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Research School of Management
The Australian National University
ACT 2601
Tel:
02 6125 6737, 02 6125 9839
Fax:
02 6125 8796
Email:
enquiries.rsm@anu.edu.au
Student
Office:
Room 1088
Level 1 LF Crisp Building
ANU Campus Map (map
GH32) http://tinyurl.com/9n8xgd8
College of Business and Economics
The Australian National University
ACT 2601
Tel:
International +61 2 6125 3807
Within Australia: 1300 732 120
(local call cost only)
Fax: International: +61 2 6125 0744
Within Australia: 02 6125 0744
Student
Office:
Level 2
Building 26C
Students with enquiries about program (degree) requirements should contact the College
office; enquiries about course administration (subjects) are normally handled by the relevant
Research School.
BUSN 8018
Qualitative Research Methods
Course Description
This course covers how to develop a good research topic, how to design successful projects
and the practical skills to conduct qualitative field work. Issues of design and discovery are
relevant to many students, but practical focus relates to the qualitative research tradition.
This course is focused on the needs of business students but is also relevant to other areas
of social science. The central activity to all of this is to develop a reflective understanding of
the rules and expectation for good research in each disciplinary area.
Semester and Year
Semester 1, 2015
Course URL
http://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2015/course/BUSN8018
Mode of Delivery
On campus; workshop mode Saturdays 10am to 5pm, weeks 16.
Prerequisites
As listed in Programs and Courses
Incompatible Courses
As listed in Programs and Courses
Course Convener
Dr. Sarbari Bordia
Office Location:
LF Crisp; Rm. 1087
Phone:
61257338
Email:
Sarbari.bordia@anu.edu.au
Consultation hours:
By Appointment
Bio and research
My research interest is at the intersection of linguistics and
interests
corporate communication. I study the role of linguistic identity in
international business and service delivery. I also conduct
research on the internationalization of management education. I
have extensive research experience in qualitative research in
management.
Student Administrators
Research School of Management
Room 1088
Level 1, LF Crisp Building 26
Mon. – Fri. 9am – 5pm
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COURSE OVERVIEW
Course Learning Outcomes
Qualitative research methods are growing in importance in research in business disciplines.
Scholars and practitioners are utilising qualitative research methods to build theory, improve
existing practices, and to undertake policy changes. This course introduces postgraduate
research students to a broad range of qualitative research strategies and methods. Such
knowledge is crucial for those students undertaking qualitative research projects.
The learning outcomes are:
(1) To help students understand the threshold concepts necessary to produce high quality
research
(2) To develop the skills and capabilities in the planning, execution, and communication of a
qualitative research and
(3) To develop the reflective ability to understand and critique the notion of good research.
Research-Led Teaching
This course exposes students to a variety of qualitative research method strategies. The
lectures and discussions will include core information on research methods and contextual
information on how the methodologies are commonly used in a variety of business related
research. Students will learn to analyse how the methodologies have been used in the past
in published research as well as formulate research projects of their own in this course. The
lecturer has extensive experience in using qualitative research and some of her work will
also be analysed in the course.
Continuous Improvement
We use feedback from students, professional bodies and staff to make regular
improvements to the course. In response to this feedback, design improvements from the
previous version of the course include:

Further discussion on theory building

Explanation on mixed methodology and action research

Revision of assessment items
Student Feedback
All CBE courses are evaluated using Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT)
surveys, administered by Planning and Statistical Services at the ANU. These surveys are
offered online, and students will be notified via email to their ANU address when surveys are
available in each course. Feedback is used for course development so please take the time
to respond thoughtfully. Course feedback is anonymous and provides the Colleges,
University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise
excellent teaching and to improve courses across the university. For more information on
student surveys at ANU and reports on feedback provided on ANU courses, visit
http://unistats.anu.edu.au/surveys/selt/students/ and
http://unistats.anu.edu.au/surveys/selt/results/learning/
COURSE SCHEDULE
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This course will operate as a day-long workshop from Weeks 1-6 of Semester 1 on
Saturdays.
