Courses Master Display 2020-2021

Course Description To PDF
Course title Business Research Strategy
Course code EBC4070
ECTS credits 6,5
Assessment Whole/Half Grades
Period
Period Start End Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
5 12-4-2021 28-5-2021 X X
Level Advanced
Coordinator Lex Borghans
For more information: lex.borghans@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Language of instruction English
Goals
The main overall objective of the course is preparing students to write a proposal for the master thesis, which is also the final assignment.
The following learning objectives support this overall objective.
Understand and learn how to design and conduct a research study by applying the appropriate methodology.
* Get acquainted with the different phases of research and the typical problems encountered in these phases.
* Understand interdependencies and trade-offs between different design choices.
* Learn to critically read a research report from a methodological perspective.
Description
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT METHOD(S) USED IN THIS COURSE IS WITH RESERVATION. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE IS BASED ON THE COURSE SETUP PRIOR TO THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS. AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE CRISIS, COURSE COORDINATORS MAY BE FORCED TO CHANGE THE TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT METHODS USED. THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEACHING/ASSESSMENT METHOD(S) WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE COURSE SYLLABUS. The course "Business Research Design" is developed as an advanced methodology course for students, who want to specialize in business research and who followed intermediate course on methodology previously. It prepares student to write a Ph.D. thesis or in becoming a specialist with substantial research tasks.
In developing this course we have assumed that students are already familiar with the basic principles of research methodology. For those who want to engage in research such knowledge is important but not enough. They should learn to understand the context in which research is done and the process by which it takes shape. Therefore, the focus of this course is on the research process and the various decisions researchers have to take.
Literature
- Boris F. Blumberg, Donald R. Cooper and Pamela S. Schindler. Business Research Methods. (2014), McGraw-Hill.
- A Selection of PhD Dissertations defended at Maastricht University
- A broad collection of Articles.
Prerequisites
Students should be familiar with methodological principles. Previous courses in business research methods at the Bachelors level provide usually the expected pre-knowledge. As this course deals with methodological issues at the advanced level, we strongly recommend that students have followed courses in research methods and quantitative analysis previously. In particular, we expect that students are familiar with the quantitative as well as qualitative methods at an intermediate level.
Teaching methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) PBL / Presentation / Lecture / Assignment / Papers / Groupwork
Assessment methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) Final Paper
Evaluation in previous academic year For the complete evaluation of this course please click "here"
This course belongs to the following programmes / specialisations
Master Business Research - No specialisation Year 1 Compulsory Course(s)