• Code: MET2LE030
• Extent: 5 ECTS (135 h)
• Timing: 4. and 6. semester
• Language: English
• Level: professional studies
• Type: compulsory

Prerequisites

Completion of the first three semesters of compulsory studies.

Learning outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to

• understand the structure of the study
• know the central concepts of the study
• understand what kind of research methods exist and what their sub-elements are
• understand what mean study ethics and source criticism
• be familiar with different ways of collecting information
• write his/her report according to the HAAGA-HELIA rules of layout and standards and she will know the required techniques.
• understand what kind of research methods exist and what their sub-elements are
• organize his/her own research and development process as a project
• choose the right method(s) for his/her own research or development project. He/She will also learn enough of the qualitative, quantitative and procedural methods in order to cope with normal working life situations including critically following news in newspapers, TV and radio, answering research questions, buying research results and making use of them and completing his/her own research and development project
• be familiar with different ways of collecting research material and how to analyze it. He/She will be able to also choose the right method for his/her own project and will be able to evaluate his/her own method application critically
• report his/her own work correctly
• know the basic linguistic and stylistic elements of academic writing and is able independently to produce a text type suited for a bachelor's thesis
• write his/her report according to the HAAGA-HELIA rules of layout and standards and she will know the required techniques

Course contents

• Study structure and reporting
• Central concepts of the study
• Research process
• Quantitative, Qualitative and Prosedural Research
• Evaluation
• Study ethics and criticism
• Study plan and timetible
• Research process
• Student chose one of the following research methods: Quantitative, qualitative and prosedural
• Acquisition of relevant information for the study

Cooperation with the business community and other organisations

The course provides students with the skills to complete a thesis for a company or other organisation.

Teaching and learning methods

The course is completed in Moodle. In order to pass the course the student should set at least 78 hours aside for her own study.

Alternative way of performance

The course is possible to take just as a web completion.

Teachers with the main responsibility for the course

Raisa Koivusalo, research methods, Pasila
Eila Sahala, academic writing, Pasila

Course materials

Materials on Moodle
Bell, J. Doing your research project. A Guide for First-time Researchers in Education and Social Science, third or newer edition. Glasgow: Open University Press, 1999.
BBA thesis instructions http://www.haaga-helia.fi/en/studies/thesis.html
Levine, D. & Stephan D. Even You Can Learn Statistics. A guide for everyone who has ever been afraid of statistics. Upper Sandler River: Pearson 2005.
Silverman, D. Doing qualitative research. A practical handbook. London: Sage 2000 or newer.
Swales & Feak. Academic Writing for Graduate Students, the University of Michigan Press. USA 1994 or newer.
Jordan, R. Academic Writing Course. Nelson ELT. London 2002
Materials given during the course

Assessment criteria

All assignments, tasks and exam will be graded 0-5. The final grade is the average value.