Week
1
Summary of Activities
Introduction to qualitative research
2
Theory building with qualitative research
Grounded theory
3
Ethnography
Qualitative action research
Assessment
Qualitative case study
4
5
6
Mixed methodology: When to use qualitative with
quantitative
Skills required in qualitative research:
 Interviewing
 Observations
 Document and textual analysis
 Analysis of data
 Writing up qualitative research
Theory to Practice: pilot data collection
Proposal Presentation and summary of course
Analysis of Qualitative
Research 20%
No classes
In-class presentations 30%
COURSE ASSESSMENT
Assessment Summary
Item
Title
1
2
3
Value
Analysis of
20%
qualitative
research
Oral Presentation 30%
of Proposal
Research Report 50%
Due Date
March 14, 2015
In class & Wattle
March 28, 2015
In class & Wattle
April 13, 2015 4pm
RSM office & Wattle
Linked Learning
Outcomes (optional)
1, 3
1, 2
1, 2
Assessment Task 1: Analysis of qualitative research 20%
Details of task:
Select at least three interesting, recent articles in your research area that utilises qualitative
methodology. These papers need to focus around a specific area of research. The goal is
to summarise these papers and identify a gap or problem which would provide a motivation
for a new research project.
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Write a 1,500 word review (excluding references) incorporating headings.




Identify the relevant target academic community for these articles.
Identify the following for each article
(1) Research problem or issue under investigation
(2) Theoretical positions or models relevant to study
(3) Data gathering and methods of analysis and
(4) How the given article advanced knowledge
Reflect on how the papers you examine create new theory or extends existing ones.
Highlight a research gap or issue in this work which could be the basis of a
qualitative study.
Assignment 1: Analysis of qualitative research
Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Needs
some
more
work
Needs
Much
more
work
Content (3 marks each)
Appropriate selection of papers
Description of research gap and
problems
Description of methodology and
analysis
Description of theory
creation/extension
Future research directions for
qualitative research
Format
Critical writing skills for each paper (3
marks)
Summative assessment of the three
papers (2 marks)
Total Marks: 20
Assessment Task 2: Oral Presentation of Proposal 30%
Details of task:
Choose a qualitative research methodology (e.g., ethnography, grounded theory, case
study, etc.) and develop a research project in your area of research.
The oral presentation of the proposal should include the following sections:
Rationale for research on the topic and research questions.
Rational for methodology.
Details of methodology (e.g., organizational context, cultural/national context,
participants, data collection, data storage/transcription, time frame related to data
collection).
Data analysis techniques.
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Mark
/15
/5
Expected results and theory building.
Present a 20 min presentation in class aided with power point presentations (20-25 slides)
followed by 5-10 min of Q & A.
Slides should be submitted via wattle and hard copy.
Assignment 2: Oral Presentation Marking Criteria
Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Needs
some
more
work
Content
Display of clear understanding of the
methodology: 4 marks
Use of significant research in relation
to the methodology: 4 marks
Rationale and literature review on
research topic: 4 mark
Rationale and details of methodology:
5 marks
Data analytic techniques: 4 marks
Expected theoretical outcomes: 4
marks
Format
Easy to read slides: 2 marks
Logical sequencing of slides: 1 mark
Careful editing of slides: 1 mark
Number of slides within the
recommended limit: 1 mark
Total Marks: 30
Assessment Task 3: Research Report 50%
Details of task:
The research questions and methodology in this assignment should be similar to that in
Assignment 2. In this assignment write a 2000-3000 word report on your research. The
report should include the following:
A literature review
Research questions
Pilot study methodology
Pilot study analysis of data
Pilot study results
Contributions of the research
Limitations and future research directions.
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Needs
Much
more
work
Mark
/25
/5
Assignment 3: Research Report
Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Needs
some
more
work
Needs
Much
more
work
Content (5 marks each)
Rationale for research on the topic
and research questions
Rational for methodology
Details of methodology(including
appendices for research tools)
Details of data analysis techniques
Details of results
Contributions, limitations and future
research directions
Format
Report has all the sections suggested
and each section consists of
information relevant to that section (10
marks)
Critical writing skills in literature
review and rationales (5 marks)
Use of relevant literature for content
and methodology (5 marks)
Total Marks: 50
Assignment Submission
Assignments are submitted using the course Wattle site as well as hard copies in class (for
Assignments 1 and 2). Assignment 3 must be submitted via wattle and hard copy at the
Research School of Management office by 4pm of the due date. Assignments submitted
through Wattle no longer require cover sheets. Please keep a copy of the assignment for
your records.
The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to
assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing
Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit ANU Online.
Extensions and Penalties
Where an assignment is submitted after the due date, students are penalised by five per
cent of the possible marks available for the assessment task per working day or part
thereof.
Special consideration for assessments
Students who are unable to submit their assignment by the due date may be eligible for an
extension if supported by an application for Special Consideration.
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Mark
/30
/20
Information on special assessment consideration can be found at:
http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/specialassessment-consideration .
Special Consideration applications must be completed before the due date of the affected
assessment, or no later than three working days after the due date of the affected
assessment.
The application must include all supporting documentation and include a copy of as much of
the assignment as has been completed by the due time and date.
