Students

MQBS8030 – Quantitative Research Approaches in Business and Economics

2020 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Sophia Su
Peter Petocz
Nidthida Lin
Shahin Sharifi
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Permission by special approval
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit provides students with an introduction to fundamental elements of research design and quantitative research approaches within business and economics. It seeks to develop students' understanding of the contexts in which quantitative research can be undertaken and the ability to analyse, conduct, and evaluate quantitative forms of research.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Review and interpret the basic rationale and application of relevant quantitative approaches and analyses in disciplinary contexts of management, accounting and marketing research.
  • ULO2: Formulate appropriate hypotheses and propose the most appropriate research design for a research project
  • ULO3: Use specific statistical techniques to analyse data and explain present results

Assessment Tasks

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Assessment Information

Research paper critique

Due: 30 March 2020

Weighting: 15%

This assignment requires students to provide a critical review of a research paper and draw an appropriate conclusion from their critical analysis. More information will be provided on iLearn in due course.

Extension: No extension will be granted, except in circumstances where an application for special consideration is made and approved.

Research proposal

Due: 11 May 2020

Weighting: 30%

This assignment requires students to develop a research project on a topic of their own choice using the survey method. More information will be provided on iLearn in due course. Extension:

No extension will be granted, except in circumstances where an application for special consideration is made and approved.

Data analysis and reporting

Due: 9 June 2020

Weighting: 55%

This assessment will provide students with raw data in a general business discipline to analyse and to write an analytical report in response to the given research questions. More information will be provided on iLearn in due course. Extension: No extension will be granted, except in circumstances where an application for special consideration is made and approved.

Delivery and Resources

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.

Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

This unit is structured around attendance at one 3 hour seminar per week. The class timetable can be found on the university web site https://timetables.mq.edu.au/. All important information including weekly seminar lectures, assessment details, important announcements and staff contact details can be found at the unit iLearn website. The following are recommended books related to the unit. They are available in the library.

• Singleton, JR., R. A. and Straits, B. C. (2017) Approaches to Social Research, 6th edition, Oxford University Press.

• Hayes, A. F. (2017). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach. Guilford Publications.

• Wooldridge, J. M. (2020) Introductory Econometrics A Modern Approach, 7th edition, Cengage Learning

Unit Schedule

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

The unit schedule/topics and any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19. Please consult iLearn for latest details, and check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

Class week

Date

Topics

Content

1

SSu

25 Feb

Introduction to research

 

Research flow:

  1. Defining the problem
  2. Developing a research approach
  3. Formulating a research design
  4. Collecting data
  5. Preparing and analysing data
  6. Preparing and presenting the report results &findings

 

2

SSu

3 March

Elements of Research Design

Origins of research topics;

Units of analysis;

Types of variables;

Relationships;

Stating problems and hypotheses (include explanations of different types of hypotheses).;

Research purposes and research design (leading to the next week topic)

 

3

SSu

10 March

Formulating a research design I

Measurement conceptualisation

Measurement operationalisation

Levels of measurement

Validity and Reliability

 

4

SSu

17 March

Formulating a research design II

Why Sampling

Population definition

Sampling designs including probability sampling (i.e. Simple random sampling vs systematic sampling vs stratified sampling vs cluster sampling) and Nonprobability sampling (convenience sampling, purposive sampling, quota sampling).

Factors affecting choice of sampling testing

 

5

SSu

24 March

Data collection using survey

Survey design and administration

Introduction to Qualtrics

 

6

SSu

31 March

Introduction to SPSS

Enter survey data in SPSS

Demonstrate key tabs in SPSS

Descriptive statistics

 

7

PP

 

7 April

Analysing and reporting I

Data preparation

Testing for normality and distributional assumptions

Exploratory factor analysis

Reliability and validity testing

 

Mid session break 13 April to 26 April

 

8

pp

28 April

Analysing and reporting IV

Hypotheses testing

Types of tests:

One-sample t-test

Independent-samples t-test

Paired-samples t-test

 

9

NL

5 May

Analysing and reporting II

ANOVA

Cross-tabulation

Correlation

Regression

 

10

NL

12 May

Analysing and reporting III

Multiple regression analysis

 

11

SS

19 May

Analysing and reporting V

Multiple moderated and mediated regression analysis Part 1

 

12

SS

26 May

Analysing and reporting VI

Multiple moderated and mediated analysis Part 2

 

13

NL/SS

1 – 5 June

Consultation -Data Analysis

 

By appointment

Note:

SSu: Sophia Su

PP: Peter Petocz

SS: Shahin Sharifi

NL: Nidthida Lin

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

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Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

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