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2024/2025  BA-BIBAO1023U  Research Designs and Qualitative Methods

English Title
Research Designs and Qualitative Methods

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Bachelor
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Spring
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for BSc in Business, Asian Language and Culture
Course coordinator
  • Faith Hatani - Department of International Economics, Goverment and Business (EGB)
Main academic disciplines
  • Globalisation and international business
  • Methodology and philosophy of science
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 21-11-2024

Relevant links
Learning objectives
At the end of the course, the students should be able to:
  • Decide a research topic related to international business (IB) concerning Asia, and formulate a relevant research question.
  • Set the aims and objectives of your research project and choose a type of research design to address the research question you set.
  • Identify and apply a suitable theoretical/conceptual framework relevant to your research project.
  • Conduct a critical literature review by identifying relevant academic sources to your project, and demonstrate academic knowledge to apply it to your project.
  • Identify data to be used in your analysis and plan the data-collection process.
  • Understand research ethics and examine the feasibility of the proposal and the access to data required.
  • Enhance your analytical skills through reviewing peers' work and reflect on it.
  • Structure and write a coherent research proposal in a relevant academic style.
Examination
Research Designs and Qualitative Methods:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Group exam
Please note the rules in the Programme Regulations about identification of individual contributions.
Number of people in the group 3-4
Size of written product Max. 10 pages
- The number of students in each group must adhere to the number as stated in the course description, i.e., each group consists of 3 or 4 members.
- If students cannot form a group of 3 or 4 members, the course coordinator will combine those individuals/small groups to form a group of 3 or 4 students.
- A group of five students (or more) is not allowed in any case.
- Please note that the size of the written work that each group needs to produce for the exam (max.10 pages) remains the same regardless of the group size.
Assignment type Report
Release of assignment Subject chosen by students themselves, see guidelines if any
Duration Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
Grading scale Pass / Fail
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and external examiner
Exam period Summer
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
The type of retake is the same as the ordinary exam (i.e., submission of a research proposal). At the retake, you must submit a revised (= improved) version of your proposal by addressing the feedback provided by the examiners on the first submission via the Digital Exam platform. The deadline for the retake will be announced by the exam office in due course.
For the make-up exam due to the illness of group members: The same deadline for the retake applies.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

This course provides students with an introduction to research design and methodology focusing on qualitative research methods, together with the fundamentals of academic writing. The course explains how academic research should be designed and how qualitative methods should be applied. These include key elements such as formulating a research question, conducting a critical literature review, choosing a relevant theoretical/conceptual framework to be applied, and identifying necessary data and data-collection techniques. In this course, each group is required to develop a research proposal on a topic related to international business and Asia and submit a structured research proposal at the exam.
Description of the teaching methods
The course consists of lectures and exercise/feedback sessions. Lectures introduce general processes of research design, the basics of research philosophy, the fundamentals of qualitative methods, and data collection strategies. In the exercise classes, students are required to present their research design and demonstrate their progress in their research plan. Each group can receive feedback on their plan during the exercise classes. All activities in the course are closely interrelated. Thus, regular attendance at each session is essential to achieve the learning objectives.
Feedback during the teaching period
Students will receive general guidance through interaction during lectures and exercise classes. In addition, each group will receive continuous feedback during the exercise sessions on their presentations, which will be the foundation for developing their research proposal. Students are also required to undertake a peer-review task by providing feedback on another group. Details will be explained during the course.
Student workload
Lectures & Exercises 31 hours
Preparation and self-study 105 hours
Examination 70 hours
Total 206 hours
Further Information
  • Most parts of this course are drawn upon theoretical/conceptual frameworks introduced in "Introduction to International Business in Asia" in Semester 1 of the BSc International Business in Asia (IBA) at CBS.
  • It is very important for the students to develop a good understanding of qualitative methods through this course. This course is essential for the subsequent years of the BSc IBA, in particular, for the 2nd-year course, "Research Project - International Business in Asia" on the programme.
  • In the "Research Project" course in the 2nd year, the students are expected to work in the same group as they have in this course (BIBAO1023U) and conduct a research project based on the proposal that they submit at the exam of this course.

 

Please note that this course will run for the last time in Spring 2025 and then discontinue thereafter. (Thus, the last possible retake to be held is in summer 2026. See the programme regulations for transition notes.)

 
Expected literature

Textbook (Mandatory reading):

Both of these textbooks have multiple editions. Older editions are also fine but the more recent one is recommended.  
Last updated on 21-11-2024