DRL030 Design and Measurement in Business Management (Autumn 2026)
- ECTS Credits:
- 5
- Responsible faculty:
- Avdeling for logistikk
- Campus:
- Molde
- Course Leader:
- Mark Pagell
- Teaching language:
- English
- Study level:
- {code=FU, name=Doctoral degree level}
- Duration:
- ½ year
Table of contents
Contents
The choice and execution of a research design is arguably one of the toughest decisions researchers face, as it involves making several trade-offs and coming to terms with the fact that no research design is perfect. This is particularly true for the social sciences and business disciplines, as constructs can be operationalized in many different ways, several concurrent factors/explanations tend to be relevant, and inferences drawn can be subjective. Additionally, knowledge is constantly evolving, with new studies questioning and adding to prior knowledge. Thus, for development as a top researcher, one must have a sound understanding and appreciation of the main tools of the trade.
DR030 will introduce you to a range of empirical research methodologies, allowing you to develop an understanding of how to use these approaches effectively in supply chain management research, and preparing you to evaluate research done by others. Even if some of these tools may not fit your natural inclinations or may take some effort to nurture, such understanding is crucial as you will often be asked to review manuscripts for your peers, conferences, and journals. You will also be exposed to increasingly sophisticated research design in seminars and presentations. Taking this course should at the very minimum help you become an informed and confident evaluator of others’ designs, even if you may very legitimately choose to not apply many of them yourself.
The course will provide a solid foundation in the basic concepts of design, including types of variables, relationships, sampling and measurement. Our focus will be on exploring key concepts of empirical design. You will have the opportunity to apply your insights to your own research questions so that you can gradually develop hands-on skills for crafting, using, refining, writing and reviewing high quality empirical studies in the supply chain management discipline.
This course would meet the criterion related to methodology-content of the course package if you are registered to the PhD Logistics program at Molde University College
The course is connected to the following study programs
Recommended knowledge
The student's learning outcomes after passing the exam
Knowledge:
At the end of this course, a successful candidate will be able:
- To understand the strengths and limitations of various types of research designs
- To understand internal, external and construct validity;
- To understand the basics of measurement, sampling, and control
To develop a clear understanding of the benefits, limitations, uses and abuses of specific design choices. This is a skill you will refine further as you move forward to more advanced courses in statistical methods
Skills:
At the end of this course, a successful candidate will be able:
- To choose appropriate research design for an empirical study
- To execute an empirical study
To report an empirical study
General competence:
At the end of this course, a successful candidate will develop:
- Research communication skills
- Critical thinking
- Ability to effectively review empirical research
Forms of teaching and learning
Exam
Course paper with oral defense
Grouping: Individual
Grading scale: Letter (A - F)