Text

Course syllabus - Business Research Methods

Scope

15 credits

Course code

FOA307

Valid from

Autumn semester 2017

Education level

Second cycle

Progressive Specialisation

A1N (Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements).

Main area(s)

Business Administration

School

School of Business, Society and Engineering

Ratified

2015-02-04

Revised

2017-01-31

Literature lists

Course literature is preliminary up to 8 weeks before course start. Course literature can be valid over several semesters.

    • Ratified date: 2019-08-13
    • Latest update: 2019-08-13

    Articles

    Akar, E.; Nasir, V.A.

    A review of literature on consumers' online purchase intentions

    Journal of Customer Behaviour, 2015

    14(3), 215-233

    Anastasiadou, E., Lindh, C. and Vasse, T.

    Are consumers international? A study of CSR, Cross-Border Shopping Commitment and Purchase Intent among Online Consumers

    Journal of global marketing, 2018

    Bagnoli, A.

    Beyond the Standard Interview: The Use of Graphic Elicitation and Arts-based Methods

    Qualitative Research, 2009

    9(5), 547-570

    Bruni A.

    Shadowing Software and Clinical Records: On the Ethnography of Non-Humans and Heterogeneous Contexts.

    Organization, 12(3), pp. 357–378., 2005

    Chang, S.J; Van Witteloostuijn, A.; Eden, L.

    From the editors: Common method variance in international business research

    Journal of International Business Studies, 2010

    41(2), 178-184

    Cronbach, L.J.

    Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests.

    Psychometrika, 1951

    16(3), 297-334

    Gaus, N.

    Selecting research Approaches and Research Designs: A reflective essay

    Qualitative Research Journal, 2017

    17(2), pp. 99-112

    Gesch-Karamanlidis, E.

    Reflecting on Novice Qualitative Interviewer Mistakes

    The Qualitative Report, 2015

    20(5), pp. 712-726

    Hansen, E. M., Yakimova, K., Wallin, M., & Thom

    Can thinking you’re skeptical make you more gullible? The illusion of invulnerability and resistance to manipulation

    In C. Jakobsson & M. Rapp Ricciardi (Eds.), Proceedings of the 7th Nordic Conference on Group and Social Psychology, 2011

    (pp. 52-64). Gothenburg: Sweden

    Blankenburg Holm, D.; Eriksson, K.; Johansson, J.

    Business Networks and Cooperation in International Business Relationships, volym 27

    Journal of International Business Studies, 1996

    27(5), 1033-1053

    Johnstone, L. & Lindh, C.

    The sustainability-age dilemma: A theory of (un)planned behavior via influencers

    Journal of Consumer Marketing, 2017

    17(1), 127 - 139

    Kvale, S.

    Ten Standard Objections to Qualitative Research Interviews

    Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 1994

    25(2), pp. 147-173

    Lindh, C. and Lisichkova. N

    Rationality vs. emotionality among online shoppers: The mediating role of experts as enhancing influencer effect on purchasing intent.

    Journal of Customer Behaviour, 16 (4), pp. 333-351., 2018

    Nordman, E.R.; Tolstoy, D.

    Does relationship psychic distance matter for the learning processes of internationalizing SMEs?

    International Business Review, 2014

    23(1), 30-37

    Reid, A.; Petocz, P.; Gordon, S.

    Research interviews in cyberspace

    Qualitative Research Journal, 2008

    8(1), pp. 47-62

    Star S. L.

    The ethnography of infrastructures.

    American Behavioral Scientist, 43(3), pp. 377-391, 1999

    Yang, K.; Li, X.; Kim, Y.H.

    Social shopping website quality attributes increasing consumer participation, positive eWOM, and co-shopping: The reciprocating role of participation

    Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 2015

    24, 1-9.

    Yilmaz, K.

    Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative Research Traditions: epistemological, theoretical, and methodological differences.

