| Unit name | Research Design and Qualitative Research Methods in A&F |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EFIMM0032 |
| Credit points | 15 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Chris Chapman |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Accounting and Finance - Business School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit begins by introducing the different qualitative research methodologies and methods commonly used in the accounting and finance academic literature. In so doing, it considers the philosophical and ethical issues in qualitative research. Furthermore, the unit considers how qualitative methods can address specific accounting and finance research questions. Building on these foundations this unit considers appropriate ways in which the academic rigour of qualitative research may be judged, as well as how it may inform policy and practice.
This unit aims to introduce the knowledge and skills required for the undertaking of qualitative research in accounting and finance, including philosophical, practical and ethical issues. It also aims to introduce qualitative research methods and discusses techniques for analysing and drawing sound inferences from qualitative research.
Having successfully completed this unit students should be able to:
25 contact hours split between lectures and tutorials (typically 20 hours lectures, 5 hours of tutorials).
The unit will be assessed through an individual 4,000 word research proposal. Students will be required to write a proposal for the undertaking of an interpretive research study on an accounting or finance topic of their choice. The report will include an outline of the proposed research topic and its empirical context, the main elements of the fieldwork strategy and a discussion of its challenges, ethical issues and limitations.
This assessment will require students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of research design and qualitative research methods. It will test student’s ability to find, access, critique and discuss academic literature and other relevant sources of information. Students will be required to learn independently, think critically and communicate their research proposal effectively.
There is no core text for this course, instead students will be directed to a number of sources drawn principally from academic journals. These will take the form of qualitative studies of various accounting and finance issues as well as theoretical and methodological pieces relating to the undertaking of qualitative research. The assigned reading around which the first lecture is based which offers a concise overview of the kinds of challenges addressed in the course is Chapman, C.S. (2012) Framing the Issue of Research Quality in a Context of Research Diversity, Accounting Horizons, 26(4), 821-831
