NewRSCH600CourseSyllabus Fall2019 - VAN - EK2019 08 22
NewRSCH600CourseSyllabus Fall2019 - VAN - EK2019 08 22
NewRSCH600CourseSyllabus Fall2019 - VAN - EK2019 08 22
Course Name and Number: RSCH 600: Research Methodologies & Inquiry
Course credits: 3
Instructor Contact Information: The main point of contact for all instructors is through MyUCW.
1.0 Course Description: The course will focus on the basic research methods (quantitative, qualitative
and mixed methods) and the development of the skills that will be required to write effective research
papers throughout their MBA program. Topics include understanding the ethical considerations of doing
research, developing and refining research topics, crafting a problem statement, and formulating
research questions and hypotheses. Students will evaluate and critique the quality of published
literature by employing critical thinking skills, writing summaries for individual entries in a literature
review, and/or writing comprehensive summaries of articles for a literature review. Students will also
practice writing the various sections of a research paper such as the abstract, introduction and
theoretical background, problem statements, etc.
2.0 Learning Goals: At the end of the course, students would have developed a basic understanding
of the research process. Students will familiarize themselves with contemporary business research
methods, reviewing the literature, designing study plans, writing research proposals, designing
interviews for phenomenological and quantitative research, and analyzing primary and secondary
data. Methods of quantitative analysis of stationary and time series econometric data will be
UCW Course Syllabus for RSCH 600
considered. Students are also expected to improve their ability in critical thinking, academic
research, academic writing, and presentations
3.0 Learning Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to
Demonstrate understanding of ethical issues along the continuum of business research involving
human subjects.
Formulate the research idea
Apply the research process
Define research concepts and theories and operationalize them
Define research problems, questions, and hypotheses
Perform a literature review
Apply Qualitative / Phenomenological Research Methods
Apply Quantitative Research Methods
Apply Mixed Research Methods
Select appropriate Statistical tools supporting their research
Appraise the basic stages of research design
Apply appropriate Data Collection Techniques, Measures and Analysis
Demonstrate graduate academic research and communication skills.
These learning outcomes and objectives will be accomplished through text readings, discussions with
classmates, in-class activities, class exercises, individual and group assignments, and feedback from and
discussion with the instructor.
Detailed weekly learning outcomes are presented in the table starting on page 7.
Core Principles
Applications are drawn from situations that occur in the real world
Information is modeled on data gathered from newspapers, magazines, journals, and other media.
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UCW Course Syllabus for RSCH 600
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UCW Course Syllabus for RSCH 600
Participation and engagement with course materials and class, measured by estimated
evaluation of effort and through performance in class activities and discussions. Attendance is
absolutely necessary to earn the class activity points. Cooperation and group work in class are
permitted.
Term paper submissions serve as a preparation to the MBA thesis capstone and/or MBA research
project. Term 1 and 2 papers are individual assignments in which collaboration /
group work are NOT permitted.
Submission Guidelines
Using critical thinking and online research, you will work through the decision-making process,
analyzing issues, assessing different perspectives, and answering questions with respect to real
organizational situations.
Provide any additional thoughts and commentary you believe is appropriate.
Do not fill space by repeating material unless it is relevant to your analysis and response.
Assertions need support with sufficient evidence, references, and proper citations: this means
avoid writing personal (unsupported) opinions.
Support your arguments with valid and appropriate academic references.
Spelling, grammar, formatting, and APA errors carry penalties.
Follow APA.
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UCW Course Syllabus for RSCH 600
Plagiarism is not allowed. Avoid repeating what other students have posted before you. Read the
submitted posts before you add your own.
Hint: Re-read APA 6th edition, chapter 3 on “Writing clearly and concisely.”
Important:
1. AVOID using GOOGLE for your research. Preferably use UCW’s library or Google Scholar.
2. Dictionaries or encyclopedias do not constitute valid academic reference. You may use them for
informational purposes only.
