QUANTITATIVE METHODS I - 2024/5

Module code: MAND028

Module Overview

This course provides students with the required methodological and statistical skills needed to conduct quantitative research. It deals with the basic concepts and techniques that underpin scientific research in the management sciences. This unit combines both questions about how to do proper research to answer a research question (such as the appropriate data collection methods) and how to analyse these data (statistical analysis and qualitative analysis). 

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

ZHENG Yuyan (SBS)

Number of Credits: 0

ECTS Credits: 0

Framework: FHEQ Level 8

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Independent Learning Hours: 120

Seminar Hours: 30

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content


  • Basics of quantitative methods

  • Elementary probability theory

  • Simple linear regression

  • Multiple regression analysis-estimation

  • Multiple regression analysis-inference

  • Multiple regression with nominal data

  • Diagnosis and fixing problems


Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
Coursework ASSESSMENT (AS.1)-SURVEY DESIGN ESSAY (4 PAGES) Pass/Fail
Coursework ASSESSMENT (AS.2)-EMPIRICAL RESEARCH PROJECT (3,000 - 4,000 WORDS) Pass/Fail

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their learning and achievement of the unit’s learning outcomes. Both the formative and summative assessments enable the achievement of the learning outcomes. The regular class participation and feedback enhance students’ learning and support their preparation and delivery of the two elements of summative assessment. These are outlined below.

 

Formative assessment

Formative assessment will comprise an ongoing feature of this unit. Students will actively engage in taught sessions and prepare for these via guided readings, discussion topics and other preparatory work issued by the instructor. These will be important for students and will facilitate their critical thinking and applied skills development, as well as enhance their learning and preparation for the three summative assessment elements.

The summative assessment for this unit consists of:


  •  Assessment 1: Survey Design Essay.




  • Assessment 2. Empirical Research project (3,000-4,000 words). 


Module aims

  • provide students with an in depth understanding of (the basics of) quantitative research methods in management and business disciplines
  • ensure that students have the basic knowledge to understand and critically evaluate the academic research papers they read, be able to see the limits of specific research and be critical about what (and whether) conclusions can be drawn
  • enable students to acquire a good understanding of the different methods in management research toward supporting their research questions

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
001 Demonstrate an advanced/in depth understanding of the stages of the research process and demonstrate ability to perform them KC
002 Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the stages of the research process, and of different quantitative approaches KC
003 Identify research ideas and transform them testable hypotheses PT
004 Understand how to test causality KPT
005 Understand the difference between business research and basic social science research KT

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to support and achieve the learning outcomes. The learning and teaching methods include class contact sessions which are highly interactive in nature, class discussion, preparatory reading, verbal student presentations, student-led reviews of readings, practical activities, scenario discussion, and individual written assignments. 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MAND028

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
Management and Business PHD 2 Compulsory Each unit of assessment must be passed at 50% to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2024/5 academic year.