Course content

• Developing research questions in empirical research;
• Quantitative and qualitative study design;
• Conducting surveys;
• Descriptive statistics;
• Hypothesis testing and inference statistics;
• Correlation analysis;
• Analysis of variance (ANOVA);
• Regression analysis;
• Qualitative interviews and focus groups;
• Observation and document analysis;
• Analyzes of qualitative data;
• Validity and reliability;
• Interpretation and discussion of data;
• Introduction to "Big data" in business and management;
• Ethical issues in empirical research.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

After completing this course, students should have acquired knowledge on how to carry out empirical research in the domain of economic and business administration. This includes knowledge about:

• Research problems and corresponding research questions and how these lay the premises for the research process;
• Qualitative and quantitative research designs and corresponding methods of data collection;
• Methods for analysing of qualitative and quantitative data;
• Criteria for assessing the quality of empirical research;

Skills

After completing the course, students should be able to carry out empirical research by applying both quantitative and/or qualitative methods. This includes being able to:

• Run statistical analyzes and interpret results using statistical software;
• Assess the validity and reliability of empirical research projects;
• Report and communicate main results and draw conclusions from empirical research projects.

General competence:

The course shall provide a solid academic basis for:

• Being able to select a valid methodological approach in empirical research and business analysis
• Collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data
• Develop the ability to critically reflect on methods and be able to reflect on the implications of empirical findings

Learning methods and activities

• Lectures
• Group Work
• Mandatory assignments
• Practice tasks
• Introduction to statistical software

Compulsory assignments

• Approved exercises

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

MET1001 Mathematics for Business and MET1002 Statistics for Business

Course materials

To be decided at the beginning of the semester

Credit reductions