3. Verify your sources – again, verify your sources. (I always will)
Note: Internet material changes constantly. If you find broken links or inconsistencies please post them
in the FAQs and suggest remedies when possible. I will update the course material accordingly.
This course will be graded using a class “curve.” Grading on a curve means your professor is
distributing grades on a relative basis instead of on an absolute scale. Basically, when your
professor grades on a curve, they assign average grades to a set number of students. Then,
they assign above and below average grades based on the size of your class – often to a
smaller number of students. Each grade, then, has a certain percentage of students, forming a
bell curve.
DESCRIPTOR GRADE
Exceptional: Normally achieved by a small minority
of students who have consistently exceeded 90-100% A+ (4.33)
performance expectations in all evaluation criteria.
Excellent: Demonstrates a comprehensive
knowledge and understanding of subject matter
and achievement of learning outcomes at high 85-89% A (4.00)
levels of performance in almost all of the
evaluation criteria.
Very good: Demonstrates a comprehensive
knowledge and understanding of the subject
matter and achievement of learning outcomes at 80-84% A- (3.67)
well above average levels of performance in most
of the course evaluation criteria.
Good: Demonstrates substantial knowledge and
understanding of the subject matter and
76-79% B+ (3.33)
achievement of learning outcomes at average to
72-75% B (3.00)
above average performance levels in most of the
course evaluation criteria
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UCW Course Syllabus for RSCH 600
DESCRIPTOR GRADE
Satisfactory: Demonstrates sufficient knowledge
and understanding of the subject matter and
achievement of learning outcomes at average 68-71% B- (2.67)
levels of performance in most of the course
evaluation criteria.
Pass: Demonstrates acceptable knowledge and
understanding of the subject matter and
achievement of learning outcomes at low to 60-67% C (2.00)
average level of performance in many of the course
evaluation criteria.
10.0 Class Participation / Expectations: Students are expected to attend every class. If you must be
absent, please contact the instructor as soon as possible. For international students within Canada, or
Canadians on student loans, the university must report any absences over 8 hours in a semester (all
classes combined) to the appropriate authority. This may result in the revoking of a student’s study
permit or student loan status. Students for whom this doesn’t apply, still run the risk of grade penalties
to their participation mark.
11.0 Late Assignments: Late Assignments will be penalized at a rate of 10% per day.
12.0 APA Guidelines: UCW follows the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
(APA). All assignments must be submitted with the correct APA formatting and all sources cited according
APA standards. The UCW Library provides resources and reference materials for students and faculty to
utilize in order that their work meets APA standards.
13.0 Copyright Policy: University Canada West abides by all copyright legislation, regulations, and
agreements. All copying must be in accordance with these. Please refer to the Access Copyright
Repertoire Lookup Tool and/or consult the UCW Library."
14.0 Privacy Policy: University Canada West is committed to using personal information collected in
accordance with applicable provincial and federal privacy legislation. Use of the information collected
during this course will be used solely for purposes consistent with academic and support services of a
post-secondary educational institution. This statement is consistent with UCW's Information Privacy &
Security Policy.
15.0 Turnitin Policy: This course requires you to submit some material in electronic form. When this
requirement is in place, it will be noted in the course outline, the assignment, or both. The electronic
material will be submitted to a service to which UCW subscribes, called Turnitin. This is a service that
checks textual material for originality. Turnitin.com is used increasingly in North American universities.
For additional information please visit:
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UCW Course Syllabus for RSCH 600
https://turnitin.com/static/resources/documentation/turnitin/sales/Turnitin_FAQ_Questions_and_An
swers.pdf
Please ensure that you read the section on Academic Misconduct in the University Canada West
Calendar located in MyUCW. To find the calendar, click on ‘Library Resources’ then ‘Forms and Calendar.’
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UCW Course Syllabus for RSCH 600
o Disciplinary probation for a defined period with written documentation retained in the
student’s file (transcript notation for period of probation)
At the University level:
o Suspension (permanent transcript entry)
o Expulsion (permanent transcript entry)
o Rescission of degrees granted (permanent transcript entry)
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