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2024/2025  KAN-CSIEO2024U  Making Social Science Matter

English Title
Making Social Science Matter

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory (also offered as elective)
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Quarter
Start time of the course Fourth Quarter, Spring
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for MSc in Social Sciences
Course coordinator
  • Claus Springborg - Department of Business Humanities and Law (BHL)
Main academic disciplines
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Philosophy and ethics
  • Methodology and philosophy of science
Teaching methods
  • Blended learning
Last updated on 15-01-2024

Relevant links
Learning objectives
  • Identify and discuss different approaches to what constitutes ‘good’ research in organization and business studies with specific reference to entrepreneurship.
  • Apply and evaluate the theoretical concepts associated with entrepreneurship theory introduced in class.
  • Explore and resolve the tensions involved in applying academic theories to practical experience.
  • Apply and experiment with qualitative methods to inquire after an entrepreneurial form.
  • Reflect on working with one another through empirical study and the use of theoretical concepts.
  • Discuss and analyze empirical findings with concepts in ways that address the problems and passions of those engaged in creating new organizational forms.
Examination
Making Social Science Matter:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Oral exam based on written product

In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and the individual oral performance, see also the rules about examination forms in the programme regulations.
Individual or group exam Oral group exam based on written group product
Number of people in the group 2-5
Size of written product Max. 25 pages
In groups with 2 students max. 15 pages, 3 students max. 20 pages, 4-5 students max. 25 pages
Assignment type Project
Release of assignment Subject chosen by students themselves, see guidelines if any
Duration
Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
15 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and external examiner
Exam period Summer
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
If a student is ill during the regular oral exam, he/she will be able to re-use the project at the make-up exam. If a student is ill during the writing of the project and did not contribute to the project, the make-up exam can be written individually or in groups (provided that other students are taking the make-up/re-exam). If the student did not pass the regular exam, he/she must make a new revised project (confer advice from the examiner) and hand it in on a new deadline specified by the secretariat
Description of the exam procedure

Duration of oral exam:

2 persons group: 30 min

3 persons group: 45 min

4-5 persons group: 60 min
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

Course content and structure

In this course, students will be introduced to a range of research methods that can be used to research phenomena related to entrepreneurship and innovation in organisations.

 

We will focus on the case-study research approach. Case-studies are generally used to generate in-depth and multi-faceted understanding of complex phenomena in their real-life context.

 

Students are introduced to research methods, both qualitative and quantitative, that are commonly used in case-study research, including interviews, participant-observation, document analysis, t-tests, and factor analysis.

 

To learn about case-study research, we will discuss seminal pieces of research and students will carry out their own research projects in groups – from conception of research questions, and work with literature, to collection and analysis of data, and writeup of the research findings. The research report will be the basis of the oral exam.

 

Throughout the course, we will reflect on a few themes, including:

  • What constitutes good and relevant research (the “so-what” question)
  • The tensions between academic theory and practical experience
  • How to make empirical research matter to those engaged in creating new organisations

 

The methods and frameworks discussed reflect the entrepreneurial and creative nature of the OIE programme.

 

 

 
Description of the teaching methods
The teaching and learning strategy of the module is based around providing students with the basic knowledge and skills necessary to conduct research in business and management settings, with specific emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation. Sessions will involve discussions, studio work and lectures pertaining to key aspects of business and management as a social science and its broader relationship to the humanities. The combined use of theoretical and practical sessions will contribute to preparing students to conduct research in business and management settings.

Emphasis will be given to researching entrepreneurial phenomena, so learning hands on how research can engage productively with the field. Case method research methods will feature prominently.
Feedback during the teaching period
Presentations of assignments during the course. Feedback from both teacher and other student groups. This fosters a sense of collaborative endeavour in inquiry and delivering knowledge. It also allows students to develop critical skills in considering, summarising and presenting what they consider key or critical in the knowledge they have produced.

Written feedback via email. The teacher provides feedback in the form of responses to specific questions reagrding the assignments.

Online meetings can also be booked to discuss specific points arising in the writing up of the report.


Student workload
Course activities (including preparation) 156 hours
Exam (including exam preparation) 50 hours
Expected literature

Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications Ltd.

 

Field, Andy (2017) Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS Statistics, Sage Edge

 

Kvale, S. (1997). Interview: En introdukton til det kvalitative forskningsinterview. Hans Reitzels Forlag.

 

This is a preliminary literature list.

A full list of the course literature will be available in Canvas
Last updated on 15-01-2024