BA5505 RESEARCH METHODS AND ETHICS IN BUSINESS
| Course Code: | 3125505 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 8.0 |
| Department: | Business Administration |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Graduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Prof.Dr. ÖZLEM ÖZDEMİR YILDIRIM |
| Offered Semester: | Fall or Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
The objectives of this course are: (1) to acquaint you with quantitative as well as qualitative research methods in
social science, (2) to develop your academic skills in facilitating discussions on the journal articles/books in your
field, elaborate them, raise points that you think should be improved, (3) to identify your research idea and learn how
to write and present it. The nature of social inquiry will be discussed followed by the issues of research design,
implementation, and evaluation. Survey and experimental research methods will be the particular focus of the course,
which will be discussed through some actual journal papers/studies. In the second half of the course, you will
develop your own research proposal and specifically will locate and use appropriate research methodology. In
addition, you will demonstrate your study through oral and written communication.
Course Content
This course emphasizes the role and significance of research within accounting and finance, and covers different types and functions of research, formulating research, research questions, hypotheses, concepts, operations and briefs, research philosophies, epistemologies and ontologies and their relevance to quantitative and qualitative methodology and methods, collecting, analysing and interpreting data: survey methodology and methods, questionnaire design and administration, questionnaire analysis including basic statistical techniques and computer data using a relevant statistical software package i.e. SPSS (or equivalent). Also qualitative research methods including structured, semi-structured and unstructured interviews, focus groups, participant and non participant observation will be selectively discussed. Research ethics, social and economic objectives of research, writing and presentation research results and analysis will be addressed.
Course Learning Outcomes
The objectives of this course are: (1) to acquaint you with quantitative as well as qualitative research methods in
social science, (2) to develop your academic skills in facilitating discussions on the journal articles/books in your
field, elaborate them, raise points that you think should be improved, (3) to identify your research idea and learn how
to write and present it. The nature of social inquiry will be discussed followed by the issues of research design,
implementation, and evaluation. Survey and experimental research methods will be the particular focus of the course,
which will be discussed through some actual journal papers/studies. In the second half of the course, you will
develop your own research proposal and specifically will locate and use appropriate research methodology. In
addition, you will demonstrate your study through oral and written communication.
Textbooks:
1. E. Babbie (2013), The Practice of Social Research,, (13th ed.) Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
2. J.W. Creswell (1994), Research Design: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Sage Publications, Inc.: