This class exists in these courses :
• IÉSEG > IESEG Degree - Programme Grande École > Semester 2 > 4,00 ECTS

Prerequisites

This course is the follow-up of the 'Audit and Control Research Methodology' course given during the first semester. Students should therefore have a good knowledge of key methodological and theoretical concepts in audit and control. In addition, students should have acquired statistical skills such as those covered in the quantitative methods and econometric courses during years 1 to 3 of IESEG (NB. E-learning modules are available for students who are not up to speed in this area). It is imperative that students are willing, and able, to study and analyze academic papers on their own. The ability to ask critical questions and to pursue group work is essential for success in this course.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student should be able to:
-identify a relevant research question
-write a coherent literature review
-build conceptual frameworks
-choose and use approporiate research methods
-analyse empirical results
-formulate conclusions
-successfully manage a group project resulting in a written document and an oral presentation and defense
Hence, the course helps students to reach the following learing goals:
-Assess and synthesize information from various sources and about different fields
-Analyze and solve complex problems with the appropriate methodology
-Deal with the various aspects of a problem
-Work efficiently in a team and provide contributions
-Master the appropriate techniques and display expertise in their field
-Manage in autonomous way
-Manage in pro-active way
-Produce professional quality documents
-Make professional quality oral presentations using adapted tools
At the end of the course, the students should also have greater awareness about ESRS topics, in particular, they should be able to understand and respect ethical standards in research.

Course description

Part 1 - Defining Research Questions
Part 2 - Literature Review and Conceptual Framework
Part 3 - Data Collection
Part 4 - Data Analysis
Part 5 - Presentation of the mini-master thesis

Class type

Class structure

Teaching methods

• Coaching
• E-learning
• Interactive class
• Presentation
• Project work
• Research

Assessment

This course consists of two parts: Part 1) Online modules to illustrate the different data collection methods and the basics of quantitative analysis and PART2) the writing of a mini-mémoire. The first part is only continuously evaluated and counts for 15% of the overall grade. The second part counts for 85% of the grade. The students, however, have to obtain 50% for BOTH parts in order to pass, ie. students have to pass for the continuous assessment AND the project in order to pass the ENTIRE course.
Following the results of a peer assessment, different group members might obtain different grades for the mini-mémoire project.

Recommended reading

• Doing business research: a guide to theory and practice – Lee N. and Lings I. (SAGE Publications, 2008) -

Internet resources

• IESEG Online