BA 762 Syllabus
Fall
2010, Fridays
2-5pm, B&E 452
Overview
This course provides a general
introduction to research methods. It is a Ph.D. level course for students in the
social sciences (particularly management and marketing).
There are many different ways of
handling a course like this. One approach is the conceptual/mathematical --
really explaining at a deep level things like formal measurement theory,
measures of association, multivariate statistics, and so on. Another approach is
the in-depth, hands-on workshop on how to use a set of techniques for collecting
and analyzing data. The third is a survey of what techniques are out there and
when you should use them. This course is blend of the last two, focusing more on
what do you do when rather than the underlying math behind specific techniques.
On finishing this
course, you should not only understand the basic concepts of social science
research methodology,
but be able to design your own study. In addition, it is hoped that you will be
able to learn more about individual techniques on a 1-to-1 basis with the
instructor.
IMPORTANT NOTE: For some classes, you will be required to
bring a laptop. These days are clearly marked on the schedule.
Schedule of Topics and Readings
The schedule of topics and readings is on the web at the
address below. I do not recommend printing it as the schedule changes from time
to time. It is your responsibility to check it every week.
http://www.analytictech.com/BA762/schedule.htm.
On the last day of the course, students will present the results of their
semester-long research project. Important: this will be an all-day class
from 9 to 5.
Assignments & Grading
The course has one
major assignment -- the final paper -- which is worth 60% of
your grade. This paper (20-40 pages)
should report the results of an empirical study. Empirical means that you
actually collect data. Make sure that the paper answers a clear research question -- it cannot be an
aimless application of techniques learned in class. Ideally, the project would
have both an inductive step (generating theory from data) and a deductive step
(testing hypotheses derived from theory). However, one or the other it is ok. Empirical
consulting projects, in which you use research methods to diagnose an
organizational problem and
prescribe a solution based on the diagnosis, are also welcome. IMPORTANT: Avoid
toy projects that are too trivial to ever be published. The written paper is due
by midnight, Dec 17, but a 20-25 minute presentation on the main results will be given on
the last day of class. Please hand in the paper in electronic form only!
The paper may be done collaboratively if the project is more ambitious than a single person could handle.
Also, you should consult the
University of Kentucky Office of Research Integrity to see
if your project needs IRB approval, and do what ever is necessary on this front.
Please share what you learn about this process with others in the class so that everyone learns
this key competence.
Another 25% of your
grade is based on collaborative homework assignments which will be assigned at
various points throughout the semester.
The remaining 25% of
your grade will be based on class participation. This is evaluated on the
frequency of relevant, constructive contributions that demonstrate thoughtful
reflection on concepts and/or active engagement with data. Important: it also
includes participation on the class google group.
IMPORTANT: Please note
that all assignments should be handed in electronically and uploaded to the
class Google Group, so that everyone can read them.
Readings
The schedule gives the key readings for each week. In general, I have tried
to provide electronic copies of all readings (though sometimes these are
links through services like JSTOR, so you will need university credentials to
reach them). A number of handouts, works in press, slide shows etc are also
provided. These should be treated just like the published readings.
The schedule also gives an extensive bibliography for further reading in case
you are interested.
Books
I did not order any textbooks through the school bookstore,
so
you will have to order your books via Amazon or the like. The required and
recommended books are these:
Required Books
-
Dillman, D.A. Mail and Internet Surveys: The Tailored
Design Method - 2007 Update, (2nd edition), NY:John Wiley and Sons, 2007.
ISBN: 0-4700-3856x.
-
Gladwin, C. Ethnographic Decision Tree Modeling.
Sage. 0 8039 3487 4 [added 2010]
-
Krippendorf, K. 1980. Content Analysis: An Introduction
to its Methodology. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.
-
Kruskal and Wish. Multidimensional Scaling. Sage.
0-8039-0940-3
-
Spradley, James. The Ethnographic Interview. Harcourt
Brace Jovanovitch College Publishers. 0-03-044496-9
-
Strauss & Corbin. Basics of Qualitative Research. Sage.
-
Trochim and Donnelly. 2006. The Research Methods
Knowledge Base. Atomic Books. [link]
ISBN-13: 9781592602919. [you may prefer to buy this one directly from Atomic Books
because they have an option for also downloading additional material from
the web]
-
Weller, S. & Kim Romney. Systematic Data Collection.
Sage. [added 2010]
Strongly Recommended Books
Other Useful Books
-
Bernard, H.R. (ed). 2000. Handbook of Methods in Cultural
Anthropology
-
Bernard, H.R., 2002. Research Methods in Anthropology, 3
rd Edition . Sage Publications.
-
David Freedman, Robert Pisani & Roger Purves
(1998) Statistics, 3rd Ed. New York: Norton
-
Glaser & Strauss. Discovery of Grounded Theory. Walter De
Gruyter. 0 2023 0260 1
-
Miles & Huberman. Qualitative Data Analysis. Sage.
0-8039-5540-5
-
Miles, M.B., & A.M. Huberman. 1994. Qualitative Data
Analysis: an Expanded Sourcebook, 2nd Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publications.
-
Neuendorf, K.A. 2002. The Content Analysis Guidebook .
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
-
Ragin. The Comparative Method.
-
Swanson, R and Holton, E. (Eds.). 2005. Research in organizations:
foundations and methods of inquiry. Berrett-Koehler
-
Weller and Romney. Metric Scaling. Sage.
Software
Online Groups and Lists
You must join the following online Google group:
Miscellaneous
-
Class participation is strongly encouraged. You do *not*
want to hear me lecture for 3 hours straight. And when I am lecturing, you
should feel free to interrupt whenever.
-
I am not bothered by students' multi-tasking (e.g., checking email) as
long as they are actively participating at the same time. If you are
not a good multi-tasker, don't try this.
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