Doctorate of Business Administration in Education Management

Module Description

This course, Introduction to Research Methods at the doctoral level, focuses on a blend of research methods. This course is designed to deepen participants’ grasp of the entire research lifecycle. Learners will engage in a critical examination of research methodologies, research pedagogies, research discourse(s) and ethical considerations. Through a structured, step-by-step curriculum, they will build the knowledge and skills needed to design and carry out research at different stages. In addition, the module will train students in secondary research methods, including scoping and systematic reviews. It will sharpen their ability to evaluate the merits and drawbacks of various research approaches, tackle ethical and logistical challenges, and methodically interpret published findings. By the end of the course, participants will be able to critically appraise existing studies and apply those insights directly to their professional body of work and also enable them to engage in knowledge production.

Learning Outcomes

• LO1.Discuss the term research methodology and analyse a wide spectrum of research methods, evaluate their strengths, and constraints, and their application in theory development and evidence-based practice in business administration and strategic leadership.

• LO2.Critically evaluate mixed-method research methodologies, examine their frameworks for data collection, analysis, and interpretation, and assess their application in addressing complex business and organizational research questions.
• LO3.Critically evaluate secondary research design and application methods including scoping and systematic review approaches, and how different research designs can be combined in a mixed-method study approach.
• LO4.Apply principles of research quality assurance, including ethical standards, and critically evaluate the role of validity and reliability in ensuring the integrity and rigor of management research.

Module description

This course is designed to guide learners through the process of formulating a comprehensive research title proposal focused on business management. Participants will be equipped with tools to identify a relevant and researchable knowledge gap within their area of interest, critically synthesize the existing body of knowledge, and articulate a precise research problem. The module will provide structured guidance on critical research framework, including effective literature searching, critical appraisal, referencing, and the application of reference management software. Participants will also learn to formulate clear, researchable questions and objectives, while integrating a theoretical framework to justify the research problem. Furthermore, the module will focus on enhancing learners’ abilities to evaluate and critique existing evidence, identify knowledge gaps, and develop a feasible, valid research framework. Upon completion, participants will produce a well-structured and academically rigorous research proposal, ready for further development and empirical investigation.

Learning Outcomes

LO1.Critically identify a relevant and substantial knowledge gap within the domain of business management and formulate methodologically sound research title designed to address the gap effectively.

LO2.Conduct a critical literature review to systematically assess the current body of evidence, highlighting key knowledge gaps and theoretical uncertainties relevant to the research problem being explored for the title.

LO3.Critically conduct a reflective analysis to examine the significance of the subject, disciplinary positioning, and potential biases influencing topic selection and framing.

LO4.Develop a rigorously structured research proposal, incorporating well-defined research objectives, questions, and a conceptual framework based on the literature review conducted.

Module description

This module critically examines the philosophical foundations and practical methodologies involved in designing robust research within the field of business administration. Learners will explore the relationship between epistemological positions and methodological choices, gaining the ability to justify and align research designs with specific problems and objectives. The course integrates practical application through real- world business cases, in-depth literature reviews, and secondary research exercises. Emphasis is placed on developing advanced analytical skills, methodological precision, and critical reflection, enabling learners to formulate and implement research designs that contribute meaningfully to both academic scholarship and managerial practice(s).

Learning Outcomes

LO1.Critically analyze a wide spectrum of research designs, evaluate their methodological rigor, strengths, weaknesses, and their application in theory development.

LO2.Demonstrate the ability to align research questions, theoretical frameworks, and methodological choices with the full research cycle for both primary and secondary data- driven studies with a coherent epistemological stance.

LO3.Critically appraise published research by identifying and evaluating the coherence between epistemological stance, research questions, theoretical perspective, data collection methods, and analytic techniques.

LO4.Exhibit the capability to conduct and critically evaluate research projects and succinctly communicate findings through scholarly written research papers.

Module description

This module provides an in-depth exploration of data collection strategies and techniques essential for conducting high-quality empirical research in business administration. It equips learners with the knowledge and skills to design, implement, and evaluate data collection methods appropriate for diverse research objectives, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method approaches. Emphasis is placed on the practical application of tools such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, and digital data-gathering platforms. Learners will also engage with critical issues such as sampling strategies, measurement validity, reliability, data accuracy, and ethical considerations in data collection. The module prepares doctoral learners to make informed methodological choices and generate credible data that supports rigorous scientific analysis and enables evidence-based insights.

Learning Outcomes

LO1.Critically evaluate various data collection methods including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method and justify their appropriateness for addressing specific business research questions.

LO2.Apply advanced sampling and econometric techniques and assess issues of reliability, validity, and bias in the context of data collection in the domain of business studies.

LO3.Design and implement robust data collection strategies, including the development of instruments such as surveys, interview guides, and observation protocols, ensuring methodological coherence and relevance

LO4.Demonstrate the ability to manage and document data collection processes ethically and systematically, ensuring adherence to research governance, confidentiality, and data quality standards.

Module description

This module enables doctoral learners to immerse in the full spectrum of research methodologies, guiding them through the end-to-end research process, from conceptualizing a study to executing the qualitative design. Through a combination of theoretical exploration and hands-on exercises, participants will develop the ability to articulate, select, and apply both foundational and advanced qualitative research methods. By the end of the course, researchers will be fully equipped to explain and implement a diverse array of rigorous theoretical and applied approaches in the domain of business studies with full utilization of qualitative methods of research.

Learning Outcomes

LO1.Critically distinguish between various methods and design under the qualitative methodology in research.

LO2.Demonstrate comprehensive and critical expertise in the collection, and management, of major qualitative research methods, with a deep understanding of the forms of data each method produces.

LO3.Apply advanced coding strategies and analytic techniques to derive conceptually rich and methodologically sound interpretations.

LO4.Employ and critically evaluate the applicability of diverse qualitative methodological techniques across a range of research domains and problem areas and analyse findings, using these insights to inform and enhance organizational effectiveness.

Module description

This doctoral learners through this module will traverse an exhaustive array of quantitative research techniques. Beginning with a systematic walkthrough of the quantitative research lifecycle from hypothesis development and research design through measurement, data collection, and advanced econometric analysis, learners will gain the expertise to select, explain, and apply an array of quantitative techniques to address contemporary challenges in the field. The course also equips learners to craft clear, empirically testable research questions grounded in management science principles, ensuring their subsequent investigations are both rigorous and practically relevant.

Learning Outcomes

LO1.Formulate empirically testable research questions and hypotheses and develop rigorous quantitative research protocols encompassing sampling and measurement strategies.

LO2.Critically explain the different statistical and econometrics tools and select the appropriate tools for doctoral learner’s research area.

LO3.Apply advanced statistical techniques, from descriptive analyses to multivariate modelling, using contemporary software’s for data management and analysis.

LO4.Interpret quantitative results with attention to validity, reliability, and ethical considerations, and effectively communicate insights to various stakeholders.