Research Methods

Module code: ACFI 5010

Module description

The objectives of the module are:

  • To provide an introduction to research methods and methodology
  • To assist students in the production of a suitable research proposal for their masters thesis

Topics covered in the module include:

  • Research design, principles and ethics
  • Defining, planning and writing up your research
  • Research methods - including observation, interviews, case studies, questionnaires, content analysis, secondary analysis and official statistics
  • A roadmap for quantitative research
  • Quantitative research - descriptive statistics, important distributions, sampling, estimation, replication, variance, Chi-squared, linear and multiple regressions
  • Visualisation and presentation of results
  • Mixed methods

You will have access to a range of software packages for data collection and analysis, including Excel, Refinitiv/Eikon, Bloomberg, Datastream, FAME and public datasets such as National Accounts and Balance of payment statistics.

Contact hours per student per year

  • Seminars: 36 hours

Assessments

  • Production of a written research proposal: 60%
  • Research methodology: 40%

Additional costs: No extra costs other than purchase of books