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Fall semester - MA - IBM Calendar view

Research Methods


Class
Murilo Branco
Enrolment for this class is currently closed.

Lessons

Here is the class outline:

Online classes and recorded

Link to online classes live stream and recorded.

Link for live stream online
Link to recorded classes

Week 1 - Introduction to the module

Venue: MIUC Required Reading for this session: MSG (Module Study Guide) Key Concepts:This first week of the module we will start by introducing ourselves and by exploring students' motivations and expectations. Furthermore, we will go in depth on students' previous knowledge about research. Finally, some general information about formal and organizational aspects of the module will be provided, including an introduction to the research proposal to be developed throughout the module.

Session 1: Welcome to Class and Module Overview
Recorded Class 05.10
Recorded Class 07.10

Week 2 - Basics of Social Science research

Throughout the second week of the module we will explore the basics of research, with a focus on social sciences research, including the cores of the scientific approach, the hypothetic-deductive method, the key distinction between ontology-epistemology-methodology, the main theoretical paradigms, and the difference between quantitative and qualitative methods.

Week 2 - Basics of Social Science Research
Recorded Class 14.10
Readings

Week 3 - The research question

14 Oct

his third week of the module we will focus on the role and conceptualization of research questions, aims and hypothesis. In doing so, we will explore issues such as the requirement of gaps of knowledge, the importance of the significance of our research questions, the role of the hypothetic-deductive and comparative methods, as well as possible challenges when formulating research questions. Furthermore, this week’s sessions will support students in the process of beginning to define the research question for their research proposal.

Week 3 - The research question - Description & Readings
Prezi Research Question
Article - Product Placement Video Game
Revision Exercise 1
Recorded Class 21.10

Week 4 - Measurement in research

19 Oct

In this fourth week of the module we will cover key issues of measurement in research, including: concepts and constructs; the conceptualization, typology and operationalization of variables; the levels of measurement; the concept, types and size of the sample; and the matter of generalization. In connection with the former, we will also get introduced into the quantitative/qualitative debate.

Week 4 - Measurement in research - Description & Readings
Prezi to measurement process
Recorded Class 26.10
Article - Government X Corporate communication
Recorded Class 28.10

Week 5: Quality and evaluation of research

26 Oct

This fifth week of the module we will go in depth into the issue of quality and evaluation of research by exploring the types of validity and the reliability of measures. Furthermore, we will discuss the different conceptualization and operationalization of validity and reliability criteria in quantitative and qualitative studies.

Quality and evaluation of research: validity and reliability
Example Dissertation - Master thesis
Recorded Class 02.11
Recorded Class 04.11

Week 6 - Research design: towards a research proposal

2 Nov

Along the sixth week of the module we will discuss the practical processes and issues related to any research design. We will highlight the importance of selecting appropriate research questions, measurements and methods, as well as the process of conducting a targeted and comprehensive literature review. This will be addressed to support students in the elaboration of their research proposals.

Description of the week
Prezi Qualitative Research
Article - Sponsorship recognition basketball
Article - e-WOM
Focus Group Caveman
How focus group works
Recorded Class 09.11
Recorded Class 11.11

Week 7- Qualitative research I: Foundations

16 Nov

This seventh week of the module will be the first of two weeks focused on qualitative research. This week we will approach the key features of qualitative research, such as its focus on meaning, subjectivity, natural settings, extensive interaction, reflexivity, purposeful sampling, naturalistic generalizations and flexible research designs. Likewise, we will explore the main traditions in qualitative research: ethnography, phenomenology, grounded theory, life history and narrative, critical research, case study.

Week 7 - Qualitative research I: Foundations
Dissertation Coffee shop turned into article
McDonald's Italy (Ethnography)
Millenials Eating Habits (Ethnography)
Grounded Theory Explained
Case Study - Free Market and Video Game Case Analysis (Team Fortress)
Revision Exercise 2
Recorded Class 16.11
Recorded Class 18.11

Week 8 - Observation Method

23 Nov

In this eighth week of the module, and after the former introductory session on observation research, we will cover different ways of collecting qualitative and quantitative data through observation method:

Week 8 – Observation Method
Prezi to Observation Research
Article - e-WOM
Video - tracking shoppers behavior
Recorded Class 23.11
Recorded Class 25.11
Formative Assessment 4 / Reverse methodology
Answer Formative assessment 4

Week 9 - Quantitative Research I: Experimental and quasi-experimental designs

23 Nov

This ninth week of the module will be the first of two weeks focused on quantitative designs. This week we will comprehensively explore the principles and applications of experimental designs, as well as their utilities and limitations. Specifically, we will cover control-group designs, factorial designs and quasi-experimental designs.

Week 9 – Quantitative research (I)
Prezy - Survey Method
Recorded Class 30.11
Recorded Class 02.12

Week 10 - Quantitative Research- Questionnaire Design

30 Nov

This weeek students will learn how to design the questions related to a survey using closed-ended questions and relate them to the specific objectives, hypothesis and research problem.

Week 10 - Quantitative research: Questionnaire design
Prezi Questionnaire Design
Example Survey Process
Recorded Class 07.12
Formative Assessment 5
Recorded Class 9.12

Week 11 - Qualitative Research: Data Analysis

7 Dec

In this eleventh week of the module we will approach the main types of qualitative analysis, such as thematic analysis, and the basic principles of working with qualitative data. As for the former, we will point out the key role of transcripts and we will approach the process of data coding, categorization, identification of patterns and elaboration of memos.

Week 11 – Qualitative data management and analysis.
How to do a thematic analysis - step by step
Qualitative Research Exercise - Data Analysis
Recorded Class 16.12

Week 12 -Quantitative research III: Data analysis

14 Dec

This twelfth week of the module we will cover the basics of quantitative data management and analysis, introducing descriptive and inferential statistics and covering issues such as: measures of central tendency, measures of variation, confidence interval or correlation. SPSS software will be presented as a tool to carry out computer-assisted data analyses, such as tests of statistical significance.

Week 12 – Quantitative research II: Descriptive designs
Session2
Prezi Univariate Analisys
Recorded Class 21.12
Recorded Class 23.12
Formative Assessment 7 - Bivarate analysis

Week 13 - Producing research reports

21 Sep

Along the thirteenth week of the module we will discuss the practical aspects of producing research reports. Specifically, we will cover the purpose of research reports, the rules and general points in scientific communication in social science, and the typical sections in quantitative and qualitative reports. Likewise, we will look at several examples of research reports, both students' and academics'.

Week 13 - Producing research repor
Perform Ressearch - Ted Talk
Template - Research Proposal presentation
List of students
Prezi Bivariate Analisys
Article - Antecedents Health Consciousness for Organic food consumption
Recorded Class 11.01
Recorded Class 13.01

Harvard reference style

11 Jan

Here you have the Harvard Reference Style guidelines.

Harvard reference style

Research Proposal

20 Sep

Here you can find all te information related with your research proposal

Research Topics and Supervisors
Ethics Form for your research
Examples of research proposal
Structure of the research proposal
Resit Final Assessment - Research Proposal