It is the objective of this PREMASTER to introduce students to the scientific approach to business. The course will deal with the role of theory in business research and the underlying characteristics of the scientific approach to business research.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT METHOD(S) USED IN THIS COURSE IS WITH RESERVATION. A RE-EMERGENCE OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND NEW COUNTERMEASURES BY THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT MIGHT FORCE COORDINATORS 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 will discuss the aims of science and the scientific approach using inductive and deductive approaches. Furthermore, the course will address the role of theory in the scientific approach. The course will cover the stages of the scientific method in more detail: (1) defining the problem, (2) develop the theoretical framework and hypotheses, (3) research design, (4) development of measures and data collection, (5) data analysis and (6) Interpretation and reporting. We will apply these principles to academic articles from a number of business disciplines using a critical review approach. Moreover, we will also address the use of suitable qualitative research methods versus quantitative methods.

* Blumberg, B., Cooper, D. R & Schindler, P.S. (2014). Business Research Methods. MacGraw-Hill.
„* Quinlan, C., Babin, B., Carr, J., Griffin, M. & Zikmund, W.G. (2019). Business Research Methods. Cenagage.
„* Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2016). Research methods for business: A skill building approach. John Wiley & Sons.

Dutch, German or Belgian University of Applied Sciences (HBO) students