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Advanced Research Design and Methodologies

SMP804

Course CodeSMP804
ECTS

Course Description

Gathering and Analysing data is an integral part of the DBA programme. This module is designed to advance the existing knowledge of research methods and aims to introduce complex research design and advanced methods for analysing and interpreting literature, higher level methods for analysing complex qualitative and quantitative data. There will be special focus on the tools that are available for data analysis and learners will be introduced to a wide range of data analysis tools applicable to business research.

Course Objectives

Gathering and Analysing data is an integral part of the DBA programme. This module is designed to advance the existing knowledge of research methods and aims to introduce complex research design and advanced methods for analysing and interpreting literature, higher level methods for analysing complex qualitative and quantitative data. There will be special focus on the tools that are available for data analysis and learners will be introduced to a wide range of data analysis tools applicable to business research.

Key Topics

  1. LO1: Be able to analyse various research approaches and propose appropriate methodology for solving the problem.
  2. LO2: Be able to evaluate various data collection methodologies and justify the choice of methodology for a given scenario.
  3. LO3: Be able to demonstrate capability to analyse wide range of quantitative data and make meaningful interpretations.
  4. LO4: Be able gain advanced understanding and capabilities to analyse qualitative data.
  5. LO5: Be able to demonstrate advanced understanding about the ethical issues related to research.
  6. LO6: Be able to develop a detailed report by undertaking a systematic analysis of a given dataset.

Course Outline

WeekTopics
1Philosophical Foundations and Epistemological Frameworks
2Advanced Research Design and Strategic Methodological Alignment
3Data Collection Instrument Design, Reliability, and Validity
4Research Ethics, Governance, and Lifecycle Integrity
5Quantitative Conceptual Modelling and Hypothesis Formulation
6Quantitative Data Management and Preliminary Statistical Testing
7Advanced Inferential Statistics and Hypothesis Testing
MidtermMidterm evaluation
9Qualitative Inquiry Approaches and Methodological Challenges
10Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis
11Integrated Doctoral Reporting, Methodological Reflexivity, and Limitations
12Applying Advanced Research Design and Methodologies in practice: case studies
13Assignment workshop: research, planning and referencing
14Assignment workshop: drafting, feedback and improvement
15Review and coursework completion
FinalFinal assessment and submission

Learning Outcomes

  1. LO1 Be able to analyse various research approaches and propose appropriate methodology for solving the problem.
  2. 1.1 Critically evaluate various research approaches that are available for solving a problem.
  3. 1.2 Demonstrate understanding of research philosophies and its influence in data collection process.
  4. 1.3 Justify the choice of research design, strategy and choice of research method.
  5. LO2 Be able to evaluate various data collection methodologies and justify the choice of methodology for a given scenario.
  6. 2.1 Identify appropriate methods for gathering data that aligns with the research design.
  7. 2.2 Analyse various methods in terms of its advantages and weakness.
  8. 2.3 Evaluate data collection methods in terms of reliability and validity of research.
  9. 2.4 Justify a data collection method for a given scenario.
  10. LO3 Be able to demonstrate capability to analyse wide range of quantitative data and make meaningful interpretations.
  11. 3.1 Extract, Transform and Load quantitative data into specialised software packages such as SPSS.
  12. 3.2 Identify dependant, independent, intervening, moderator, control and extraneous variables.
  13. 3.3 Develop hypothesis for a given research context.
  14. 3.4 Evaluate various statistical test for a given scenario and justify the chosen test.
  15. 3.5 Test the hypothesis with the most appropriate and draw meaningful conclusions.
  16. LO4 Be able gain advanced understanding and capabilities to analyse qualitative data.
  17. 4.1 Evaluate the range of qualitative approaches that are available for undertaking qualitative research.
  18. 4.2 Appreciate the challenges associated in undertaking qualitative research and the implications in research design.
  19. 4.3 Demonstrate high level understanding of various qualitative analysis techniques and tools.
  20. LO5 Be able to demonstrate advanced understanding about the ethical issues related to research.
  21. 5.1 Appreciate the importance of research ethics and its contribution to generation of new knowledge.
  22. 5.2 Identify ethical issues that can arise for a given research scenario and provide relevant recommendations.
  23. 5.3 Develop an argument and counter arguments on the ethical issues related to data collection, storage, analysis and reporting.
  24. LO6 Be able to develop a detailed report by undertaking a systematic analysis of a given dataset.
  25. 6.1 Undertake qualitative and quantitative data analysis for a given dataset.
  26. 6.2 Develop a report presenting the findings after making appropriate interpretations.
  27. 6.3 Identify the potential limitations from the analysis.
  28. 6.4 Highlight the ethical issues that might have occurred during the data collection stage.
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