Course detail

Research Methods in Economics

FP-vmePAcad. year: 2022/2023

An integral part of university studies is creative activity, which is further deepened in the master's degree. This emphasis on creative activity is based not only on the requirements of the academic sphere, but also on business practice, which requires graduates of the master's degree to take an innovative approach, quality knowledge of the researched reality and ultimately independent solutions. The course follows primarily on the elaboration of the diploma thesis as a support for improving the quality of the outputs of the analytical part in order to increase the quality of subsequent proposals.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

4

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Students will become familiar with the research process, its rules and procedures. Students will know basic research approaches, methods and data collection techniques used in them. Students will be able to independently choose the appropriate approach and methods of data collection with regard to the chosen issue with the aim of answering the research question and fulfilling the goal. Students will be able to prepare a research report and present its results. Students will learn to practically apply research methods and techniques and apply them in a diploma thesis.

Prerequisites

The subject requires the following knowledge and skills of the student: statistical data analysis, probabilistic statistics, basic knowledge in the field of literature research, ability to collect and analyze data, ability to interpret data and formulate conclusions and recommendations, ability to present project results. The subject relies on the student's individual ability to define a chosen problem from practice (following the diploma thesis) or selected issues and knowledge and skills from the professional subjects completed in the program.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Teaching takes place in the form of lectures, which have the character of an explanation of the basic principles, methodology of the discipline and problems. Exercises mainly support the practical mastery of the material presented in lectures. Discussions, individual and team work are used in lectures and exercises.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

SUBJECT COMPLETION:
Obtaining credit is conditional on the submission of an individual research project by the student according to the teacher's instructions. The exam consists of passing an overview test of knowledge in the subject. The overall graded assessment of the subject is based on the point assessment of both sub-activities, which make up 100% (100 points). The first graded part consists of the preparation of an individual research project (70%) and the second part consists of passing an overview test of knowledge in the given issue (30%). Both activities are compulsory upon completion of the course.

COURSE COMPLETION FOR STUDENTS WITH INDIVIDUAL STUDY PLAN OR STUDENTS GOING ABROAD (ERASMUS):
After submitting the approved plan (ISP) to the teacher (in the form of an e-mail and a pdf scan attachment), the student must complete the activities in the form of developing and submitting an individual research project to the teacher and pass an overview test in the subject. The condition is that the student submits a completely developed project to the teacher no later than a week before the last date of the test. Both activities are compulsory upon completion of the subject.

The assessment of an individual research project is based on the quality of the processing of sub-areas and is based on the practical application of knowledge of the research process and methods in the selected issue with the aim of improving practical skills and abilities. The total number of points a student can get is 70 points, which are divided according to the qualitative assessment criteria as follows:

10 points – formulation of the problem, research questions and objectives,
10 points - literature research, setting the research framework,
10 points – choosing a research approach,
10 points - chosen method and technique of data collection,
10 points – data analysis and evaluation,
15 points - discussion and formulation of conclusions, recommendations and possible benefits for practice or the academic field,
5 points – research presentation.

The review test will be compiled from a range of topics based on lectures for the face-to-face form of study. The student must obtain at least 16 points from the study prerequisite test.

The student selects and chooses from 10 questions the correct answer of type a), b), c), d), with 3 points for a correct answer and 0 points for none or an incorrect one. The total time to complete the test is 20 minutes.
If the student does not get the minimum number of points in the first term, he has the option to write a remedial test on a date set by the teacher.

PARTIAL AND OVERALL ASSESSMENT:
1) Individual research project – 0-70 points. (min. 30 points).
2) Study prerequisites test – 0-30 points (min. 16 points).

Overall rating:
A – 89-100 points
B – 77-88 points
C – 65-76 points
D – 53-64 points
E – 46-52 points
F – 45 or less points

Reasons for not granting credit:
- failure to submit the research project and presentation on time,
- failure to complete both two compulsory activities (project+test),
- obtaining less than a total of 46 points.

 

Course curriculum

1. Specifics of research within international economics, marketing and trade, definition of basic terms in the field of research, research process and its critical factors.
2. Determination of research goals and research questions, determination of the state of scientific knowledge, data sources for literature searches, conceptualization of the topic, theoretical framework.
3. Research approaches: primary vs. secondary, deductive vs. inductive, qualitative vs. quantitative and their data collection methods.
4. Quantitative research - the process of conducting, preparing and collecting data in quantitative research, hypotheses, operationalization, determination of the sample and its representativeness, validity and reliability.
6. Qualitative research - implementation process, data preparation and collection, qualitative sampling, types of questions, analysis and interpretation of qualitative data (transcription and coding of data), visualization of results.
7. Processing research results into a research project/report, compiling a presentation of research results.
8. - 13. Individual implementation of research by the student (desk research, field primary research, etc.)
Submitting a research project and presentation (according to conditions).

