Research in Business Administration - Strategic Human Resource Management

Course

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/E_BA_RBAH

Course Objective

After having completed Research in Business Administration, students will have acquired: Advanced academic and research skills:
• identify and recognize the strengths and weaknesses of different research designs;
• develop a theoretically and practically relevant research question;
• write a literature review;
• create a research design for answering a particular research question;
• analyze quantitative/qualitative data which has been collected for writing a master thesis;
• create frameworks and propositions (qualitative research) and conceptual models and hypotheses (quantitative research). Thorough knowledge of theory + methods for solving complex problems:
• apply analytical techniques (by means of software programs) to solve relevant and interesting problems for theory and practice;
• understand when and with what purpose research designs are chosen;
• reflect on and critically evaluate the choice for and use of a particular research design.

Course Content

The course aims to help students develop a research question and to make an informed decision regarding the research design and analysis for answering that question. Research in Business Administration is thus designed to support you in working on your Master Thesis. Additionally, the course aims to provide general knowledge about the main methods used in academic research and practice. We provide you with the opportunity to further develop your research skills. As such, we will discuss the core elements of research projects: develop a research question, conducting a high-quality literature review, collecting and analyzing qualitative/quantitative data, drawing conclusions and writing up the findings.

Teaching Methods

General Lectures Although your research topics, methodology and methods are quite diverse, there are some principles that are central and core. Advanced Lectures You will enjoy the opportunity to choose modules at the advanced level to further develop your research skills. We offer a quantitative and a qualitative track. Workshops The goal of the workshops is to practice all aspects of the qualitative or quantitative research cycle, including the use of software programs and writing process. We offer several exercises in which you practice the skills that are central to the theme of the particular workshop. Feedback Sessions Our most important task as teaching staff is to support you on this (individual) learning journey and provide you with the feedback and guidance needed to obtain the level of knowledge and skills required from a Master of business graduate.

Method of Assessment

The course contains individual and group assignments. These assignments are marked on a 1-10 scale. To pass Research in Business Administration, the average grade should be at least 5.5, and the minimum grade for each assignment is 5.0.

Literature

The course literature consists of a series of academic articles and book chapters around particular themes.

Target Audience

Research in Business Administration is open to students from five specializations within the Business Administration master program: Strategic Human Resource Management, Strategy and Organization, International Management, Leadership and Change Management, and Management Consulting. The basic structure and content of the course will be the same for all students, but the application of the material will be tailored to each specialization.

Custom Course Registration

Please register for the correct workgroup (either qualitative or quantitative).

Recommended background knowledge

This is an advanced course and it is expected that you have a Bachelor
- or Pre-Master-level knowledge of research methods and techniques. We expect you to have revised and refreshed previous coursework in the area of research methods, techniques and tools. The goal is to consolidate your knowledge and learn how to apply what you know to concrete research tasks, such as those that you will encounter in your thesis trajectory. If you feel your knowledge in a particular area is insufficient, consider taking additional instruction (online or offline).
Academic year1/09/2431/08/25
Course level6.00 EC

Language of Tuition

  • English

Study type

  • Master