Utbildningsinfo
IN ENGLISH
Malmö universitet
Course syllabus autumn 2014
Course syllabus autumn 2014
Title
Leadership and Organisation for Sustainability - Research Methods
Swedish title
Ledarskap och organisation för hållbarhet - forskningsmetodik
Course code
OL642E
Credits
7.5 credits
Grading scale
UA / Excellent (A), Very Good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Pass (E) or Fail (U)
Language of instruction
English
Decision-making body
Faculty of Culture and Society
Syllabus approval date
2014-02-11
Syllabus valid from
2014-09-01
Entry requirements
Bachelor´s degree, consisting of 180 credits. English B / English 6 in Swedish secondary school.
Level
Advanced level
Main field
Leadership and Organization
Progression level
A1N
Progression level in relation to degree requirements
The course is included in the main area Leadership and Organisation at advanced level of 91-120 credits.
Course objectives
The aim of the course ”Leadership and Organisation for Sustainability - Research Methods” is to develop knowledge and understanding about scientific research methodology and methods. It provides skills to design, accomplish, evaluate and report a scientific research project in the context of organisation and leadership. The course underlines critical thinking and ethical approaches in research. The course provides knowledge, understanding and skills in regards to philosophical and methodological approaches. In addition, it provides knowledge, understanding and skills about research strategy including qualitative and quantitative research design, methods and analyses. Finally, it provides students with academic writing skills.
Course contents
The course is based on four modules as follow:
Module in Researching within leadership and organisation: This module introduces the diverse philosophical, methodological and ethical approaches in research. It introduces the notion of research problem, research strategy and research design. The module is based on an introduction lecture followed by discussion-based lectures in small groups. Discussions in seminars are made to increase the critical perspective of students towards methodological and philosophical approach as well as to have a debate on ethics in research.
Module in Qualitative research: This module introduces qualitative research in terms of qualitative data collection and qualitative data analysis. The module is based on lectures and seminars during which students will analyse data qualitatively.
Module in Quantitative research: This module introduces quantitative research in terms of quantitative data collection and quantitative data analysis. The module is based on lectures and seminars during which students will analyse data quantitatively.
Module in Academic Writing: This module pinpoints the academic standards in academic writing including the reference system. It also explains how to report the research, process and results in line with the research strategy and research design selected. This module is based on few lectures as well as interactive lectures based on analysis of thesis (or part(s) of thesis).
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
After a successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
  • 1- identify, describe and differentiate the main epistemological and ontological approaches to research and explain their consequences for the research design of a specific study.
  • 2- identify, describe and differentiate between qualitative and quantitative research and explain how both approaches could be associated in multiple research strategy.
  • 3- discuss and critically interpret the methodological approach and research strategy adopted in diverse pieces of research.
  • 4- recall and describe quantitative and qualitative research methods to collect and to analyse qualitative and/or quantitative data.
  • 5- define and exemplify the notion of quality in research as well as of ethics and ethical behaviours in research.
Skills and competencies
After a successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
  • 6- analyse a given situation and then identify and argue for a research problem in the context of organisation and leadership.
  • 7- select and argue for the appropriate research strategy in line with one’s epistemological and ontological approach to research as well as in the context of a given research problem.
  • 8- select and argue for the appropriate methods research design in the context of a given research problem.
  • 9- collect and analyse qualitative and quantitative data in line with a given research problem.
  • 10- report the research process and the results in a comprehensive, relevant, academic, and scientific manner.
Judgement and approach
After a successful completion of this course the student will able to:
  • 11- assess the quality of research within the academic world as well as in the practical sphere.
  • 12- reflect and improve his/her practices in collecting and analysing data to support higher quality in his/her analysis and decision-making.
  • 13- integrate their methodological, methodical and ethical knowledge into the design of a specific research project.
Learning activities
Each module in this course is based on:
  • A lecture series including class discussion when the students work in pair and/or small groups as well as based on practice-based workshops. The lecture series is developed to support learning in regards to the learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 stated above.
