Applied Research Methods (MBA) teaching plan MBA39
Applied Research Methods (MBA) teaching plan (30 hours), 2018 : Intake (MBA 39): Nov 2018 to Mar, 2019
Synopsis
Form
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9 Jan 2019 / 7 Mar 2019
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Proposal
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27 Feb 2019 / 25 Apr 2019
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Dissertation
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Jul 2019 / Oct 2019
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Session (3 hours each)
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Topics
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Readings/ activities
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1. On research proposal and research methodology
O
Nov 15 (Thu): 7-10pm
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1. Nature and skills required for formulating dissertation proposal
2. Basic nature on research process
3. Introduction of local university theses portals to access dissertation reports with local contents
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· Saunders et al. (2012: section 1.2: The nature of research; 1.3: business and management research; 1.4: the research process).
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2. Layers of management research: an introduction
Nov 29 (Thu): 7-10pm
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1. From research philosophies, to inductive/ deductive reasoning, to a range of research strategies
2. On ontology and epistemology
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· Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 4, primarily the “research onion”: pg. 128)
· Saunders et al. (2012: 145-148: inductive and deductive reasoning)
· Saunders et al. (2012: 130-132: ontology)
· Saunders et al. (2012: 132-134: epistemology)
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3. Quantitative vs. qualitative research methods; inductive vs deductive reasoning
Dec 13 (Thu): 7-10pm |
1. Explanation of quantitative and qualitative research
2. Review of dissertation report samples from local university theses portals
3. Inductive vs deductive reasoning: an elaboration
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· Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 12: analyzing quantitative data; chapter 13: analyzing qualitative data)
· Saunders et al. (2012: 145-148: inductive and deductive reasoning). Also see Facebook page on reasoning (url address: https://www.facebook.com/Literature-on-reasoning-1589559494676577/).
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4. Correlation analysis; literature review I
Dec 20 (Thu): 7-10pm
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1. Correlation analysis
2. Literature review skills: elaboration I
3. Review of relevant academic articles on local topics related to correlation analysis and literature review
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· Saunders et al. (2012: section 12.5: examining relationships, differences and trends using statistics).
· Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 3: critically reviewing the literature).
· Facebook page on correlation analysis (url address: https://www.facebook.com/literature.correlation.analysis/).
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5. Dissertation report writing skills; literature review II; primary vs secondary data; case study research I
Jan 10 (Thu): 7-10pm
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1. Review dissertation report writing quality with local universities’ dissertation report samples
2. Literature review skills – elaboration II
3. Primary vs secondary data: nature and gathering methods
4. Case study research I
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· Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 3: Critically reviewing the literature)
· Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 8 (using secondary data) and Chapter 9: Collecting primary data through observation)
· Yin (1989; chapter 1: Introduction)
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6. Discuss potential local dissertation topics of interest to students; case study research II; Focus group approach; survey research
Jan 24 (Thu): 7-10pm
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1. Examine local potential dissertation topics of interest to students
2. Case study research II
3. Focus group approach
4. Survey research
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· Class brainstorming of dissertation topics in local contexts (1 hour 30 min).
· Yin (1989; chapters 2-6)
· Saunders et al. (2012: 176-178: Survey)
· Saunders et al. (2012: section 10.8: group interview and focus groups)
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7. Observational research; interview; action research
Feb 21 (Thu): 7-10pm
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1. Observational research
2. Interview
3. Action research
4. Discussion of how research methods can be applied in dissertation projects in local settings, with special reference to case study research
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· Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 9: Collecting primary data through observation)
· Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 10: Collecting primary data using semi-structured, in-depth and group interviews)
· Saunders et al. (2012: 183-184: Action research)
· Examine the local case of 759 store annual report (url address: http://www.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/SEHK/2015/0824/LTN20150824524.pdf) to brainstorm specific case study research design: class exercise. (1 hour 30 min.)
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8. Experiment; ethnography; experiment
Feb 28 (Thu): 7-10pm
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1. Experiment research methods (true experiment and quasi-experiment)
2. Ethnographic research
3. Discussion of how research methods can be applied in dissertation projects in local settings, with special reference to case study research
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· Saunders et al. (2012: 174-176): Experiment
· Saunders et al. (2012: 181-182): Ethnographic research
· Examine the local case of HKTV network Limited annual report (url address: http://ir.hktv.com.hk/pdf/announcement/E_annual_report.pdf) to brainstorm specific case study research design: class exercise. (1 hour 30 min.)
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9. Content analysis; grounded theory
March 7 (Thu): 7-10pm
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1. Content analysis: basic techniques
2. Grounded theory: basic ideas, including thematic analysis
3. Discussion of how research methods can be applied in dissertation projects in local settings, with special reference to case study research
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· Facebook page on cotent analysis (url address: https://www.facebook.com/literature.contentanalysis.documentstudy/).
· Saunders et al. (2012: 185-187): Grounded theory.
· Examine the local case of Esprit annual report (url address: http://www.esprit.com/investor_relations/financial_information/annual_interim_reports/ ) to brainstorm specific case study research design: class exercise. (1 hour 30 min.)
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10. Research methods quality: validity, reliability, relevance, etc.; research ethics
March 14 (Thu): 7-10pm
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1. Explanation of attributes of research methods quality: validity (internal, external and ecological), reliability, relevance, etc.
2. Discussion of how research methods can be applied in dissertation projects in local settings
3. Basic research ethics ideas
4. A revision on how to formulate a dissertation proposal and produce a dissertation report with a local research topic.
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· Saunders et al. (2012: 192-194): Reliability and validity.
· Saunders et al. (2012: section 6.5; 6.6): research ethics.
· Examine the local case of Sa Sa annual report (url address: Examine the local case of HKTV network Limited annual report (url address: http://corp.sasa.com/en/investor-relations/annual-and-interim-report) to brainstorm specific case study research design: class exercise. ) to brainstorm specific case study research design: class exercise. (1 hour 30 min.)
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Total number of hours spent on case studies: 7 hours 30 min.
References
Saunders, M., P.Lewis and A. Thornhill. 2012. Research Methods for Business Students, Pearson. [textbook].
Yin, R.K. 1989. Case study research: Design and Methods, Sage.
Previous teaching e -resource:
- FB group on Research methods: https://www.facebook.com/groups/research.methods.business/
- FB group on the Agile literature review approach
- Template of dissertation report structure
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