https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/E_DBI_RDMThe aim of the Research Design and Methods (RDM) courses is to help you advance your knowledge of how to design and execute a high-quality scientific research. This means you need to think deeply and critically upfront through the research project and make informed and consistent choices regarding the focus of the research, research question, research approach, and data collection and analysis methods that altogether produce a high-quality research.The first part of the course (period 3) is focused on the research design, which all students are served together. During this period, you learn and practice how to design your research project. Throughout the course, you apply the knowledge of research design by further specifying the design of a research that you choose based on your own interests. The second part of the course (period 4) focuses on research methods. This part attempts to expand your understanding and skills towards a selection of advanced research methods and approaches that are highly popular in academic research as well as corporate researches. The course contains both qualitative and quantitative orientations; from which you have the flexibility to choose and follow the orientation that suit your own research projects and interests best. This results in your method report that is group-based. Given its limited scope, the course does not cover the details of executing all research methods and skills; rather, it helps you develop your own capabilities to design, choose, and learn how to execute research methods. Although you can benefit from the content and exercises in the course for your master theses, please bear in mind that the RDM course has its own learning objectives and the execution of your master thesis is the responsibility of you and your supervisor.Lectures and workshopsIndividual and team-based assessmentsBasics of research methods (comparable with the bachelor-level research method courses)