  • Assignments (individual, in pair or small groups) and their discussion in compulsory seminars. In the seminars, students work individually, in pair or in small group. Peer reviewed activities are used to enhance critical thinking especially. The series of assignments and their seminars are developed to support learning in regards to the learning outcomes 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 stated above.
  • Self-studies
Assessment
The course is assessed through six examinations as follows:
  • One individual written exam; 4 credits; graded with the A-U scale. The exam assesses the learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 stated above. The written exam is graded on a total of 54 points covering the A-U scale as follows: A (Excellent)=48-54; B (Very good) =41-47; C (Good) =36-40; D (Satisfactory) =33-35; E (Pass)=32; U (Fail)=0-31.
  • A series of qualitative assignments in pair/group; 1 credit; graded with the A-U scale. The series of qualitative assignments assesses the learning outcomes 8, 9 and 12 stated above. The assignment series is first evaluated on the A-U scale following guidelines in line with learning objectives. The grade is then translated into points as follows: A (Excellent)=13; B (Very good) =12; C (Good) =11; D (Satisfactory) =9; E (Pass)=8; U (Fail)=0.
  • A series of quantitative assignments in pair/group; 1 credit; graded with the A-U scale. The series of quantitative assignments assesses the learning outcomes 8, 9, 12 stated above. The assignment series is first evaluated on the A-U scale following guidelines in line with learning objectives. The grade is then translated into points as follows: A (Excellent)=13; B (Very good) =12; C (Good) =11; D (Satisfactory) =9; E (Pass)=8; U (Fail)=0.
  • A series of individual assignments about methodology in research; 0,5 credit; graded with the A-U scale. The series of methodological assignments assesses the learning outcomes 3, 5, 7 and 13 stated above. The assignment series is first evaluated on the A-U scale following guidelines in line with learning objectives. The grade is then translated into points as follows: A (Excellent)=7; B (Very good) =6; C (Good) =5,5; D (Satisfactory) =5; E (Pass)=4; U (Fail)=0.
  • A series of individual assignments about academic writing; 0,5 credit; graded with the A-U scale. The series of assignments about academic writing assesses the learning outcomes 6, 7, 10 and 11 stated above. The assignment series is first evaluated on the A-U scale following guidelines in line with learning objectives. The grade is then translated into points as follows: A (Excellent)=7; B (Very good) =6; C (Good) =5,5; D (Satisfactory) =5; E (Pass)=4; U (Fail)=0.
  • Individual active participation at seminars; 0,5 credit; graded “Pass” or “Fail”. The active participation assesses the learning outcomes 11, 12 and 13 stated above. The grade “Pass” is translated into 6 points and the grade “Fail” into 0 point. If the student obtain the grade “Fail”, his/her active participation is re-examined with one overall written work covering the missing discussion and/or activities done in class.
To pass the course:
The student must obtain the grade A, B, C, D or E at the individual exam and at each of the four series of assignments. The student must obtain the grade “Pass” for the individual active participation at the seminars.
The six examinations above and their translation into points are added to reach a total amount of points. The compilation of the grade over the entire course then respects the following scale:
  • 90-100 = A (Excellent)
  • 80-89 = B (Very good)
  • 70-79 = C (Good)
  • 63-69 = D (Satisfactory)
  • 60-62 = E (Pass)
  • 0-59 = U (Fail)
Course literature and other study material
  • Bellamy, C. (2012). Principles of Methodology - Research Design in Social Science. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publication.
  • Blaikie, N. (2003). Analyzing Quantitative Data - From Description to Explanation. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publication.
  • Booth, W.C., Colomb G.G. & Williams, J.M. (2003). The craft of research. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Brown, R. B. (2006). Doing Your Dissertation in Business and Management: The Reality of Researching and Writing. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publication.
  • Silverman, D. (2013). Doing Qualitative Research, A Practical Handbook. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publication
Other scientific publications and case
A reading list with current research is provided at the beginning of the course. Case may have to be bought via Harvard Business School Publishing.
Course evaluation
All students are given, at the end of the course, the opportunity to comment on the course in writing. A summary of the results of the evaluation as well as responds from the course coordinator will be discussed with students / course representatives during a course evaluation meeting / Programme Council.