Applied research methods teaching plan intake 42, 2019

Applied Research Methods teaching plan, 2019-20 : Intake Top-up 42
Total 40 hours


Ass Due                                   
Dissertation only
Synopsis Form                                                 
8 Jan 2020
  Proposal
26 Feb 2020
Dissertation
Jul 2020


Dissertation with 2 modules
Synopsis Form                                                 
5 Mar  2020
  Proposal
23 Apr 2020
Dissertation
Oct 2020

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
Oct 30 (Wed): 7: pm 9:30pm

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

Nov 6 (Wed): 7-9:30pm
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)

* Literature review on research methods
      
3.       Quantitative vs. qualitative   research methods; inductive vs deductive reasoning

Nov 13 (Wed): 7-9:30pm

*** cancelled **
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/).
4.       Correlation analysis; literature  review I

Nov 20 (Wed): 7-9:30pm
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/).
     Facebook group on Excel training (demonstration worksheet on pivot table).
     Facebook group on comments on ALRA works (only used in lecture).
5.       Dissertation report writing   skills; literature review II; primary vs secondary data; case study research I


Nov 27 (Wed): 7-9:30pm
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)

      * Slides: primary and secondary research.
      * Slides: harvard referencing. (re: a video on harvard referencing).
      * Slides: literature review.

      * A video on literature review.
      * A video on plagiarism. (also see example turnitin report pdf).
      * Videos on positivism; interpretivism.
      * A video on axiology.
      * A video on primary and secondary sources of data.
6.       Discuss potential local dissertation topics of interest to students; case study research II; Focus group approach; survey research


Dec 4 (Wed): 7-9:30pm

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

Dec 11 (Wed): 7-9:30pm

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.)
Make-up Dec 13: 7-9:30


8.      Experiment;    ethnography; experiment

Dec 18 (Wed): 7-9:30pm




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.)


      * Facebook page on experiment research
9.       Content analysis; grounded theory




Fed 5 (Wed): 7-9:30pm
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 content 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.)

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

Feb 12 (Wed) 7-9:30pm
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.)

      * Literature on research quality 
            * a video on avoiding plagiarism.

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

11. Brainstorming of dissertation topics – I
Feb 19 (Wed) 7-9:30pm
Brainstorming of students’ preliminary ideas
Focus on management concerns
12: Brainstorming of dissertation topics – 2
Feb. 26 (Wed): 7-9:30pm
Brainstorming of students’ preliminary ideas
Focus on theoretical frameworks with academic ideas
13. Brainstorming of dissertation topics - 3
 March 4 (Wed) 7-9:30pm
Brainstorming of students’ preliminary ideas
Focus on theoretical frameworks with research design
14: Writing up “Introduction” and “Literature review” Chapters
March 11 (Wed): 7-9:30pm
Specific topics to cover on the chapters of “Introduction” and “Literature review” Chapters
15: Writing up “Findings and analysis” and “Conclusions and recommendations” Chapters
March 18 (Wed): 7-9:30pm

Specific topics to cover on the chapters of “Findings and analysis” and “Conclusions and recommendations” Chapters
16: Overall revisions
March 25 (Wed): 7-9:30pm
Managing learning and time in dissertation projects






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 approacharticles download function.
Local tutor's publications on literature review

Notice: about Facebook ac: Joseph KK Ho

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

MBA Research Project [MGTM05] class [topup57/58/Full PF11] Teaching plan

Quality Management for Organisational Excellence TP2019 (Int 9 - 11)

Mind mapping the topic of gender