Topic outline

  • Course home page

    The goal of the course is to introduce the participants to research methods, approaches and processes in software engineering and business both in academy and industry. In addition, the course provides students practice on formulating research questions and planning empirical studies for their doctoral or master's theses.

    After the course, a student is able to:

    • Explain the goals, nature and process of scientific research
    • Compare different research approaches and methods
    • Plan and implement different studies
    • Evaluate the suitability of research methods for scientific and industrial studies
    • Evaluate the validity and reliability of research results


    Sari Kujala and Kaisa Savolainen (firstname.secondname@aalto.fi) are the teachers of the course.

    Rough plan for the course


    Period 1: remote recorded Zoom lectures about scientific research and research methods

    Period 2: seminar/course assignment presentations - research planning

    An exam is required and it includes a reading package. Here is the list of articles for the exam: EXAM ARTICLES.

    Remote lectures

    1. Introduction to research methods 15.9.
    2. Qualitative methods 22.9.
    3. Quantitative methods 29.9.
    4. Case and action research 6.10.
    5. Design science 13.10. (Prof. Tomi Männistö)
    6. Analyzing and reporting 20.10.
    Zoom lecture links and lecture slides will be here. The lectures will be recorded so that you can watch the sessions later.

    Seminar presentations

    The research plan presentations are in the second period, in the normal lecture time:
    7. Student presentations 3.11.
    8. Student presentations 10.11.
    9. Student presentations 17.11.
    10. Student presentations 24.11.

    Each date has five presentations. You do not need to submit the report before the presentation. The deadline for the report is 3.12.2021.

    Passing the course

    Lectures are not obligatory but highly recommended as the topic is challenging to study alone.
    Weekly learning tasks: Lecture task 1-4 points, max 24, Exam reading task 1-4 points max 24
    Assignment, presentation min 14 max 26 points
    Exam, min 14, max 26 points
    Sum min 50, max 100

    Important dates


    Date Event
    15.9. First lecture
    6.10. Research topic selection (more information later)


    3.12.
    		 Deadline for final research plans
    14.12. First exam
    x.2. Second exam