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2012/2013  BA-IRM2  Interdisciplinary Research Methods, module 2

English Title
Interdisciplinary Research Methods, module 2

Course information
Language English
Exam ECTS 25 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Bachelor
Duration Two Quarters
Course period Spring
Time Table Please see course schedule at e-Campus
Study board
Study Board for BA in Information Management
Course coordinator
  • Flemming Meier - ITM
  • Ioanna Constantiou - ITM
Main Category of the Course
  • Management of Information and Knowledge Management
Last updated on 03-09-2012
Learning objectives
As the course is examined as part of the 2nd Year Project, please read the learning objectives of the 2nd Year Project.
Examination
2 obligatory assignments which must be approved to enter for the 2nd year project exam
The course is examined as part of the 2nd Year Project:
Type of test Oral with Written Assignment
Marking scale 7-step scale
Second examiner External examiner
Exam period May/June
Aids Without preparation
Duration 30 Minutes
Examination
Each of the 2 obligatory assignments is a small paper (1 page) individually written. Both assignments are used as a basis for the examination of the course, as part of the 8th quarter oral exam (along with the Second Year Project Report). The assignments are:

1) Formulation and delineation of research question and empirical field

To be approved, the assignment should clearly state a research question, position it in an empirical field and demonstrate a research motivation.

2) Reflections on research strategies and data collection methods

To be approved, the assignment must show that the student is able to reflect about options with regard to appropriate research strategies and data collection methods for the corresponding research question stated in the first assignment.
Course content

The course should function in relation to the second year project, as a further and extended initiation to philosophy of social science - emphasizing social constructionist approaches and related research methodologies and strategies – and through that qualify the students to reason, evaluate and reflect on their own research.
 
The aim of the course is thus to enable students (a) to critically assess the methodological perspectives of knowledge, concepts and theoretical understandings they acquire from their other courses and (b) to critically reflect on their own ways of collecting and analysing data and producing knowledge. All together this should help to develop students’ skills in making sound, informed, and reasoned methodological choices in their own analytical work.
 
The course goes more deeply (compared to the first year course) into central themes of philosophy of science in order to challenge and support the students in their efforts of reasoning their methodological choices and improving validity of data, analysis, results etc.

  •  What is philosophy of science and what is it good for?
  • Words: Ontology, epistemology, theories, validity, representativity, reliability, induction, deduction, abduction, hypothesis, coherence and methodology. What can we talk about with this vocabulary?
  • The social construction of reality.
  • Social Constructionism: A science philosophy and its approach to validity, research strategies, theories and analysis.
  • What is phenomenology and what is hermeneutics? And in what ways may these methodological approaches help investigate problems around the role of knowledge / information in organizations?
  • What is critical realism and how may this position help and inspire your formulation of research questions, methodological choices and validation of data and analysis?
  • What is positivism and what are the principles of good research formulated by this position?
  • Empirical fields: Problems of data collection in various kinds of organizations. 
Teaching methods
The course consists of five course seminars, each with duration adequate to 3 lessons. In connection with the 2nd year project a Pilot Exam seminar with duration adequate to 6 lessons is organized. This seminar may be seen as part of the IRM course as well. At the seminars short lectures vary with group discussions, group and individual exercising and short student presentations.
Expected literature
Gergen, Kenneth J.: An Invitation to Social Construction, Sage, 2009
Gibson, William J. and Brown, Andrew: Working with Qualitative Data, Sage, 2009

Please check the course literature on CBS Learn
Last updated on 03-09-2012