MSc Accounting and Finance / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Qualitative Research Methods

Course unit fact file
Unit code BMAN71282
Credit rating 15
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

The course will introduce students to the variety of qualitative research methodologies and research methods adopted in financial and management accounting research.  The intent is to equip students with practical research skills and knowledge that can be applied to the research dissertation.

Pre/co-requisites

BMAN71282 Programme Req: BMAN71282 is only available as a core unit to students on MSc Accounting and MSc Accounting & Finance

Aims

The course aims to give students a general understanding of different types of accounting research and the range of research methodologies which are available, and equip students with practical research skills and knowledge of qualitative methods that may be applied to their dissertation projects.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit successful students will have achieved the following learning outcomes:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of, and distinguish between, the different accounting research methodologies.
  • Distinguish between different available research methods, with particular emphasis given to case studies and questionnaire surveys.
  • Succinctly define a research question and select appropriate research method(s) within the time and resource constraints of writing a dissertation.
  • Place a research question into its broad context(s) by review of the relevant literature
  • (s) and surveying varied sources of data.
  • Appreciate and bring together the various elements which together contribute towards the production of a dissertation design.

Assessment methods

Written exam 75%
Written assignment 25%

Feedback methods

  • Informal advice and discussion during a lecture.
  • Responses to student emails and questions from a member of staff including feedback provided to a group via an online discussion forum.
  • Written and/or verbal comments on assessed or non-assessed coursework.
  • Generic feedback posted on Blackboard regarding overall examination performance.

Recommended reading

Core textbook:

Most lectures will be grounded in the material contained in the following textbook (its purchase is therefore highly recommended):

Bryman, A. (2015). Social research methods. Oxford University Press. 5th Edition Several copies are available in the Main and Precinct library ("normal" and "short" loan), and the book is also stocked in the Blackwell bookstore.

Most of the other readings will be from research journals that are available from the library' s "electronic resources" - you will be expected to download these readings yourself (see Appendix 2 for details). Subject to copyright laws, any other readings will be either (1) distributed in the relevant lecture(s), or (2) placed on "short-loan" in the Precinct Centre Library.
It is expected in this course that students will undertake their own research into readings and the relevant literature. A starting point of essential readings for each topic, together with some important supplementary readings, are shown below.
At the end, there is also a list of further readings on several of the topic. These are not intended to be comprehensive and reflect our own research interests - accordingly, there are many more readings on some topics than others. They are provided in the hope that they may be useful when you begin your dissertation research.

Your textbook also provides many key references for individual topics.
 

 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Assessment written exam 2
Lectures 20
Independent study hours
Independent study 128

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Matteo Ronzani Unit coordinator
Sven Modell Unit coordinator

Additional notes

Informal Contact Methods

Office Hours

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