Applied business research class - teaching plan top 45/full 17(pgbm 161) 2020-2021

 Applied business research class 2020-2021

MBA MBA Top-up 46 / Full 17 (PGBM 161)

Dissertation only

Synopsis Form: 20 Dec 2020

Proposal: 11 Mar 2021

MBA (Top-up) Dissertation only

Dissertation for MBA Full

Dissertation: Jul 2021

MBA (Top-up) Dissertation with 2 modules

Dissertation: Oct 2021

 

 

Sessions	Topics	Readings/ activities
1.       On research proposal and research methodology O Nov 3 (Tue): 19-22pm	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). Additional advice from the university on dissertation work. On learning portfolio report for dissertation work. Applied business research report template Slides: Business research methods slides. Slides: Introduction to business research methods
2.       Layers of management research: an introduction   Nov 10 (Tue): 19-22pm	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. * A sample on dissertation proposal * A sample on synopsis form (note the topic of project background also). * On management-concerns diagram * On theoretical-frameworks
3.       Quantitative vs. qualitative   research methods; inductive vs deductive reasoning   Nov 17(Tue): 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   Nov 24 (Tue): 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/). Lecture 4 details       * Slides: Literature review.       * Slides: Correlation analysis
5.       Dissertation report writing   skills; literature review II; primary vs secondary data; case study research I     Dec 1 (Tue): 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     Dec 8 (Tue): 19-22pm	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) * Slides: Case study research method. * Slides: Focus groups. * Slides: Survey method in research. * Slides: Questionnaires and survey e-readings * blog articles 2019 Nov on ALRA * blog articles 2018 Dec on ALRA Videos to review: 1. research philosophies 2. ontology and epistemology 3. inductive and deductive research approaches. 4. on deductive and inductive research. 5. constructs. 6. conceptual definitions. 7. operational definitions. About interview research. * types of interview: unstructured, semi-structured and structured interview. * a practical guide to qualitative interviewing. * how to conduct a research interview.
7.       Observational research; interview; action research   Dec 15 (Tue): 19-22-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       Preparatory videos on quantitative research methods       * on standard deviation.       * on density curve.       * The Normal Distribution and the 68-95-99.7 Rule.        * on central limit theorem in statistics.        * what is a p-value?        * on hypothesis testing.	·         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.        Videos:        * history of action research.        * interview research.        * observational research.        * contextualization in research project.        * ethnographic research.        * practical, ethical and theoretical issues in research. .        ALRA practice notes:       * blog articles 2019 Nov on ALRA * blog articles 2018 Dec on ALRA
8.       Experiment;    ethnography; experiment   Jan 5 (Tue): 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       Videos:       * what is the p-value.       * on hypothesis testing.	·       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.              On the chi square test. * simple explanation of chi-squared test. * chi-square distribution. * a briefing on chi-squared test. On ANOVA (videos) * one-way ANOVA with Excel. * basic ideas on one-way ANOVA. * one-way ANOVA with manual calculation. [also take a look at the F-value calculator] * on the F-distribution curves./ also this video showing curves with different degrees of freedom. On multiple regression videos: * on linear equation. * on covariance. * understanding correlation. * multiple linear regression. part 1 * multiple linear regression part 2. * multiple linear regression - evaluating basic models. * using Excel for multiple regression analysis. Research methods topics:  * what is research methodology? * what is a literature review? * philosophical assumptions: an introduction. * on methodology: philosophical underpinnings. * assumptions of researchers. * interview research: pros and cons. * survey research: features, benefits and drawbacks.
9.       Content analysis; grounded theory         Jan 12 (Tue): 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 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.)       e-reading:       * how to formulate a proper research objective statement. Lecture 9 details               * Slides: Content analysis in research.        * Slides: Grounded theory.        * Slides: Thematic analysis. Videos to review:        * the role of theory in research.       * assumptions of researchers. * interview research: pros and cons. * survey research: features, benefits and drawbacks. * briefing on validity - part 1. * briefing on validity - part 2 (face validity). * on external validity. * on internal validity. * on reliability. * a briefing on triangulation in qualitative research. * quality of qualitative research. * trustworthiness in qualitative research.
10. Research methods quality   Jan 19 (Tue) 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 An examination on: Report structure template  Videos: * writer the report abstract. * how to structure your dissertation report. * writing the chapter of introduction. * writing the chapter of literature review. * writing the chapter on methodology. * writing the chapter on results. * writing the chapter on discussion. * connecting findings, conclusions and recommendations. * results, discussion and conclusions in chapters. * writing the chapter on conclusions. * on the chapter on conclusions and recommendations. * academic writing style. * cohesion in academic writing.