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The aim of the course is to acquaint students with the methodology of research work and to deepen knowledge and skills in the implementation of research of future graduates for practice in international economics and trade. The subject is built on the theoretical foundations of the laws, procedures and rules of conducting research throughout the research process so that the student is individually able to choose an appropriate approach, method and technique of data collection, analyze and interpret data in order to fulfill a goal or answer a research question and then process these results in the form of a research report and presentation.
The student individually chooses the issue to be processed through selected research methods and data collection techniques: 1) "in the field" (primary data collection) or by carrying out 2) "desk research" (secondary data collection).

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Attendance at lectures is not compulsory, but is controlled by the teacher. Exercises are mandatory and supervised (attendance, however, is not part of the conditions for granting credit). The interim and final control takes place in stages and in the form of evaluation of partial scored activities to meet the conditions of the overall classification of the subject.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

SAUNDERS, M., P. LEWIS a A. THORNHILL. Research methods for business students. 6th ed. Harlow: Pearson, c2012. ISBN 978-0-273-75075-8. (EN)
WONNACOTT, T. H. a R. J. WONNACOTT. Statistika pro obchod a hospodářství. Praha: Victoria Publishing, 1993. ISBN 80-85605-09-0. (CS)
HINDLS, Richard, Stanislava HRONOVÁ a Ilja NOVÁK, 2000. Metody statistické analýzy pro ekonomy. 2. přeprac. vyd. Praha: Management Press, 259 s. ISBN 80-7261-013-9. (CS)
ŠIROKÝ, J. Tvoříme a publikujeme odborné texty. Brno: Computer Press, 2011. ISBN 978-80-251-3510-5 (CS)
HINDLS, Richard, Stanislava HRONOVÁ a Jan SEGER, 2006. Statistika pro ekonomy. 6. vyd. Praha: Professional Publishing, 415 s. ISBN 80-86419-99-1. (CS)
HENDL, J. Kvalitativní výzkum. Základní teorie, metody a aplikace. 3. vyd. Praha: Portál, 2012. 407 s. ISBN 978-80-262-0219-6. (CS)
FORET, Miroslav, and Jana STÁVKOVÁ. Marketingový výzkum. 1. vyd. Praha: Grada 2003. 159 s. ISBN 80-247-0385. (CS)
KOZEL R. Moderní marketingový výzkum. 1. vyd. Praha: Grada, 2006. 277 s. ISBN 978-80-247-0966-X; 2013. (CS)

Recommended reading

SURYNEK, A. Základy sociologického výzkumu. Praha: Management Press, 2001. ISBN 80-7261-038-4.
PAVLICA, K. Sociální výzkum, podnik a management: průvodce manažera v oblasti výzkumu hospodářských organizací. Praha: Ekopress, 2000. ISBN 80-86119-25-4.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme MGR-UFRP Master's, 2. year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

  • Programme MGR Master's

    branch MGR-UFRP-D , 2. year of study, winter semester, elective

  • Programme MGR-MEO Master's, 2. year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

LECTURES:
1. Introduction to the subject, assessment conditions and required activities, specifics of research within international economics, marketing and trade, definition of basic terms in the field of science and research, research process and its critical factors.
2. Determination of research objectives and research questions, determination of the state of scientific knowledge, data sources for literature searches, conceptualization of the topic, theoretical framework and hypothetical model.
3. Research approaches: primary vs. secondary, deductive vs. inductive, qualitative vs. quantitative and their data collection methods, pilot studies and pre-research, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, triangulation categories and methodological triangulation.
4. Part 1: Quantitative research - the process of conducting, preparing and collecting data in quantitative research, establishing a hypothesis, operationalizing the research, level and unit of analysis, determining the sample and its representativeness, validity and reliability.
5. Part 2: Qualitative research - implementation process, data preparation and collection, qualitative sampling, types of questions, analysis and interpretation of qualitative data (transcription and coding of data), visualization of results.
6. Processing of research results into a research project/report, interpretation and discussion of data, proposals for recommendations for practice, preparation for the presentation of research results, citation standards.
7. Individual implementation of research by the student (desk research, field primary research, etc.)
Submitting a research project and presentation (according to conditions).

Exercise

13 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

EXERCISES:
1. Introduction to exercises (conditions for obtaining credit and the course of exercises), the procedure for selecting and determining research issues, generating research ideas.
2. Formulation of a central research question and goal, conducting a literature search and searching for sources, working with Google tools, conceptualization, decisions on a research approach.
3. Preparation and collection of data in quantitative research, hypothesis determination, level and unit of analysis, operationalization, sample determination and representativeness, validity and reliability.
4. Preparation and collection of data in qualitative research, qualitative sampling, types of questions, analysis and interpretation of qualitative data (transcription and coding of data), displaying results.
5. Individual implementation of research by the student (desk research or primary research, etc.).