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

Students will develop an understanding of entrepreneurship and innovation as multifaceted and multidisciplinary fields of research. They will also become familiar with a range of fundamental methodological approaches, and how these are applied in innovation and entrepreneurship research. Students will also strengthen their academic reading, writing and research skills to a level required for a Master's thesis.

Credits: 6

Schedule: 26.10.2020 - 04.12.2020

Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Arne Kroeger

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Thomas Hoeger

Contact information for the course (valid 22.09.2020-21.12.2112):

Please
make sure to familiarize yourself with the preliminary assignment.
Without submitting this short piece of work, it will not be possible for you to
go on with this course.


For any enquiry regarding this course please contact
thomas.hoeger@aalto.fi  


Happy learning!


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:

    It introduces students to the fundamental research methods applied in the fields of entrepreneurship and innovation management. The course focuses on how to collect reliable data, such as interviews, observations, surveys, and secondary data (e.g. news articles, tweets, Facebook/Youtube comments), and how to do good qualitative research by offering training in techniques for qualitative analysis. The course also addresses how to do good quantitative research by learning some basic techniques for conducting statistical analysis, such as descriptive statistics, and how to assess the quality of published research. 

    The course follows self-paced learning principles, and offers students the option to decide the order of learning topics. For each topic a set of short exercises help apply and critically reflect their understanding. Overall, students engage with the basics of qualitative as well as quantitative research, and engage more deeply in one research methodology of their interest.

    This online course functions in support of MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management students' Master's thesis. 

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Course
    Structure and Materials

    The
    course consists of 8 topics that cover the basics of qualitative and
    quantitative research:

     Basics
    of Qualitative Research in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management

    • Topic 1:  Different qualitative approaches to
      inquiry 
    • Topic 2:  Observation and Note-Taking
    • Topic 3:  Interviewing and non-mainstream
      approaches to collect data
    • Topic 4:  Qualitative Data Analysis 

    Basics
    of Quantitative Research in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management

    • Topic 5:  Quantitative Data
    • Topic 6:  From Theory to Empirics
    • Topic 7:  Quantitative Analysis
    • Topic 8:  Interpreting and Publishing
      Research Findings

    Each
    topic will include reading materials and videos that will introduce you to the
    core themes. In addition, you may be asked to independently look for more
    information.

     

    Online sessions 

    Introductory session on Friday 30.10.

    We will organize an online introductory
    session on the course on Friday 30th of October at 14.15-16.00. Participation
    is voluntary, but recommended. 


    Feedback sessions on 20.11. and 11.12.

    The
    course includes two obligatory assignments (20 points for assignment 1 and 32
    points for assignment 2) that allows you to develop your skills as a
    researcher, and to work on a topic that is of interest to you. 
    We offer an online feedback session after each
    of the obligatory assignments:

    • The
      first feedback session is on Friday 20th of November at 
      14.15-16.00.
    • The
      second feedback session is on Friday 11th of December at 
      14.15-16.00.

    Participation
    in the feedback sessions is voluntary. 


    The Introductory and Feedback sessions will be
    organized in an Adobe Connect Meeting.

    To join the meeting: https://connect.funet.fi/aalto_eship/

    Note: In order to participate, you must
    download Adobe Contact Meeting.


Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Individual exercises and assignments (100%)

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Elaboration
    of the Evaluation Criteria and Methods

    In order to pass the course, you need to
    collect a minimum of 50 points in the exercises and assignments. Note, it is
    mandatory to submit both assignments, but you may choose the number of
    exercises. If you decide to skip some exercises you will no longer have the
    possibility to score maximum points, as in each exercise you can score a
    maximum of 3 points of the final grade. 

    For
    more information on the points to grade conversion, see below:


    Course Evaluation Overview:

    1. Qualitative Research Exercises:      24 Points

    2. Assignment 1:                                20 Points

    3. Quantitative Research Exercises:    24 Points

    4. Assignment 2:                                 32 Points

    Total:                                                 100 Points



    Points Conversion Scale:                     Final Scale (official scale):

    90 - 100                                                                     5

    80 - 89                                                                       4    

    70 - 79                                                                       3

    60 - 69                                                                       2

    50 - 59                                                                       1

    0 -  49                                                                        0 (Fail)


Workload
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    1. Contact hours (Online Feedback) 6 h

    2. Online-based exercises 80 h

    3. Individual assignment 74 h

DETAILS

Study Material
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    A variety of selected articles and videos on research methods. More detailed instructions will be provided in the course syllabus.

  • Applies in this implementation:

    Assignments 


    Preliminary
    Assignment 

    Since this course should help and assist you
    in the process of your master thesis paper, you should already have a rough
    idea about the topic you want to proceed. Small changes might still occur, but
    the overall direction should already be present. Therefore you need to submit
    till Tuesday the 27th of October already some first ideas about your future
    research project. You will find more information about it under the
    "Assignments" section. And don't stress out too much about this. This
    should just be a kind of ground work we will then work on, allocate you to your
    supervisor and know which research methods you should focus on for the upcoming
    assignments.


    Obligatory
    Assignments – due 17.11. and 04.12 

    The
    course includes two obligatory assignments (20 points and 32 points) that allow
    you to develop your skills as a researcher, and to work on a topic that is of
    interest to you. The first assignment focuses on either on Qualitative or
    Quantitative Research (depending on your planned master thesis topic) and
    it is due Tuesday the 17th of November. The second assignment will focus on
    your particular research methodology and it is due Friday the 4th of December.

    You
    must complete and pass these 2 obligatory assignments in order to pass the
    course. However, note that they only amount to a maximum of 52 points of the
    total 100 points of this course and it might be very difficult to reach the
    maximum amount of points. In order to pass the course, you need to collect a
    minimum of 50 points from these exercises and the assignments. Therefore I
    strongly encourage you to also work on the exercises.

    We
    offer an online feedback session after each of the obligatory
    assignments (see information above). The participation is
    voluntary. 


    Topic
    Exercises – due 17.11. and 04.12.

    In association to each topic there are two
    small exercises (3 points each), which test the comprehension of the topic and
    help you to develop skills to critically read and evaluate scientific research.
    These exercises are voluntary. However, if you do not complete them, you will
    automatically loose the points they are worth, and cannot get the highest grade
    from the course. Altogether the voluntary exercises amount to a maximum of 48
    points of the total 100 points of this course (8 session, 2 exercises in each
    session, 3 points for each exercise).

    The
    first set of exercises (either 1-4 (Qualitative) or 5-8 (Quantitative); depending
    on your planned master thesis research methodology)
    are due Tuesday the 17th
    of November, and the second set of exercises are due due till Friday the
    4th of December.


Prerequisites
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    -

SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    8 Decent Work and Economic Growth

    9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

FURTHER INFORMATION

Details on the schedule
  • Applies in this implementation:

    Suggested
    schedule

    This
    is a self-paced online course, and as such the students can decide how to
    allocate the topics according to their own speed, needs and interests. Just
    keep in mind the exercise and assignment deadlines


    Deadlines & important dates:

    • Preliminary Exercise due till Tuesday 27th of October
    • Opening session on Friday 30th of October 14.15-16.00 (recommended)
    • Assignment 1 and first exercises due till Wednesday 17th of November
    • Feedback session on Friday 20th of November 14.15-16.00 (optional)
    • Assignment 2 and second part of exercises due till Friday 4th of December
    • Feedback session on Friday 11th of December 14.15-16.00 (optional)