Lahore University of Management Sciences DISC 320 Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods in Business Fall Semester 2016

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1 Instructor Room No. Office Hours Lahore University of Management Sciences DISC 320 Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods in Business Fall Semester 2016 Telephone 8426 Dr Zehra Waheed 406 (SDSB Building) TBA Secretary/TA Ahmad Ali, Extension 8041 TA Office Hours Course URL (if any) TBA suraj.lums.edu.pk/~ro/ COURSE BASICS Credit Hours 3 Lecture(s) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week 2 Duration 75 min COURSE DISTRIBUTION Core Elective Open for Student Category Close for Student Category Yes No MGS (Juniors & Seniors ), Open for MGS Juniors & Seniors in phase II COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is designed to impart education in the foundational methods,, and analytical of research in a business/management context. Students would examine and be practically exposed to the main components of a research framework, i.e. problem definition, research design, data collection, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, paper writing and presentation. The course would cover both qualitative and quantitative methods to do academic as well as action research. Once equipped with this knowledge, students would be well placed to conduct disciplined research under supervision in a management subject of their choosing. In addition to their application in an academic setting, many of the methodologies discussed in this course would be similar to those deployed in professional research environments, such as those found in market research firms or corporate departments of strategy or marketing. COURSE PREREQUISITE(S) DISC 203 Probability and Statistics (Basic knowledge of statistics is required to fully understand quantitative portion of this course) Page 1 of 7

2 COURSE OBJECTIVES Lahore University of Management Sciences The main objective of this course is to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct research in a business/management and organizational context. The course aims to: teach basic understanding and purpose of employing Research Methods, explain the philosophies that guide these methods, Introduce the (Qualitative and Quantitative) that are employed to identify the problem, collect and analyze relevant data, Introduce the (Qualitative and Quantitative) which are available to effectively perform all these processes Teach report writing, and Sensitize students about ethical issues influencing the research process. COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES Upon completion of the course the students should be able to: Understand the framework of research process. Make a research design and select appropriate research. Conduct basic qualitative and quantitative analysis using advance data analysis under supervision. Appreciate the components of scholarly writing and evaluate its quality Realize ethical issues in research UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM LEARNING GOALS & OBJECTIVES General Learning Goals & Objectives Goal 1 Effective Written and Oral Communication Objective: Students will demonstrate effective writing and oral communication skills Goal 2 Ethical Understanding and Reasoning Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to identify and address ethical issues in an organizational context. Goal 3 Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to identify key problems and generate viable solutions. Goal 4 Application of Information Technology Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to use current technologies in business and management context. Goal 5 Teamwork in Diverse and Multicultural Environments Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to work effectively in diverse environments. Goal 6 Understanding Organizational Ecosystems Objective: Students will demonstrate that they have an understanding of Economic, Political, Regulatory, Legal, Technological, and Social environment of organizations. Major Specific Learning Goals & Objectives Goal 7 (a) Program Specific Knowledge and Understanding Objective: Students will demonstrate knowledge of key business disciplines and how they interact including application to real world situations. Goal 7 (b) Understanding the science behind the decision making process (for MGS Majors) Objective: Students will demonstrate ability to analyze a business problem, design and apply appropriate decision support, interpret results and make meaningful recommendations to support the decision maker Page 2 of 7

3 PROGRAM LEARNING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Goal 1 Effective Written and Oral Communication Goal 2 Ethical Understanding and Reasoning COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES Minor (CG 5) Sensitize about ethical issues influencing the research process (CG 6) COURSE ASSESSMENT ITEM Project Presentation and Project Report. Project Report Goal 3 Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills The (Qualitative and Quantitative) employed to identify the problem, collect and analyze relevant data (CG 3) Quizzes, Exams and Project Report Goal 4 Application of Information Technology The (Qualitative and Quantitative) which are available to effectively perform all these processes (CG 4) Quizzes, and Project Report Goal 5 Teamwork in Diverse and Multicultural Environments Goal 6 Understanding Organizational Ecosystems Goal 7 (a) Program Specific Knowledge and Understanding Course objectives as listed above (All the course goals) Quizzes, Exams and Project Report Goal 7 (b) Understanding the science behind the decision making process Philosophies guiding problem identification and the decision making process (CG 2) Quizzes, Exams and Project Report GRADING BREAKUP AND POLICY Quiz(s): 15% (4 quizzes during the semester) Attendance and class Participation: 15% (Attendance 5% and Class Contribution 10%). Max of 4 absences (including petitions) allowed. From 5th absence, there will be negative grading in place. Midterm Examination: 20% Project + Presentations: 30% Final Examination: 20% Page 3 of 7

4 EXAMITION DETAIL Midterm Exam Final Exam Yes/No: Yes Combine Separate: Combine Duration: 100 min Preferred Date: Between 14 th and 15 th Session Exam Specifications: TBA Yes/No: Yes Combine Separate: Combine Duration: TBA Exam Specifications: TBA ATTENDANCE, QUIZZES AND CLASS POLICY Your class presence is required. A maximum four (4) absences are tolerated. Any further absences shall count towards deduction from your grade. Petitions for absences should be submitted along with proper documentation (e.g. a medical certificate certifying illnesses or OSA certifying participation in OSA activity) and will be approved on case by case basis. OSA activities are planned in advance, therefor the documentation must be brought to class BEFORE the absence. Later OSA petitions will be assumed not to be genuine. You are also expected to arrive in class exactly at the prescribed time. There will be no grace for late arrivals and you will be marked absent. Once all four absences have been used up, 1% deduction from the grade will be made for every extra absence. Cell phone usage will not be tolerated. Therefore, make sure they are switched off when you arrive in class. Further Instructions Reading: Students are expected to complete the assigned readings and material made available through LMS in advance of each class. Students are encouraged to participate in class discussions and contribute towards a supportive learning environment. Class material may include handouts. Make sure you are going through the material on a regular basis. Material will not be revisited if you are unable to attend class. At times a case brief may be asked and students will be graded on the brief as a sub component of the quizzes grade. Communication and grade management is carried out through LMS and Zambeel so students must make sure their details are correct and up to date on both LMS and Zambeel. University wide policy on plagiarism and foul means to obtain a grade hold. The instructor reserves the right to modify the course contents and the sessions breakup. COURSE OVERVIEW LECTURE Introduction to Research Methodology TOPICS RECOMMENDED READINGS OBJECTIVES/ APPLICATION 1 Introduction to the course The purpose of RM 2 Understanding Research Philosophies and Approaches Ch. 4 Saunders et al. Philosophies underlying RM Page 4 of 7

5 3 Ethical Issues in Research Formulating and Clarifying the Research Topic Ch. 6 Saunders et al. Ch. 2 Saunders et al. Ethical Issues in Research Identifying the Problem Area Research Design 4 Reviewing the Literature/Identifying Research Problem 5 Making a Research Model after Reviewing the Literature. Ch. 3 Saunders et al. Readings would be provided Identifying the Problem Area Choosing the appropriate technique 6 Research Strategies. Data Collection Qualitative (Sources and Methods) Ch. 5 Saunders et al. Refining the appropriate technique 7 Sources of Data Collection Ch.4. Yin, Ch.8 Patton Identifying sources for collecting Data 8 Observation and Participant Observation Ch. 9 Saunders et al. 9 Qualitative Interviewing Ch. 10 Saunders et al., Ch. 7 Patton Practice Session/class 10 Assignment/Case Study Data Coding and Analysis (Qualitative) Organizing the data. Ensuring Reliability and Validity, Basic Coding. Coding for developing higher level themes. Using Software (NVIVO) for Qualitative Data analysis. 14 Practice session with NVIVO Data Collection (Quantitative) Ch. 13. Saunders et al. Ch. 5 Yin Ch.5 and 6, Lyn Richards Notes to be provided. This session will most likely take place in the lab. Data analysis and Data analysis and Applying for data analysis Applying for data analysis 15 Questionnaire development Chapter 11 (Saunders) Page 5 of 7

6 16 Organizational survey research Rogelberg, S. G., Church, A. H., Waclawski, J., & Stanton, J. M Organizational survey research. In S. G. Rogelberg (Ed.), Handbook of Research Methods in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 2nd ed.: Malden, MA: Blackwell. 17 PROJECT PROPOSAL PRESENTATIONS 18 MID EXAM Data Analysis (Quantitative) Data analysis: Preliminary steps Chapter 19 (Churchill) Data analysis and Exploring and describing data Chapter 12 (Saunders) Data analysis and Hypothesis testing Appendix 19 A (Churchill) Data analysis and Data analysis: Examining differences Data analysis: Investigating associations Chapter 20 (Churchill) Chapter 21 (Churchill) Applying for data analysis Applying for data analysis Practice session (SPSS) 1 Chapters from Hinton et al. book Lab sessions Practice session (SPSS) 2 Chapters from Hinton et al. book Lab sessions Module On Report Writing 26 27,28 Report writing Chapter 14 (Saunders) Effective written communication Final project presentations Review of the course Note 1: The instructor may swap session content if required Note 2: Readings may be added or reduced during the course. These will usually be added to LMS Page 6 of 7

7 TEXTBOOK(S)/SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS Lahore University of Management Sciences MAIN TEXTBOOKS: 1. Saunders, M. N., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A Research Methods for Business Students (5th ed.): Pearson Education. 2. Hinton, P. R., Brownlow, C., McMurray, I., & Cozens, B SPSS Explained. London: Routledge. REFERENCE TEXTBOOKS: 1. Churchill, G. A., & Lacobucci, D Marketing Research: Methodological Foundations: Cengage Learning. 2. Craig, D. V Action Research Essentials. San Francisco: Jossey Bass. 3. Patton, M. Q Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. 4. Yin, R. K Case Study Research: Design and Methods (4th ed.). Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications. 5. Becker, H. S Tricks of the Trade: How to Think about your Research while you're Doing it. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 6. Golden Biddle, K., & Locke, K Composing Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 4. Richards, L Handling qualitative data: A practical guide: Sage Publications Ltd. Page 7 of 7