    European Journal of Education, 48(2), pp. 311-325., 2013

    Books

    Bryman, Alan; Bell, Emma

    Business research methods

    4. ed. : Oxford : Oxford Univ. Press, 2015 - 808 S.

    ISBN: 9780199668649 LIBRIS-ID: 17589693

    Further reading (not mandatory)

    Creswell, John W.

    Qualitative inquiry and research design : choosing among five approaches

    3., [updated] ed. : Thousand Oaks : SAGE Publications, cop. 2013 - xxi, 448 p.

    ISBN: 1412995310 LIBRIS-ID: 12594489

    “Designing a qualitative study" pp. 42-68

    Saunders, Mark; Lewis, Philip; Thornhill, Adrian.

    Research methods for business students

    Eighth edition : Harlow : Pearson Education, 2019 - 833 sidor

    ISBN: 9781292208787 LIBRIS-ID: hsvjz1sdf23zhwkc

    As e-book: ISBN: 9781292121949 look on google for best price.

    Other Materials

    Fisher, C. M.; Buglear, John.

    Researching and writing a dissertation : an essential guide for business students

    3rd ed. : Harlow, England : Financial Times/Prentice Hall, 2010. - 1 online resource (xii, 436 p.)

    LIBRIS-ID: 11929909

    Only Chapter 2 Writing a critical review

    E-book: Yin’s Case Study Research

    Akademin för ekonomi, samhälle och teknik,

    URL: Link

    • Ratified date: 2018-06-25
    • Latest update: 2018-06-25

    Articles

    Bagnoli, A.

    Beyond the Standard Interview: The Use of Graphic Elicitation and Arts-based Methods

    Qualitative Research, 2009

    9(5), 547-570

    Friese, S., Soratto, J., Pires, D.

    Carrying out a computer-aided thematic content analysis with ATLAS.ti

    -, 2018

    URL: Link

    Gaus, N.

    Selecting research Approaches and Research Designs: A reflective essay

    Qualitative Research Journal, 2017

    17(2), pp. 99-112

    Gesch-Karamanlidis, E.

    Reflecting on Novice Qualitative Interviewer Mistakes

    The Qualitative Report, 2015

    20(5), pp. 712-726

    Kvale, S.

    Ten Standard Objections to Qualitative Research Interviews

    Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 1994

    25(2), pp. 147-173

    Reid, A.; Petocz, P.; Gordon, S.

    Research interviews in cyberspace

    Qualitative Research Journal, 2008

    8(1), pp. 47-62

    Schouten, J.W., McAlexander, J.H.

    "Subcultures of consumption: An ethnography of the new bikers"

    Journal of Consumer Research, 1995

    22(1), 43-61

    Akar, E.; Nasir, V.A.

    A review of literature on consumers' online purchase intentions

    Journal of Customer Behaviour, 2015

    14(3), 215-233

    Chang, S.J; Van Witteloostuijn, A.; Eden, L.

    From the editors: Common method variance in international business research

    Journal of International Business Studies, 2010

    41(2), 178-184

    Cronbach, L.J.

    Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests.

    Psychometrika, 1951

    16(3), 297-334

    Hansen, E. M., Yakimova, K., Wallin, M., & Thom

    Can thinking you’re skeptical make you more gullible? The illusion of invulnerability and resistance to manipulation

    In C. Jakobsson & M. Rapp Ricciardi (Eds.), Proceedings of the 7th Nordic Conference on Group and Social Psychology, 2011

    (pp. 52-64). Gothenburg: Sweden

    Blankenburg Holm, D.; Eriksson, K.; Johansson, J.

    Business Networks and Cooperation in International Business Relationships, volym 27

    Journal of International Business Studies, 1996

    27(5), 1033-1053

    Johnstone, L. & Lindh, C.

    The sustainability-age dilemma: A theory of (un)planned behavior via influencers

    Journal of Consumer Marketing, 2017

    17(1), 127 - 139

    Nordman, E.R.; Tolstoy, D.

