BTU overview
Faculty 5
Chair of Business Administration, in particular Empirical Management Research and Transformation Prof. Dr. Diemo Urbig

38427 Research Methods in Business Administration and Economics

Learning Outcome

Students develop an understanding of basic research methods in conducting quantitative economics projects and are able to independently plan, conduct, and document empirical projects. Students learn fundamentals of theoretical quantitative, inductive and deductive empirical research. This also includes an understanding of regression analyses and their assumptions as well as extensions to deal with violations of the assumptions. A basic understanding of measurement processes ans measurement errors is acquired. They understand the role of the different methodological components in the research process and how this is reflected in a research concept and a research report containing the results derived from it. You will acquire application-ready knowledge in the use of the statistical software [R].

Content

  1. Differences between theoretical and empirical, qualitative, and inductive and deductive research
  2. Creation and interpretation of causal diagrams; theory-based derivation of propositions and hypotheses
  3. Desriptive statistics, inductive statistics and simple statistical tests
  4. Linear regression and nonlinear effects in linear regression
  5. Discussion of typical endogeneity problems and other violations of the assumptions of linear regression
  6. Extensions of linear regression, such as instrument estimates, selection models, and panel data 
  7. Quantitative surveys: Measurement, measurement error, and factor analyses, and simple structural equation modeling
  8. Integration of lecture content into an exemplary research design and resulting research report.

Note: Basic statistical concepts will be briefly reviewed. However, the course does not replace the corresponding prior knowledge from the Bachelor´s degree or from courses that may have been given as requirements upon admission to the program. Instead, the course takes an approach to research methods in business administration that connects the various concepts and is application reflective, preparing students for empirical theses.

You can find the complete module description here.