Unit information: Research Methods for Accounting, Finance and Management in 2020/21

Unit name	Research Methods for Accounting, Finance and Management
Unit code	EFIMM0121
Credit points	15
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Bryer
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

Description including Unit Aims

The aim of this unit is to introduce students to a broad range of ways in which they can conduct research in accounting, finance and management. The first part of the unit covers principles of conducting research, developing the literature review, identifying and accessing publically available data of various kinds (including qualitative), various methods (e.g. interviews, observations, focus groups, surveys) which might be mobilised in order to generate new data for analysis, and the ethical issues that arise in research and how to address them. The second part of the unit focuses on practical implementation of selected research methods. In the unit, students are exposed to research in various areas of accounting, finance and management and learn how to develop their own research project, with an emphasis on critical assessment of the existing literature, obtaining and organising data, analysing it with relevant methods and techniques and writing up the results in a formal fashion. The unit prepares students to do an MSc dissertation. The unit will also provide students with various transferrable skills.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this unit students should be able to:

1. Describe and explain different research methodologies and methods
2. Understand how methods can address specific research questions within accounting, finance and management
3. Develop a critical understanding of methods used in accounting, finance and management
4. Develop practical skills in undertaking research
5. Demonstrate an appreciation of ethical issues in research.

Teaching Information

Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions including lectures, tutorials, drop-in sessions, discussion boards and other online learning opportunities

Assessment Information

This unit will be assessed by 2 pieces of coursework - 60% and 40%

Reading and References

A textbook on research methods with academic research papers used to illustrate topics with selected parts of background references, such as:

• Laurie, C., & Jensen, E.A. (2016). Doing Real Research: A Practical Guide to Social Research, Sage
• Alvesson, M., and J. Sandberg. (2011) Generating Research Questions Through Problematization. Academy of Management Review 36(2), 247-271.
• Chapman, C.S. (2012) Framing the Issue of Research Quality in a Context of Research Diversity, Accounting Horizons, 26(4), 821-831