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
·       Saunders et al. (2012: section 1.2: The nature of research; 1.3: business and management research; 1.4: the  research process).
·       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
·       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)

      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
·       Saunders et al. (2012: Chapter 12: analyzing quantitative data; chapter 13: analyzing qualitative data)
·       The HKU Scholars Hub (url address: https://hub.hku.hk/advanced-search?location=thesis).
·       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
·       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/).
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 universities’ dissertation report samples
2.       Literature review skills – elaboration II
3.       Primary vs secondary data: nature and gathering methods
4.       Case study research I
·       The HKU Scholars Hub (url address: https://hub.hku.hk/advanced-search?location=thesis).
·       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)


      * 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
·       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)

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
·       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.)

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
·       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.)

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




·       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.)



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.
·       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.)

       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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