MAT-25806 Research Methods 2

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

XTO-12306, XTO-14306

Contents:

Note: This course is part of the BSc Tourism, a joint degree programme of Wageningen University and NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences. This course is open to students from other programmes. The course is not delivered at Wageningen University, however, but at NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences. You can register for the course by contacting the course coordinator before the start of the course. The schedule for the academic year at NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences differs from the schedule of Wageningen University. The periods mentioned are the periods of Wageningen University.

Participants of this course develop knowledge and skills to carry out both qualitative and quantitative empirical research. The focus is on data gathering and analysis. Attention will be paid to the link between these phases and the research process in total.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- specify and compute multiple regression in spss;
- interpret the results (r2, f-tests, t-tests) from multiple regression;
- produce dummy codings of categorical variables;
- specify and compute anova and ancova in spss;
- interpret anova and ancova;
- describe the five main model assumptions in multiple regression and ancova;
- compute model diagnostic statistics in spss;
- interpret model diagnostic statistics (linearity, error distribution, multicollinearity);
- perform a pca with varimax rotation in spss and interpret the results;
- select the appropriate nonparametric test for assessing bivariate association between two variables with non-normal distributions;
- apply the basic principles of data-driven research;
- carry out the complete sequence of steps required for a social scientific empirical research project as discussed in previous courses;
- synthesize and criticize literature on a given topic;
- select proper analysis tools in function of the kind of data that is analysed;
- support decisions about qualitative data collection procedures (e.g., sample, researcher behavior, duration, etc.) based on examples and arguments from scientific literature;
- analyse, interpret and present qualitative data in a scientific manner, using the procedure of thematic analysis;
- conduct participant observation technique as a tool for data collection;
- conduct an in-depth interview of at least 30 minutes;
- logically connect a literature review and analyses of interview data in a clear, academic-level research narrative.

Activities:

- lectures;
- workshops in which both lecturing and interactive learning take place;
- self-study.

Examination:

- 2 Written examinations: SPSS (end of period 1; 25%) and Quantitative methodology (end of period 1; 25%);
- qualitative methodology (end of period 2) with assignments (50%);
The assessment components will be marked on a grading scale from 1 to 10. Marks will be rounded off to one-decimal numbers. A final grade of 5.5 or higher for the written exams and the assignments is considered a pass. Each assessment component must be completed with a pass mark (mark > 5.5). Students who fail to obtain a 5.5 will be given one resit opportunity per academic year. The resit opportunity will reflect the original assessment component.

Literature:

Adler. E S.; Clark, R. (2011). An invitation to Social Research: How its Done. 4th ed. Cengage Learning, Wadsworth. 544p. ISBN-10: 049581329X.
Field, A. (2009). Discovering statistics using SPSS. 3rd ed. London: Sage Publications Ltd. 856 p. ISBN: 10 1847879071.
Journal articles to be announced.