Special consideration applications are only submitted online at
special.consideration@anu.edu.au. You will be notified by the RSM office if an extension
has been approved.
Returning Assignments
Assignments will be returned either in class or in the Lecturer’s office during mutually
agreeable times.
Identify your Assignment with your Student Number only
When submitting your assignment please ensure that it contains your student number in the
file name and on the first page. Please do not put your name anywhere in your assignment.
Use of Assignments as exemplars and grade moderation
An important resource for enhancing educational quality is a stock of student work which can
be de-identified and used as exemplars for future students in ANU courses, and for grade
moderation exercises for teaching staff. If you do not wish your assignment to be used for
such purposes please include a note to that effect on the front page of the assignment.
Examinations
There is no examination for this course.
Scaling
Your final mark for the course will be based on the raw marks allocated for each assignment
or examination. However, your final mark may not be the same number as produced by that
formula, as marks may be scaled. Any scaling applied will preserve the rank order of raw
marks (i.e. if your raw mark exceeds that of another student, then your scaled mark will
exceed or equal the scaled mark of that student), and may be either up or down.
Finalisation of Marks and Grades
After marking is concluded the lecturer will submit a report to the Committee of Examiners
for the course recommending final marks and letter grades for each student. The Committee
comprises, at a minimum, the Director of the Research School of Management, the lecturer,
and at least one second examiner. The lecturer’s recommendations are based on the points
accumulated by each student and judgments about individual student performance, guided
by the ANU Policy on Coursework Assessment:
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Referencing Requirements
Students are free to use any referencing style such as Harvard, APA, MLA, etc. as long as
they are consistent with the style.
READING LISTS
Some recommended readings are as follows:
Journal articles:
Baskerville, R. L., & Wood-Harper, A. T. 1996. A critical perspective on action research as a
method of information systems research. Journal of Information Technology, vol.11, 235246.
Modell, S. 2009. In defence of triangulation: A critical reflective approach to mixed methods
in management accounting. Management Accounting, vol. 20, 208-221.
O’Reilly, K., Paper, D., & Marx, S. 2012. Demystifying Grounded Theory for Business
Research. Organizational Research Methods, vol. 15 no. 2, 247-262.
Piekkari, R., Welch, C., & Paavilainen, E. 2009. The Case Study as Disciplinary Convention:
Evidence from International Business Journals. Organizational Research Methods, vol. 12
no. 3, 567-589.
Pratt, M. G. 2008. Fitting Oval Pegs into Round Holes: Tensions in Evaluating and
Publishing Qualitative Research in Top-Tier North American Journals. Organizational
Research Methods, vol. 11 no. 3, 481-509.
Zickar, M. J. & Carter, N. T. 2010. Reconnecting With the Spirit of Workplace Ethnography:
A Historical Review. Organizational Research Methods, vol. 13 no. 2, 304-319.
Book chapters:
I will be placing the following books at the Research School of Management office for
students to borrow for short periods of time.
Creswell, J. W. 2006. Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five
traditions. Sage: Thousand Oaks, CA.
Chapters: 1, 2, 6, 7, & 8.
Silverman. D. 2011. Qualitative Research. Sage: Thousand Oaks, CA.
Chapters: 1, 5, 8, 10, 15, & 21.
Lecturer will alert students to further readings when necessary.
COMMUNICATION
Preferred mode of communication is via emails.
Email
If necessary, the lecturers and tutors for this course will contact students on their official
ANU student email address. Information about your enrolment and fees from the Registrar
and Student Services' office will also be sent to this email address.
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Announcements
Students are expected to check the Wattle site for announcements about this course, e.g.
changes to timetables or notifications of cancellations. Notifications of emergency
cancellations of lectures or tutorials will be posted on the door of the relevant room.
Course URLs
More information about this course may be found on:
• Programs and Courses (http://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2014/Catalogue )
• The College of Business and Economics website (http://cbe.anu.edu.au/students/studentinformation/college-courses/) and
• Wattle (https://wattle.anu.edu.au), the University's online learning environment. Log on to
Wattle using your student number and your ISIS password.
POLICIES
ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that
staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them.
You can find the University’s education policies and an explanatory glossary at:
https://policies.anu.edu.au/ppl/index.htm .
Policy information on examinations and assessments can be found on the College of
Business and Economics website at: http://cbe.anu.edu.au/students/studentinformation/examinations-assessment/
Students are expected to have read the Code of Practice for Student Academic Integrity
before the commencement of their course.
Key policies include:
 Student Assessment (Coursework)
 Student Surveys and Evaluations
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