PAFIS - 2007-09 - Courses

Research Methodology

Code 2177 (6 pt, advanced level), Spring 2008

Aim

The aim of the course is to introduce the basic methods and methodology of scientific research. It deals with finding, validating and efficiently utilizing existing information, and with developing new knowledge in a scientific way. It is, in practice, very much focused on things that you need to know in order to write your master's thesis.

This course is normally taken during the first year of the Program in Advanced Financial Information Systems, before starting the work on the M.Sc. thesis. It is intended to be taken in parallel with the statistics course 3613 Multivariate Data Analysis (period 4).

Prerequisites

This course is part of the integrated Program in Advanced Financial Information Systems. It is taken during the first year, and it is coordinated with the beginning of the seminars. Other students are kindly requested to contact the instructor; subject to capacity constraints, students not in the Program in Advanced Financial Information Systems may be allowed to take the course at the discretion of the instructor. Students in the accounting or IS programs at Hanken who include this course in their major are of course always welcome.

Schedule

We 16.1 08:30-10:00 308 Introduction - what is science?
We 23.1 08:30-10:00 308 How to find and summarize scientific literature
We 30.1 08:30-10:00 308 Case 1: Finding literature
We 06.2 08:30-10:00 308 Different kinds of research
We 13.2 08:30-10:00 308 Case 2: Different kinds of research
We 20.2 08:30-10:00 308 Different empirical methods
We 19.3 08:30-10:00 304 Case 3: Different methods in different theses
We 02.4 08:30-10:00 304 How to write a thesis / different methods
We 16.4 08:30-10:00 304 Case 4: Different methods
Fr 25.4 08:30-12:00 D403 Literature review presentations

Exam dates: 5.5.2008, 7.6.2008, 20.8.2008

Literature

Colomb, Gregory G., Joseph M. Williams, and Wayne Booth (1995): The Craft of Research. The University of Chicago Press. 1995. (324 p) [later editions also OK]

Yin, Robert K. (2003): Case study research : design and methods. 3rd ed. Sage 2003. (181 p).

Ryan, Bob, Robert W. Scapens, and Michael Theobald (2002): Research Method and Methodology in Finance and Accounting. 2nd ed. Thomson 2002. (223 p)

Readings package:

Examination

4 short cases, to be done in groups of two persons and presented in class. Presentations graded with 0-3 points each, for a total of up to 12 points.

A term paper, comprising a short literature review on a topic of scientific relevance, to be written individually, submitted and presented in class. Graded with between 0 and 18 points.

Written examination on the literature, graded with between 0 and 70 points.

Points to cases and Term paper
Points to exams

Instructor

Professor (act) Anders Tallberg

http://www.pafis.shh.fi/

info@pafis.shh.fi