Management Research Methods I
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Management Research Methods I
Lecturer(s)
See Canvas for names and contact details.
Objectives
After this course, students should be able to:
identify statistical aspects in practical situations (examples: observational/experimental unit,
variables, variable types, hypotheses).
calculate probabilities of various events (regarding both categorical and continuous random
variables), and probabilities that involve more than one event (for example: conditional probabilities, unions and intersections) using the rules for probabilities.
compute, compare and interpret various basic statistics (examples: mean, median, mode,
IQR, variance, standard deviation, correlation).
perform certain hypothesis tests (examples: 1-sample t-test, independent samples t-test,
paired samples t-test, Pearson test on correlation, chi-square test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test), evaluate the correctness of their assumptions and interpret the results.
recognize when to use certain hypothesis tests (examples: 1-sample t-test, independent
samples t-test, paired samples t-test, Pearson test on correlation, chi-square test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test), understand their purpose, conduct them (either by hand or in SPSS), evaluate the correctness of their assumptions and interpret the results.
understand the general procedure for hypothesis testing, allowing them to quickly
understand hypothesis tests that are not covered in this course as well.
make a plan for measurement and identify the statistical tools needed for subsequent
analysis, as a result of a practical problem.
Contents
Good strategic decision making requires first and foremost, high quality information. For managers and other decision makers it is therefore crucial to understand the quantitative and statistical methods, and their drawbacks, that are so often used to generate the information they are provided with. Moreover, in their theses, students are often needed to perform statistical analyses.
This course reviews and explains the basic statistical concepts and techniques that are used in the area of Management and Business Administration and MSc theses, and emphasizes the practical application of the various techniques using SPSS software. This course is succeeded by the course Management Research Methods II, which broadens and deepens this knowledge.
Format
Every week (6 weeks) there is a lecture with new theory and a working group (2 hours each) in which the theory will be practiced by using SPSS. Your proficiency will be tested in the form of a small test on Canvas, see Assessment and Testing below. The exact timetable can be found at UvA Timetable.
Recommended Knowledge
Basic mathematics, at the level of pre-university education.
Study Material
Lecture slides and other materials and exercises will be made available on Canvas. These
contain the required information for this course.
SPSS software. SPSS is installed in the PC labs at the UvA, but it could be useful to purchase
the software yourself on http://www .surfspot.nl → URL (log in with your UvAnetID).
Field, A. (2017). Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS Statistics, SAGE Publications Ltd,
London, 5th Edition, ISBN: 9781526419521 . This book serves as background material and can be used for additional exercises. It is also used for the sequel of this course, Management Research Methods II. (Note: the book is not required during the lectures).
Assessment and testing
The examination consists of two parts:
Final exam (individual): a 2-hour final exam consisting of multiple-choice questions (100%,
closed book).
Weekly PC-tests: weekly PC assignments (for five weeks in total) after the tutorial, can be
made in pairs but need to be submitted individually. Tests will be available on Canvas and require the use of SPSS.
In total there are five weekly PC-tests that are evaluated as either sufficient or insufficient. Failure to complete the PC-test counts as an insufficient evaluation for that week's PC-test.
At least four out of five PC-tests must be sufficient; students with only 3 (or less) sufficient PC-tests will be required to complete an additional assignment, provided by the lecturer. If this requirement is not met or the additional assignment is not sufficient, the student is not allowed to participate in the final exam.
The final exam will be held at the end of the term (two hours, multiple choice questions). Only a non- graphical calculator and a provided set of formulas and statistical tables can be used. The grade for the final exam must be at least 5.5 to pass the course. In case of an online examination, proctoring software will be used to monitor the exam.
There is a resit opportunity for the final exam. In case of a resit the PC-lab requirements do not count. The resit has the exact same format and duration as the final exam.
2022-09-14