23E80101 - Qualitative Business Research Methods, 07.09.2020-16.10.2020

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Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the course, students will gain an understanding of major qualitative research methods and methodology and will be able to carry out empirical qualitative research.

Credits: 6

Schedule: 07.09.2020 - 16.10.2020

Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Ilona Mikkonen, Sammy Toyoki

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Hedon Blakaj

Contact information for the course (valid 14.08.2020-21.12.2112):hedon.blakaj@aalto.fi

CEFR level (applies in this implementation):

Language of instruction and studies (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022):

Teaching language: English

Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content

  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    The course introduces students to qualitative methods in business research. The course introduces the student to the following topics:
    - Epistemological and ontological underpinnings of qualitative research
    - Collection and analysis of appropriate qualitative empirical data
    - Practical use of different research methods
    - Evaluation criteria for qualitative research
    - Construction of a research plan

  • Applies in this implementation:

    This course is designed especially for students who are beginning their Master's thesis projects.

    You may take the course at any time during your Master's studies; however, you will get the most

    out of it if you already have a thesis topic in mind.

    The aim of the course is to give students the tools to conceptualize their theses in terms of research

    questions and design, methodology, data collection and qualitative analysis.

    The course introduces the student to the following topics:

    • Epistemological and ontological underpinnings of qualitative research

    • Collection and analysis of appropriate qualitative empirical data

    • Criteria for qualitative research

    Upon completion of the course, students will gain an understanding of major qualitative research

    methods and methodology and will be able to carry out empirical qualitative research.


    The contact sessions are a mixture of lectures, discussions, and workshop/exercises. For each of the

    contact sessions you are expected to have read the relevant chapters from the text book. You are

    also expected to be able to, discuss the topics in class. Active participation in class can earn you

    extra credit. Coming regularly to classes is highly recommended.


Assessment Methods and Criteria

  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Active participation in class discussion can earn students extra credits. Absenteeism from any compulsory sessions reduces points and lowers the final grade.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Points Grade

    90 points and over 5 Excellent

    80 to 89 points 4 Very good

    70 to 79 points 3 Good

    60 to 69 points 2 Fair

    50 to 59 points 1 Poor

    49 points and lower Fail




Workload

  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    6 credits, 160 hours:
    - Lectures (compulsory) (24 hours)
    - Independent learning and course assignments (136 hours)

  • Applies in this implementation:

    There are four compulsory assignments to be returned in written report format, comprising your final grade. 

    All assignments will be returned at designated folders in MyCourses. 


    - Analysis of research articles (15 points)

    3 page report (12 bullet point font, 1,5 line spacing) in which you: Identify the research philosophy/paradigm of each article and justify your answers based on theory on different paradigms.


    - Formulating a qualitative research question (15 points)

    Write a 1-2 page (12 bullet point font, 1,5 line spacing) report with the following parts:

    Based on your knowledge of what kinds of questions are appropriate in qualitative research, you will formulate a research question for your Master's thesis. 

    You will take into account: the research paradigm your research positions itself into. What makes the question you have formulated appropriate from the perspective of your research paradigm? Justify your choice with relevant theory. Discuss the kind of data would you need in order to answer the question, and how would you go about collecting the data?


    - Personal interview OR Ethnographic observation (40 points)

    Conduct a semi-structured personal interview on your Master's thesis topic. You can choose the person you are going to interview yourself. 

    Or,

    Conduct an ethnographic observation on your Master's thesis topic. (take into account the current situation with the SARS-CoV-2. It might be difficult to gain access to specific sites)

    Report:

    The body of the report should be 3-6 pages in length (12 bullet point font, 1,5 line spacing), and you should:

    Describe why you chose this particular person to be interviewed/or site for an ethnographic observation 

    Describe how the interview/ethnography was organized; where it took place, how long did it take etc.

    Include the interview outline that you constructed before the interview (semi-structured

    interview. If ethnography, include the plan 

    Include your transcription of the whole interview as an attachment/ if ethnography, include your filed notes and memos as an attachment

    Include your own reflections on the interview/ethnography process (i.e. what did you learn from this

    process) - Did you find anything difficult? Did you feel that your question outline was

    useful? Would you do anything differently the next time you conduct an interview in

    general, or on the same topic? 


    - Analysis and interpretation of your collected empirical material/data (30 points)

    Analyze and interpret the interview data or the ethnographic observation

    Write the report (5-8 pages in length with a 12 bullet point font and 1,5 line spacing) in the format of a research article:

    1. Introduction 

    Should include

    - the research gap (Identify the key articles in the given area or ‘stream’, discern potential research

    gaps and then select one for your study. If the research gap is not explicitly stated in the article(s),

    read through them and discern it yourself

    - the overall research question (i.e. what specifically are you studying)

    - your contribution --> how exactly are contributing to "filling" the research gap.

    2. Theoretical background - to what theoretical frame the research positions 

    This section should provide a short review of the relevant literature(s)

    3. Methodology and method

    In this section, showcase your methodology, method of data collection and the method of data analysis. Present the data set in detail (i.e. how many pages of transcription, how long was the interview)

    Also, explain and justify the data analysis process in detail

    • What kind of analytical methods or tools were chosen? Why are they appropriate in regard

    to your overall research question

    • Detail the process - be as precise as you can! How exactly did you proceed with the data?

    What kind of steps did you take? How did you code the data? If you were using an a priori

    coding scheme, detail how it was constructed and justify its relevance.

    4. Findings (analysis) 

    Present the main findings of your analysis organized into discourses/themes/practices etc. that you

    identified from your data, depending on what your research question is.

    5. Discussion and implications 

    In this section, discuss the implications of the your findings:

    • What do these findings tell you, what should they tell to reader

    • What kind of implications marketers and/or policy makers?

    • How would you (theoretically) generalize the findings?

    As an appendix, include a reflection of the analytical/interpretive process: (0-2p)

    • What did you learn from this assignment?

    • Did you find anything difficult?

    • Would you do anything differently the next time you analyze data?



DETAILS

Study Material

  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Coursebook: Eriksson, Päivi & Kovalainen, Anne (2008) Qualitative methods in business research. ISBN 978-1-4129-0316-5, obligatory,

    (Availability)

    Additional  readings assigned by the lecturer (compulsory).

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Eriksson, Päivi & Kovalainen, Anne (2008) Qualitative methods in business research. 



Substitutes for Courses

  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    The course substitutes the course 80E80100 Business Research Methods (6 cr), 23E22000 Markkinoinnin tutkimusmenetelmät (6 cr) and 23E88001 Qualitative Research Methods in Marketing (3 cr)

Registration for Courses

  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Registration via WedOodi. Check registration time in WebOodi.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Lectures will be held via Zoom digital platform 


FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information

  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Attendance at lectures compulsory. If the student fails to meet this requirement (at least 80% of lectures attended), points will be deducted from the student s final grade. He or she can also be removed from the course for repeated absenteeism. The number of students admitted to the course is restricted to 60. Priority is given to Aalto students studying in MSc Program of Marketing.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Lectures will be held via Zoom digital platform 


Details on the schedule

Rules of Conduct - Students´ Rights and Responsibilities (in force from 1 August 2020)

Aalto University Code of Academic Integrity and Handling Violations Thereof