Applied Research Methods teaching plan (30 hours), 2019-20 : Intake Top-up 41


Synopsis Form                                                 

23 Sep 2019
  Proposal

11 Nov 2019
Dissertation
Jul 2020


Ass Due                                   


Briefing session (no class provided): 
session notes {re-used notes}
[Feb. 27]


Session (3 hours each)
Topics
Readings/ activities
1.       On research proposal and research methodology
O
Aug 10 (Sat)a: 14-20pm

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
ยท       Saunders et al. (2012: section 1.2: The nature of research; 1.3: business and management research; 1.4: the  research process).
ยท       The HKU Scholars Hub (url address: https://hub.hku.hk/advanced-search?location=thesis).


2.       Layers of management research: an introduction

Aug 10 (Sat)b. : 14-20pm
1.       From research philosophies, to inductive/ deductive reasoning, to a range of research strategies
2.       On ontology and epistemology
ยท       Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 4, primarily the โ€œresearch onionโ€: pg. 128)
ยท       Saunders et al. (2012: 145-148: inductive and deductive reasoning)
ยท       Saunders et al. (2012: 130-132: ontology)
ยท       Saunders et al. (2012: 132-134: epistemology)

      Slides: slides on research paradigms.
      Slides: Positivism vs interpretivism.
3.       Quantitative vs. qualitative   research methods; inductive vs deductive reasoning

Aug 21 (Wed): 19-22pm
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
ยท       Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 12: analyzing quantitative data; chapter 13: analyzing qualitative data)
ยท       The HKU Scholars Hub (url address: https://hub.hku.hk/advanced-search?location=thesis).
ยท       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/).


     * Slides: qualitative research slides.
    * Slides: quantitative research slides.
    * Slides: inductive and deductive reasoning.
4.       Correlation analysis; literature  review I

Aug 28 (Wed): 19-22pm
1.       Correlation analysis
2.       Literature review skills: elaboration 3.       Review of relevant academic articles on local topics related to correlation analysis and literature review
ยท       Saunders et al. (2012: section 12.5: examining relationships, differences and trends using statistics).
ยท       Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 3: critically reviewing the literature).
ยท       Facebook page on correlation analysis (url address: https://www.facebook.com/literature.correlation.analysis/).
5.       Dissertation report writing   skills; literature review II; primary vs secondary data; case study research I


Sept 4 (Wed): 19-22pm
1.       Review dissertation report writing   quality with local universitiesโ€™ dissertation report samples
2.       Literature review skills โ€“ elaboration II
3.       Primary vs secondary data: nature and gathering methods
4.       Case study research I
ยท       The HKU Scholars Hub (url address: https://hub.hku.hk/advanced-search?location=thesis).
ยท       Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 3: Critically reviewing the literature)
ยท       Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 8 (using secondary data) and Chapter  9: Collecting primary data through observation)
ยท       Yin (1989; chapter 1: Introduction)


      * Slides: primary and secondary research.
      * Slides: harvard referencing.
6.       Discuss potential local dissertation topics of interest to students; case study research II; Focus group approach; survey research


Sept 7 (Sat)a: 14-20pm

1.       Examine local potential dissertation topics of interest to students
2.       Case study research II
3.       Focus group approach
4.       Survey research
ยท       Class brainstorming of dissertation topics in local contexts (1 hour 30 min).
ยท       Yin (1989; chapters 2-6)
ยท       Saunders et al. (2012: 176-178: Survey)
ยท       Saunders et al. (2012: section 10.8: group interview and focus groups)

7.       Observational research; interview; action research

Sept 7 (Sat)b: 14-20-pm

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
ยท       Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 9: Collecting primary data through observation)
ยท       Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 10: Collecting primary data using semi-structured, in-depth and group interviews)
ยท       Saunders et al. (2012: 183-184: Action research)
ยท       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.)

lecture 7 details

      Slides: observational research.
      * Slides: interview method in research.
      * Slides: action research.
8.       Experiment;    ethnography; experiment

Sept 11 (Wed): 19-22pm

1.       Experiment research methods (true   experiment and quasi-experiment.       Ethnographic research
5.       Discussion of how research methods can be applied in dissertation projects in local settings, with special reference  to case study research
ยท       Saunders et al. (2012: 174-176): Experiment
ยท       Saunders et al. (2012: 181-182): Ethnographic research
ยท       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.)

Lecture 8 details

      * Slides: Experimental method in research.
      * Slides: Ethnographic research.
9.       Content analysis; grounded theory




Sept 18  (Wed): 19-22pm
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




ยท       Facebook page on cotent analysis (url address: https://www.facebook.com/literature.contentanalysis.documentstudy/).
ยท       Saunders et al. (2012: 185-187): Grounded theory.
ยท       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.)



Lecture 9 details


      
       * Slides: Content analysis in research.
       * Slides: Grounded theory.
       * Slides: Thematic analysis.
10. Research methods quality

Sept 25 (Wed) 19-22pm
On reliability, validity, relevance, ethical considerations, feasibility, etc.
Saunders et al. (2012: 192-194): Reliability and validity.
ยท       Saunders et al. (2012: section 6.5; 6.6): research ethics.
ยท       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.)

       Lecture 10 details


      * Slides: validity and reliability in research.
      * Slides: Business research ethics

 
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
Facebook group on the agile literature review approach; articles download function.
Local tutor's publications on literature review

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