Research School of Management The Australian National University ACT 2601 Tel: 02 6125 6737, 02 6125 9839 Fax: 02 6125 8796 Email: [email protected] Student Office: Room 1088 Level 1 LF Crisp Building ANU Campus Map (map GH32) http://tinyurl.com/9n8xgd8 College of Business and Economics The Australian National University ACT 2601 Tel: International +61 2 6125 3807 Within Australia: 1300 732 120 (local call cost only) Fax: International: +61 2 6125 0744 Within Australia: 02 6125 0744 Student Office: Level 2 Building 26C Students with enquiries about program (degree) requirements should contact the College office; enquiries about course administration (subjects) are normally handled by the relevant Research School. BUSN 8018 Qualitative Research Methods Course Description This course covers how to develop a good research topic, how to design successful projects and the practical skills to conduct qualitative field work. Issues of design and discovery are relevant to many students, but practical focus relates to the qualitative research tradition. This course is focused on the needs of business students but is also relevant to other areas of social science. The central activity to all of this is to develop a reflective understanding of the rules and expectation for good research in each disciplinary area. Semester and Year Semester 1, 2015 Course URL http://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2015/course/BUSN8018 Mode of Delivery On campus; workshop mode Saturdays 10am to 5pm, weeks 16. Prerequisites As listed in Programs and Courses Incompatible Courses As listed in Programs and Courses Course Convener Dr. Sarbari Bordia Office Location: LF Crisp; Rm. 1087 Phone: 61257338 Email: [email protected] Consultation hours: By Appointment Bio and research My research interest is at the intersection of linguistics and interests corporate communication. I study the role of linguistic identity in international business and service delivery. I also conduct research on the internationalization of management education. I have extensive research experience in qualitative research in management. Student Administrators Research School of Management Room 1088 Level 1, LF Crisp Building 26 Mon. – Fri. 9am – 5pm 1 | THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY COURSE OVERVIEW Course Learning Outcomes Qualitative research methods are growing in importance in research in business disciplines. Scholars and practitioners are utilising qualitative research methods to build theory, improve existing practices, and to undertake policy changes. This course introduces postgraduate research students to a broad range of qualitative research strategies and methods. Such knowledge is crucial for those students undertaking qualitative research projects. The learning outcomes are: (1) To help students understand the threshold concepts necessary to produce high quality research (2) To develop the skills and capabilities in the planning, execution, and communication of a qualitative research and (3) To develop the reflective ability to understand and critique the notion of good research. Research-Led Teaching This course exposes students to a variety of qualitative research method strategies. The lectures and discussions will include core information on research methods and contextual information on how the methodologies are commonly used in a variety of business related research. Students will learn to analyse how the methodologies have been used in the past in published research as well as formulate research projects of their own in this course. The lecturer has extensive experience in using qualitative research and some of her work will also be analysed in the course. Continuous Improvement We use feedback from students, professional bodies and staff to make regular improvements to the course. In response to this feedback, design improvements from the previous version of the course include: Further discussion on theory building Explanation on mixed methodology and action research Revision of assessment items Student Feedback All CBE courses are evaluated using Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys, administered by Planning and Statistical Services at the ANU. These surveys are offered online, and students will be notified via email to their ANU address when surveys are available in each course. Feedback is used for course development so please take the time to respond thoughtfully. Course feedback is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching and to improve courses across the university. For more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on feedback provided on ANU courses, visit http://unistats.anu.edu.au/surveys/selt/students/ and http://unistats.anu.edu.au/surveys/selt/results/learning/ COURSE SCHEDULE 2 | THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY This course will operate as a day-long workshop from Weeks 1-6 of Semester 1 on Saturdays. Week 1 Summary of Activities Introduction to qualitative research 2 Theory building with qualitative research Grounded theory 3 Ethnography Qualitative action research Assessment Qualitative case study 4 5 6 Mixed methodology: When to use qualitative with quantitative Skills required in qualitative research: Interviewing Observations Document and textual analysis Analysis of data Writing up qualitative research Theory to Practice: pilot data collection Proposal Presentation and summary of course Analysis of Qualitative Research 20% No classes In-class presentations 30% COURSE ASSESSMENT Assessment Summary Item Title 1 2 3 Value Analysis of 20% qualitative research Oral Presentation 30% of Proposal Research Report 50% Due Date March 14, 2015 In class & Wattle March 28, 2015 In class & Wattle April 13, 2015 4pm RSM office & Wattle Linked Learning Outcomes (optional) 1, 3 1, 2 1, 2 Assessment Task 1: Analysis of qualitative research 20% Details of task: Select at least three interesting, recent articles in your research area that utilises qualitative methodology. These papers need to focus around a specific area of research. The goal is to summarise these papers and identify a gap or problem which would provide a motivation for a new research project. 