    Does relationship psychic distance matter for the learning processes of internationalizing SMEs?

    International Business Review, 2014

    23(1), 30-37

    Reynolds, N.; Diamantopoulos, A.

    The effect of pretest method on error detection rates: Experimental evidence

    European Journal of Marketing, 1998

    32(5/6), 480-498

    Yang, K.; Li, X.; Kim, Y.H.

    Social shopping website quality attributes increasing consumer participation, positive eWOM, and co-shopping: The reciprocating role of participation

    Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 2015

    24, 1-9.

    Books

    Møller, Louise.; Tollestrup, Christian.

    Creating Shared Understanding in Product Development Teams : How to ‘Build the Beginning’

    London : Springer London, 2013. - XIV, 133 p. 74 illus., 7 illus. in color.

    ISBN: 978-1-4471-4180-8 LIBRIS-ID: 13601075

    URL: Table of Contents / Abstracts

    only Chapter 3: “Workshop Cases and Method"

    Creswell, John W.

    Qualitative inquiry and research design : choosing among five approaches

    3., [updated] ed. : Thousand Oaks : SAGE Publications, cop. 2013 - xxi, 448 p.

    ISBN: 1412995310 LIBRIS-ID: 12594489

    “Designing a qualitative study" pp. 42-68

    Bryman, Alan; Bell, Emma

    Business research methods

    4. ed. : Oxford : Oxford Univ. Press, 2015 - 808 S.

    ISBN: 9780199668649 LIBRIS-ID: 17589693

    Further reading (not mandatory)

    Other Materials

    ATLAS.ti Windows

    -,

    URL: Link

    (first 15 pages at least)

    If you use Mac:
    http://downloads.atlasti.com/docs/mac/ATLAS.ti_for_Mac-Getting_Started_EN.pdf?_ga=2.149393589.201237612.1529060299-1860937943.1511462801

    • Ratified date: 2017-06-13
    • Latest update: 2017-06-13

    Articles

    Hudson Anderson, L.; Ozanne, J.

    Alternative Ways of Seeking Knowledge in Consumer Research

    Journal of Consumer Research, 1988

    14(4), pp. 508-521

    Graebner, M.; Martin, J.

    Qualitative Data: Cooking Without A Recipe

    Strategic Organization, 2012

    10(3), pp. 276-284

    Gaus, N.

    Selecting research Approaches and Research Designs: A reflective essay

    Qualitative Research Journal, 2017

    17(2), pp. 99-112

    Reid, A.; Petocz, P.; Gordon, S.

    Research interviews in cyberspace

    Qualitative Research Journal, 2008

    8(1), pp. 47-62

    Gesch-Karamanlidis, E.

    Reflecting on Novice Qualitative Interviewer Mistakes

    The Qualitative Report, 2015

    20(5), pp. 712-726

    Kvale, S.

    Ten Standard Objections to Qualitative Research Interviews

    Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 1994

    25(2), pp. 147-173

    Kozinets, R.V.

    The Field behind the Screen: Using Netnography for Marketing Research in Online Communities

    Journal of Marketing Research, 2002

    XXXIX, pp. 61-72

    Van Maanen, J.

    Ethnography as Work: Some Rules of Engagement

    Journal of Management Studies, 2011

    48(1), pp. 218-234

    Watson, T.J.

    Ethnography, Reality, and Truth: The Vital Need for Studies of ‘How Things Work’ in Organizations and Management

    Journal of Management Studies, 2011

    48(1), pp. 202-217

    Eisenhardt, K.M.

    Building Theories from Case Study Research

    The Academy of Management Review, 1989

    14(4), pp. 532-550

    Palys, T.; Atchinson, C.

    Qualitative Research in the Digital Era: Obstacles and Opportunities

    International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 2012

    11(4), pp. 352-367

    Langley, A.