 

11.  Jan 26 (Tue): 19-22pm	Review of dissertation report chapters 1-2 requirements in details	Report structure template Some new ALRA e-readings: * on chain of evidence. * on ALRA academic ideas. * academic articles related to Zone 1. * the two directions of literature review. * the value priority of applied business research projects. * a note on management theories with videos. ** also study "what is theory" pdf in the agile literature review group (FB). Also:  * fact vs theory. * what is theory? * what is theory: a briefing. * what is management theories? * thinking with abstractions. * abstract vs concrete concepts (a briefing). * common errors in academic English. * quick fixes to improve your academic writing.
12.  Feb 2 (Tue) : 19-22pm	Review of dissertation report chapters 3-4 requirements in details	Report structure template Revision Videos: * thinking about research design. * paradigms and research methods. * on interpretivism. * on positivism. * on ontology and epistemology and research paradigms. * inductive and deductive research approaches. * qualitative vs quantitative research. * on deductive and inductive research. * introduction to research methods and methodologies. * on primary and secondary research. * falsification theory. * social research ethics: basic concepts. * the ethics of social research: part 1. * The ethics of social research : part 3. Slides * on qualitative and quantitative research. (slides) e-reading: * on abstract/ intellectual thinking in ALRA.
13. Feb 23 (Tue): 19-22pm	Review of dissertation report chapters 5-6; pls personal development section requirements in details Review a sample dissertation report. A blog article on Zone 2 topic evaluation. Review portfolio report writing. A blog article about constructing the table of contents.	Report structure template Revision videos: * on types of plagiarism. * on plagiarism. * vlog: paraphrasing, quotation and plagiarism. Videos: * on framework analysis for qualitative research. * make your writing concise. * evaluation as a research design. * on postpositivism. * on constructivism. * on pragmatism. * on critical realism. * developing a research question. * role of theory in quantitative research. * theories of quantitative research. * quantitative research design. * overview of quantitative research methods. * fundamental of qualitative research methods. * paradigms and qualitative perspective. * what is mixed methods research? * how to do a research interview. * constructs. * conceptual definitions. * operational definitions. * variables and operationalization in quantitative methods. * conceptualization and operationalization.
14. Mar 2 (Tue): 19-22pm	Review of dissertation report structure and key tasks Review portfolio report writing. A practice note on writing an executive summary.	Report structure template Revision videos: * ontology for social researchers. * epistemology for social researchers. * inference and inquiry for social researchers. * mixing methods for social researchers. * what is a good explanation. * on grounded theory for social researchers. * participant observation for social researchers. * The ethics of social research : part 3. * vlog: on theory. * vlog: on ontology. * vlog: on epistemology. * vlog: on methodology. * on survey research. * 10 steps to do a survey. * survey sampling techniques. * on questionnaire research. * designing a questionnaire. * writing good survey questions. * how to write a literature review. * outline your literature review structure. * identifying themes and gaps in literature. * common errors in literature review practice.

 

 

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: 

http://josephkkhoworkdiary.blogspot.hk/2016/10/mba-sunderland-research-methods.html

FB group on Research methods

Facebook group on the agile literature review approach; articles about ALRA download function.

Facebook group on academic ideas associated to ALRA zones.

Local tutor's publications on literature review