3 | THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY Write a 1,500 word review (excluding references) incorporating headings. Identify the relevant target academic community for these articles. Identify the following for each article (1) Research problem or issue under investigation (2) Theoretical positions or models relevant to study (3) Data gathering and methods of analysis and (4) How the given article advanced knowledge Reflect on how the papers you examine create new theory or extends existing ones. Highlight a research gap or issue in this work which could be the basis of a qualitative study. Assignment 1: Analysis of qualitative research Excellent Good Satisfactory Needs some more work Needs Much more work Content (3 marks each) Appropriate selection of papers Description of research gap and problems Description of methodology and analysis Description of theory creation/extension Future research directions for qualitative research Format Critical writing skills for each paper (3 marks) Summative assessment of the three papers (2 marks) Total Marks: 20 Assessment Task 2: Oral Presentation of Proposal 30% Details of task: Choose a qualitative research methodology (e.g., ethnography, grounded theory, case study, etc.) and develop a research project in your area of research. The oral presentation of the proposal should include the following sections: Rationale for research on the topic and research questions. Rational for methodology. Details of methodology (e.g., organizational context, cultural/national context, participants, data collection, data storage/transcription, time frame related to data collection). Data analysis techniques. 4 | THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY Mark /15 /5 Expected results and theory building. Present a 20 min presentation in class aided with power point presentations (20-25 slides) followed by 5-10 min of Q & A. Slides should be submitted via wattle and hard copy. Assignment 2: Oral Presentation Marking Criteria Excellent Good Satisfactory Needs some more work Content Display of clear understanding of the methodology: 4 marks Use of significant research in relation to the methodology: 4 marks Rationale and literature review on research topic: 4 mark Rationale and details of methodology: 5 marks Data analytic techniques: 4 marks Expected theoretical outcomes: 4 marks Format Easy to read slides: 2 marks Logical sequencing of slides: 1 mark Careful editing of slides: 1 mark Number of slides within the recommended limit: 1 mark Total Marks: 30 Assessment Task 3: Research Report 50% Details of task: The research questions and methodology in this assignment should be similar to that in Assignment 2. In this assignment write a 2000-3000 word report on your research. The report should include the following: A literature review Research questions Pilot study methodology Pilot study analysis of data Pilot study results Contributions of the research Limitations and future research directions. 5 | THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY Needs Much more work Mark /25 /5 Assignment 3: Research Report Excellent Good Satisfactory Needs some more work Needs Much more work Content (5 marks each) Rationale for research on the topic and research questions Rational for methodology Details of methodology(including appendices for research tools) Details of data analysis techniques Details of results Contributions, limitations and future research directions Format Report has all the sections suggested and each section consists of information relevant to that section (10 marks) Critical writing skills in literature review and rationales (5 marks) Use of relevant literature for content and methodology (5 marks) Total Marks: 50 Assignment Submission Assignments are submitted using the course Wattle site as well as hard copies in class (for Assignments 1 and 2). Assignment 3 must be submitted via wattle and hard copy at the Research School of Management office by 4pm of the due date. Assignments submitted through Wattle no longer require cover sheets. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit ANU Online. Extensions and Penalties Where an assignment is submitted after the due date, students are penalised by five per cent of the possible marks available for the assessment task per working day or part thereof. Special consideration for assessments Students who are unable to submit their assignment by the due date may be eligible for an extension if supported by an application for Special Consideration. 