    Strategies for Theorizing from Process Data

    The Academy of Management Review, 1999

    24(4), pp. 691-710

    Seale, C.

    Quality in Qualitative Research

    Qualitative Inquiry, 1999

    5(4), pp. 465-478

    Akar, E.; Nasir, V.A.

    A review of literature on consumers' online purchase intentions

    Journal of Customer Behaviour, 2015

    14(3), 215-233.

    Chang, S.J; Van Witteloostuijn, A.; Eden, L.

    From the editors: Common method variance in international business research

    Journal of International Business Studies, 2010

    41(2), 178-184

    Cronbach, L.J.

    Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests.

    Psychometrika, 1951

    16(3), 297-334

    Blankenburg Holm, D.; Eriksson, K.; Johansson, J.

    Business Networks and Cooperation in International Business Relationships, volym 27

    Journal of International Business Studies, 1996

    27(5), 1033-1053

    Maoyan; Zhujunxuan; Sangyang

    Consumer Purchase Intention Research Based on Social Media Marketing

    International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2014

    5, 10(1), pp. 92-97

    Nordman, E.R.; Tolstoy, D.

    Does relationship psychic distance matter for the learning processes of internationalizing SMEs?

    International Business Review, 2014

    23(1), 30-37

    Reynolds, N.; Diamantopoulos, A.

    The effect of pretest method on error detection rates: Experimental evidence

    European Journal of Marketing, 1998

    32(5/6), 480-498

    Yang, K.; Li, X.; Kim, Y.H.

    Social shopping website quality attributes increasing consumer participation, positive eWOM, and co-shopping: The reciprocating role of participation

    Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 2015

    24, 1-9.

Objectives

The purpose of this course is to give the students knowledge of scientific methods relevant to the field of study by practicing critical and analytical thinking, information search and examination of materials, as well as interpersonal skills through group work.

Learning outcomes

After completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1. discuss various scientific and methodological approaches and demonstrate knowledge of their strengths and weaknesses
2. plan and conduct information search
3. evaluate and analyze different types of sources in a critical way
4. conduct group work together with colleagues and actively contribute to solving tasks
5. communicate and present (orally and in writing) conclusions and methods to an international audience of both specialists and non-specialists
6. review and provide peer feedback on other students' work, and argue and discuss about their own contribution in the learning activities
7. carry out their studies in a way that is largely independent and self-governing

Course content

The course provides an overview of available and relevant research methods and will allow the student to develop their skills in using research models and methods to support decision making in organizations.

Tuition

Lectures, seminars, work-shops and groupwork.

Specific requirements

Degree of Bachelor of at least 180 credits of which at least 90 credits of progressive specialization in Business Administration. In addition Swedish B/Swedish 3 and English B/ English 6 are required. In cases where the course is given in English, exemption from the Swedish B/Swedish 3 is given.

Examination

Written Assignment (INL2), 3 credits, grade Pass (G) or Fail (U), or Pass with Distinction (VG) [learning outcomes 1, 3-7]
Written Assignment (INL3), 3 credits, grade Pass (G) or Fail (U) Pass with Distinction (VG) [learning outcomes 1-4]
Seminar (SEM4), 3 credits, grade Pass (G) or Fail (U) Pass with Distinction (VG) [learning outcomes 1, 3-7]
Written Assignment (INL4), 3 credits, grade Pass (G) or Fail (U), Pass with Distinction (VG) [learning outcomes 1-7]
Seminar (SEM5), 3 credits, grade Pass (G) or Fail (U), Pass with Distinction (VG) [learning outcomes 1, 3-7]

The final grade is calculated as an average of all the parts of the course. All parts must be completed in order to receive a grade.

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.

Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.

Grade

Pass with distinction, Pass, Fail

Interim Regulations and Other Regulations

The course overlaps 15 credits with EFO701 Marketing Issues in an International Context and 15 credits with EFO249 Introduction to Management and Research Methods.