TJTS504 Research Methods (5 cr)

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Study level:
Advanced studies
Grading scale:
0-5
Language:
English
Responsible organisation:
Faculty of Information Technology
Curriculum periods:
2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020

Description

Content

Research methods form generally accepted practices to collect, process, and analyze empirical material for scientific or business purposes. Students learn how to collect, process, and analyze empirical material and how to use it in scientific research (e.g. master’s thesis).

Completion methods

Attending to the lectures is highly recommended. However, students can complete the course by using individual/remote learning by completing the exam and written assignments. The workload of the course is 135 hours (5 credits), it is divided as follows: Lectures/Other sessions: 20 h, Individual assignments: 60 h, Exam and preparation for the exam: 55 h.

Assessment details

The grade based on the written assignments. The exam is evaluated as pass or fail.

Learning outcomes

Students know the different phases of the qualitative, quantitative, and design science method related processes. Students is able to interpret and select research method(s) for her/his thesis. Students understand different kinds of data collection methods and their characteristics. Students know how to analyze collected empirical data. Students know general aspects of research ethics.

Description of prerequisites

The course should be taken in the beginning of the master studies. Students should have completed their BSc thesis or corresponding work. On this course, the students will learn how to collect, process, and analyze empirical material that is needed for their MSc thesis.

Study materials

ADDITIONAL READING MATERIAL:
  • Bhattacherjee, A. (2012). Social science research: Principles, methods, and practices. University of South Florida, USA. Freely available at: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/oa_textbooks/3/
  • Miles, M.B. & Huberman, A.M. (1994). Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook. California: Sage Publications.
  • Yin, R.K. (2009). Case study research: design and methods. Sage Publications.
  • Ketokivi, M. (2015). Tilastollinen päättely ja tieteellinen argumentointi (2. laaj. laitos). Gaudeamus.
  • Allison, P. D. (1999). Multiple Regression : A Primer. Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE Publications, Inc.
  • Singleton, R. A. J., & Straits, B. C. (2009). Approaches to social research (5th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
  • DeVellis, R. F. (2017). Scale Development: Theory and Applications (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Literature

  • Eisenhardt, K.M. 1989. Building theories from case study research. Academy of Management Review 14(4), 532-550.
  • Peffers, J., Tuunanen, T., Rothenberger, M.A. & Chatterjee, S. 2007. A Design Science Research Methodology for Information Systems Research. Journal of Management Information Systems 24(3), 45-77.
  • Benbasat, I., Goldstein, K.K. & Mead, M. 1987. The Case Research Strategy in Studies of Information Systems. MIS Quarterly 11(3), 369-386.
  • Eisenhardt, K.M. & Graebner, M.E. 2007. Theory building from cases: Opportunities and challenges. Academy of Management Journal 50(1), 25-32.
  • Myers, M.D. & Newman, M. 2007. The qualitative interview in IS research: Examining the craft. Information and Organization 17(1), 2-26.
  • Singleton, R. A. J., & Straits, B. C. 2009. Approaches to social research (5th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. (Chapter 4: Research Design, Chapter 5: Measurement, Chapter 15: Data Processing and Elementary Data Analysis, Chapter 16: Multivariate Analysis)
  • Venkatesh, V., Thong, J., Chan, F.K.Y. & Hu, P.J.H. 2016. Managing Citizens’ Uncertainty in E-Government Services: The Mediating and Moderating Roles of Transparency and Trust. Information Systems Research 27(1), 87-111.
  • Darke, P., Shanks, G. & Broadbent, M. 1998. Successfully completing case study research: combining rigour, relevance and pragmatism. Information Systems Journal 8(4), 273-289.
  • Allison, P. D. (1999). Multiple Regression : A Primer. Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE Publications, Inc (Chapter 1: What is Multiple Regression, Chapter 2: How Do I Interpret Multiple Regression Results)

Completion methods

Method 1

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Parts of the completion methods
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