Course detail

Research Methods in Management

FP-SvmrKAcad. 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 a diploma thesis as a support for improving the quality of the outputs of the analytical part and subsequent proposals, but also on solving problems or projects of students in practice from the contracting authorities or their own business activities.

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 a suitable approach and methods of data collection with regard to a selected practical problem or issue with the aim of answering the research question and fulfilling the goal. Students will be able to prepare a research report with relevant results for subsequent decision-making or recommendations for practice. 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. 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. The lectures use discussions, individual and team work. Teaching is accompanied not only by a theoretical explanation, but also by the support of practical examples and outputs of research in practice.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

COURSE COMPLETION:

The classified credit is based on the point evaluation of two 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 mandatory in case of completion of the subject and obtaining a graded credit.

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:

15 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.

The minimum number of points to complete the activity is 30 points. If the student does not achieve the minimum required number of points from the project, he will be informed by the teacher, including obtaining detailed feedback on the adjustment or rework. The student resubmits the project to the teacher's email no later than one week before the last exam date in the form of a study prerequisite test.
The examination test will be compiled from a range of topics based on the content of the lectures for the face-to-face form of study. 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.
The student must obtain 16 points from the study prerequisite test. If the student does not get at least the mentioned 50% of points in the first term, he has the option to write a make-up test on a date set by the teacher. The study prerequisites test is a mandatory part of the course completion.

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

LECTURES:
1ST BLOCK Introduction to the subject, evaluation conditions and required activities, specifics of research within the framework of business development management, the research process and its critical factors. 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.
2. BLOCK Research approaches, primary vs. secondary, deductive vs. inductive, qualitative vs. quantitative and their data collection methods, pilot study and pre-research, cross-sectional and longitudinal study, categories of triangulation and methodological triangulation. Part 1: Quantitative research - the process of conducting, preparing and collecting data in quantitative research, establishing a hypothesis, operationalizing research, level and unit of analysis, determining the sample and its representativeness, validity and reliability, archival research, types of databases and data retrieval work.
3. BLOCK 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. Processing of research results into a research project/report, interpretation and discussion of data, proposals for recommendations for practice.
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 subject is to familiarize students with the methodology of research work and to deepen the knowledge and skills in the field of research implementation of future graduates for practice in the field of business development management. 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

Participation in lectures is not compulsory, but is controlled by the teacher. The interim and final control takes place in phases and in the form of evaluation of partial scored activities to meet the conditions for obtaining a classified credit.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

DISMAN, Miroslav. Jak se vyrábí sociologická znalost. Praha: Karolinum, 2005. ISBN: 978-80-246-0139-7. (CS)
HENDL, Jan. Přehled statistických metod: analýza a metaanalýza dat. Páté, rozšířené vydání. Praha: Portál, 2015, 734 s. ISBN 978-80-262-0981-2. (CS)
HENDL, Jan. Kvalitativní výzkum. Základní metody a aplikace. Praha: Portál, 2005. ISBN 978-80-7367-485-4. (CS)
BRATKOVÁ, Eva. Metody citování literatury a strukturování bibliografických záznamů podle mezinárodních norem ISO 690 a ISO 690-2 [online]. Verze 2.0, aktualiz. a rozš. Praha: Odborná komise pro otázky elektronického zpřístupňování vysokoškolských kvalifikačních prací Asociace knihoven vysokých škol České republiky, 2008-12-22 [cit. 2010-02-06]. 60 s. (CS)
SAUNDERS, M., LEWIS, P. a A. THORNHILL. Research Methods for Business Students. 3. editione. London: Prentice Hall. 2003. 504 pp. ISBN 0-273-65804-2. (EN)
ŘIHÁČEK,Tomáš, Roman, Hytyk a kolektiv, 2013. Kvalitativní analýza textů: čtyři přístupy. 1.vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 190 s. ISBN 978-80-210-6382-2. (CS)
ŠIROKÝ, J. Tvoříme a publikujeme odborné texty nejen pro ekonomy. 1. vyd. Praha: Computer Press, 2011. 28 s. ISBN 978-80-251-3510-5. (CS)
PAVLICA, K. a kol. Sociální výzkum, podnik a management. 1. vyd. Praha: Ekopress, 2000. 161 s. ISBN 80-86119-25-4. (CS)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

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

Type of course unit

 

Guided consultation in combined form of studies

16 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

The student has the opportunity to consult research project with the teacher, who will give him methodological support if necessary throughout the research process. The student has the opportunity to request methodological advice and consultation in the range of 4-6 hours during the semester. In the case of face-to-face teaching, the student can request a consultation after explaining the professional issue or on the days designated for consultations in the teacher's office, in the case of distance learning online via Microsoft MS Teams. It will be specified in more detail at the lecture.