Research Design and Mixed Methods in Business Studies (Advanced methodology course - collection, treatment and analysis of data)

F2026

Business Administration and Leadership / Global and Development Studies / International Politics and Governance / Business Administration and Leadership / Samfundsøkonomi

Course

Elective

English

Read about the Master Programme and find the Study Regulations at ruc.dk

You register for activities through stads selvbetjening during the announced registration period, which you can see on the Study administration homepage.

When registering for courses, please be aware of the potential conflicts and overlaps between course and exam time and dates. The planning of course activities at Roskilde University is based on the recommended study programmes, which should not overlap. However, if you choose optional courses and/or study plans that goes beyond the recommended study programmes, an overlap of lectures or exam dates may occur depending on which courses you choose.

There are a total number of 120 spots available on the course, filled on a first-come, first-served basis

5

Flemming Sørensen (flemmiso@ruc.dk)

Maria Duclos Lindstrøm (marial@ruc.dk)

Flemming Sørensen (flemmiso@ruc.dk)

ISE Registration & Exams (ise-exams@ruc.dk)

U60725

Overall objective An advanced course in social scientific methodology aims to equip students to competently select and apply a given method for the collection, treatment and analysis of data, for the purpose of illuminating an academic problem. The course enables students to argue for the applicability and relevance of the method to the problem, and to master the techniques of the method at a professional level.

The lectures in the Mixed Methods in Business Studies course provide students with knowledge and practical skills that are directly applicable to their current and future project work, as well as their professional careers.

The course focuses on the following topics, which will be covered in course literature, class exercises, and the exam assignment:

• The importance of mixed-method designs, combining quantitative and qualitative data, for researching real-life business and management problems.
• Reflections on how to justify the use of mixed methods within the philosophy of science.
• Considerations for conceptualising and choosing between different mixed-method designs.
• Guidance on formulating precise mixed-method design-oriented research questions and framing mixed-methods-based projects.
• Best practices for documenting mixed-methods research strategies and designs, ensuring rigour in project work.
• Discussions on multidisciplinary, theoretical, and empirical approaches, integrating quantitative and qualitative data and methods in mixed-method designs.
• Introduction to different data collection and analytical approaches in mixed methods.
• Exploration of the significance and strategies for effectively combining quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis in real-life business practice.

Selected journal articles and book chapters will be available on Moodle before the start of the course. Examples include:

Johnson, B., Onwuegbuzie, A. & Turner, L. (2007), Toward a definition of mixed methods research, Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 1, 112-133.

Morgan, D. L. (2007). Paradigms Lost and Pragmatism Regained: Methodological Implications of Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Methods. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 1(1), 48–76.

Leech, N. L., & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2009). A typology of mixed methods research designs. Quality and Quantity, 43(2), 265–275.

Cameron, R. & Molina-Azorin, J. F. (20119, The acceptance of mixed methods in business and management research, International Journal of Organizational Analysis, Vol, 19 No. 3, 256 -270.

Harrison, R. L., Reilly, T. M., & Creswell, J. W. (2020). Methodological Rigor in Mixed Methods: An Application in Management Studies. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 14(4), 473–495.

Taeuscher, K., & Laudien, S. M. (2018). Understanding platform business models: A mixed methods study of marketplaces. European Management Journal, 36(3), 319–329.

Teaching, including presentations, dialogue, small exercises, and group work: 20 hours

Preparation for lectures (reading of literature and preparation for activities): 60 hours

Writing of exam paper 25 hours

Oral examination and preparation for the oral examination (30 hours)

Total: 135 hours (5 ECTS)

The course is evaluated regularly. At the start of the course, the course convenor is informed if the course is to be evaluated and notifies the students. The evaluation is carried out in accordance with the study board's evaluation practice.

The course consists of five four-hour-long lectures. Each lecture will include presentations, discussions of literature, and exercises.

The individual lectures will cover topics such as:

• Introduction to mixed methods research designs in business studies
• Philosophy of science and mixed methods research
• Applications of mixed methods in business studies
• Designing mixed methods studies in business studies
• Describing mixed methods approaches in student projects
• Mixed methods data collection and analysis
• Research design and strategies in business studies
• Practical relevance of mixed methods in real-life business settings

At the conclusion of the course, students will be able to:

• Explain and assess, using appropriate terminology, the advantages and disadvantages of collecting and analysing data using the given methodology

• Apply the given method confidently and independently to a specific academic issue

• Reflect on research ethical issues relating to the method

• Communicate the results obtained through the application of the method in an academically precise manner.

Individual oral exam based on a written product.

The character limit of the written product is 2,400-4,800 characters, including spaces.
The character limits include the cover, table of contents, bibliography, figures and other illustrations, but exclude any appendices.

Time allowed for exam including time used for assessment: 25 minutes.
The assessment is an overall assessment of the written product(s) and the subsequent oral examination.

Permitted support and preparation materials for the oral exam: Course material and own notes.

Assessment: 7-point grading scale.
Moderation: Internal co-assessor.

Samme som ordinær eksamen / same form as ordinary exam

Individual oral exam based on a written product.

In this exam, the use of generative AI (GenAI) tools is allowed as per the university's guidelines for the use of AI. Specifically, the following points must be observed:

• When using GenAI tools, you must include a description of the purpose of using GenAI and which GenAI are used and how they have used. The description is assessed the same way as other methodology sections regarding the use of relevant literature, course’s general learning objectives, and assessment criteria.

• Text copied from GenAI chats must be quoted the same way as citations from other texts. The citations and your demonstrated ability to interpret, evaluate and critically assess them is part of the overall assessment of the exam. Please consider including the prompt in a footnote to the citation if you find it relevant to demonstrate your description and analysis of the subject matter.

• Ordinary spell checking and other language suggestions as known from Word or other word processing programs are allowed without declaration. At the examination questions can be asked in the entire curriculum.

Evaluation criteria include students' demonstration of:

• Insights into Mixed Methods Research as an academic field - in theory and practice, and on how to identify a topic related to using Mixed Methods Research in a specific business context or situation.

• insights into the rationale for choosing different Mixed Methods Design and how methods and data are combined to create syntheses between quantitative and qualitative research methods.

• Knowledge on different quantitative and qualitative methods relevant in mixed methods designs and research.

• Knowledge on how choose appropriate theory(-ies) and about rationales concerning philosophy of science in mixed methods research

• Knowledge on how to analyze the topic through mixed method designs and research.

• Perspectives on how to secure the rigor of mixed methods studies