6 | THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY Mark /30 /20 Information on special assessment consideration can be found at: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/specialassessment-consideration . Special Consideration applications must be completed before the due date of the affected assessment, or no later than three working days after the due date of the affected assessment. The application must include all supporting documentation and include a copy of as much of the assignment as has been completed by the due time and date. Special consideration applications are only submitted online at [email protected]. You will be notified by the RSM office if an extension has been approved. Returning Assignments Assignments will be returned either in class or in the Lecturer’s office during mutually agreeable times. Identify your Assignment with your Student Number only When submitting your assignment please ensure that it contains your student number in the file name and on the first page. Please do not put your name anywhere in your assignment. Use of Assignments as exemplars and grade moderation An important resource for enhancing educational quality is a stock of student work which can be de-identified and used as exemplars for future students in ANU courses, and for grade moderation exercises for teaching staff. If you do not wish your assignment to be used for such purposes please include a note to that effect on the front page of the assignment. Examinations There is no examination for this course. Scaling Your final mark for the course will be based on the raw marks allocated for each assignment or examination. However, your final mark may not be the same number as produced by that formula, as marks may be scaled. Any scaling applied will preserve the rank order of raw marks (i.e. if your raw mark exceeds that of another student, then your scaled mark will exceed or equal the scaled mark of that student), and may be either up or down. Finalisation of Marks and Grades After marking is concluded the lecturer will submit a report to the Committee of Examiners for the course recommending final marks and letter grades for each student. The Committee comprises, at a minimum, the Director of the Research School of Management, the lecturer, and at least one second examiner. The lecturer’s recommendations are based on the points accumulated by each student and judgments about individual student performance, guided by the ANU Policy on Coursework Assessment: 7 | THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY Referencing Requirements Students are free to use any referencing style such as Harvard, APA, MLA, etc. as long as they are consistent with the style. READING LISTS Some recommended readings are as follows: Journal articles: Baskerville, R. L., & Wood-Harper, A. T. 1996. A critical perspective on action research as a method of information systems research. Journal of Information Technology, vol.11, 235246. Modell, S. 2009. In defence of triangulation: A critical reflective approach to mixed methods in management accounting. Management Accounting, vol. 20, 208-221. O’Reilly, K., Paper, D., & Marx, S. 2012. Demystifying Grounded Theory for Business Research. Organizational Research Methods, vol. 15 no. 2, 247-262. Piekkari, R., Welch, C., & Paavilainen, E. 2009. The Case Study as Disciplinary Convention: Evidence from International Business Journals. Organizational Research Methods, vol. 12 no. 3, 567-589. Pratt, M. G. 2008. Fitting Oval Pegs into Round Holes: Tensions in Evaluating and Publishing Qualitative Research in Top-Tier North American Journals. Organizational Research Methods, vol. 11 no. 3, 481-509. Zickar, M. J. & Carter, N. T. 2010. Reconnecting With the Spirit of Workplace Ethnography: A Historical Review. Organizational Research Methods, vol. 13 no. 2, 304-319. Book chapters: I will be placing the following books at the Research School of Management office for students to borrow for short periods of time. Creswell, J. W. 2006. Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions. Sage: Thousand Oaks, CA. Chapters: 1, 2, 6, 7, & 8. Silverman. D. 2011. Qualitative Research. Sage: Thousand Oaks, CA. Chapters: 1, 5, 8, 10, 15, & 21. Lecturer will alert students to further readings when necessary. COMMUNICATION Preferred mode of communication is via emails. Email If necessary, the lecturers and tutors for this course will contact students on their official ANU student email address. Information about your enrolment and fees from the Registrar and Student Services' office will also be sent to this email address. 8 | THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY Announcements Students are expected to check the Wattle site for announcements about this course, e.g. changes to timetables or notifications of cancellations. Notifications of emergency cancellations of lectures or tutorials will be posted on the door of the relevant room. Course URLs More information about this course may be found on: • Programs and Courses (http://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2014/Catalogue ) • The College of Business and Economics website (http://cbe.anu.edu.au/students/studentinformation/college-courses/) and • Wattle (https://wattle.anu.edu.au), the University's online learning environment. Log on to Wattle using your student number and your ISIS password. POLICIES ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. You can find the University’s education policies and an explanatory glossary at: https://policies.anu.edu.au/ppl/index.htm . Policy information on examinations and assessments can be found on the College of Business and Economics website at: http://cbe.anu.edu.au/students/studentinformation/examinations-assessment/ Students are expected to have read the Code of Practice for Student Academic Integrity before the commencement of their course. Key policies include: Student Assessment (Coursework) Student Surveys and Evaluations 9 | THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
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