Methodology of professional and research work
| Subject | Methodology of professional and research work |
| Semester | 3rd semester (autumn) |
| Type | Required (undergraduate) or elective (master) |
| ECTS | 6 ECTS |
| Study programme: | Business studies |
| Primary language: | Slovene |
The course will be conducted in the Slovene language and is a compulsory course in accordance with the curriculum in the undergraduate study program and elective course in accordance with the curriculum in the master study program Business Studies. The course consists of two parts. In the first part it follows a standard book Research Methods for Business Students. The second part focuses on concrete examples of research methods. The course is suitable for professionals from different fields as well as for students in the preparation of research-based assignments.
Preconditions
Students must show a sufficient English language proficiency in order to be able to independently use the material; a sufficient background from elementary mathematics and statistics in order to learn basic methods of statistical analysis.
Goals
The objective of the course is to educate future graduates of business studies about basic approaches to research. During the course, students learn some basic research techniques, but above all, the course tries to convince them that research is unavoidable. The course appeals with a prime focus into the use of research methods, especially with regard to integrating essential elements of research and encouraging the build-up of research as a skill with competitive edge. The more specific objectives of the course are:
- To learn the basic principles of writing research work;
- to get to know the research process;
- To learn about the preparation of the research plan;
- To get to know the types of research (experiment, interview, survey, observation);
- To learn the basics of sampling;
- To learn the use of basic methods of statistical analysis;
- To practice the public presentation of main results
- independent determination of research questions, design of the research process and related competences;
- a description of the use of some basic research methods that are useful in business studies;
- understanding the connection between theory and research;
- independent preparation of the research proposal;
- independent preparation of an in-depth questionnaire for analyzing the set of analytical assumptions;
- the use of some research methods (regression analysis, time series analysis, factor analysis, main components);
- understanding the importance of ethics in research.
- Basic principles of research and ethics in research;
- Approaches to research (experiment, interview, survey, observation)
- Preparation of a research plan;
- Sampling and Inference;
- Methods of statistical analysis;
- Presentation of research / project findings
Participation in the course is optional (desirable). The first colloquium envisages five questions of an objective type and two structured questions from the first half of the syllabus (i.e. Research Methods for Business Students). The colloquium will be on the program at the end of the first set of materials in accordance with the rules of the Faculty of Law and Business Studies.
2nd colloquium envisages 2 tasks from the statistical analysis. The colloquium can be conducted with a seminar and an obligatory public presentation of the seminar in the form of a defense; conducted before the beginning of the examination period. The second colloquium will be on the program after the concluding lectures in accordance with the rules of the Faculty of Law and Business Studies.
Exam: students that pass colloquiums are not obliged to take the exam. The exam includes a substance of both colloquiums with assignments divided into two parts.
During the course, students are invited to prepare a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire should be structured in a way that will enable it to respond to a specific research question. The research question must be stated in a meaningful way before the questionnaire starts.
Grading structure.
- 1st Colloquium: 30 points
- 2nd Colloquium: 50 points (a successful pass of both colloquiums substitutes for the exam)
- Questionnaire: 20 points
Teaching and learning material
- Saunders, Mark et al. 2015. Research Methods for Business Students. Pearson.
- Additional materials and other study materials (e.g., articles, sample questionnaires, sample project proposals, pre-exam questions, etc.).
- before and after the lectures
- by agreement
Lecturer:
Steinbacher, Mitja