materials

Study Material
Lecture slides and spreadsheets, research articles and pre-recorded lecture videos.

Text Book (1) Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS Statistics (5th Edition) by Andy Field Publishers: SAGE Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-1526436566, ISBN-10: 1526436566

Technology
Microsoft Excel, SPSS

Teaching methods

The primary modes of delivery of the course is face-to-face learning (lectures, workshops, presentations). The teaching methods are comprising of lecture-based learning with explicit focus on technology-based learning, Group learning involving students analyzing data by applying multiple techniques, and individual learning whereby students reflecting their knowledge and skills.

The course aims to explore various aspects of
-Epistemological grounds of quantitative research
-Definition of the research topic, formulation of the research questions
-Process of quantitative research
-Methods of data collection
-Multiple analysis methods
-Reliability of quantitative research
-Ethics in quantitative research

The attendance of the students in the classroom in mandatory. Any unauthorized absence can lead to disenrollment from the course.

Exam schedules

Exam dates will be disclosed a week before the commencement of the course.

Student workload

Lectures 27 h
Assignments 54 h
Independent study 54 h
Total 135h ( one credit equals 27 hours of student work)

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

0 (Fail):
The student does not achieve the competence goals of the course

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

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

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 are able to select and justify your choice of quantitative material and methods that are suited to solving the research assignments of your thesis and problem assignments. You are well prepared to carry out quantitative research. You can assess quantitative research and perceive, and apply your knowledge and skills to the research and development work related to your own field.

Very good 4
You demonstrate an understanding of the epistemological grounds of quantitative research as well as its strengths and weaknesses. You are able to select and justify your choice of quantitative material and methods that are suited to solving the research assignments of your thesis and problem assignments. You are well prepared to carry out quantitative research. You can assess quantitative research and perceive, and apply your knowledge and skills to the research and development work related to your own field to a higher level; and draw suitable inferences.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent 5
You demonstrate an understanding of the epistemological grounds of quantitative research as well as its strengths and weaknesses. You are able to select and justify your choice of quantitative material and methods that are suited to solving the research assignments of your thesis and problem assignments. You are well prepared to carry out quantitative research. You can assess quantitative research and perceive, and apply your knowledge and skills to the research and development work related to your own field to an excellent level; and draw suitable inferences.

Qualifications

You must have a basic understanding of quantitative methods and their applications.

Further information

Assessment:

(A) Data Analysis (40% weight)-It is an Individual Assignment. Based on the quantitative data sets, you will be required to:
(1) Apply various types of data analysis methods via SPSS.
(2) Interpret and infer the results on the other hand in an excel file.

(B) Online Assignments (60% weight)
Based on contents studied in the lecture slides and recommended research articles, each of you will be required to do individual assignments. You will receive more details about their description and number during the lecture sessions.