Qualitative Methods in Business Research

This course is designed as an introductory seminar on qualitative research as it is used in the field of business. The course balances the acquisition of basic knowledge about the conduct of qualitative research with the application of that knowledge to business research. The balance is reflected in the reading material, which consists of basic texts and exemplary studies from leading business research journals. The course introduces the student to various qualitative research approaches, with a focus on case study research, action research, ethnographic research, and grounded theory The course covers several data collection techniques that are widely used in qualitative research, such as interviews, participant observation, focus groups, fieldwork, and using internet communications and social media. Students are introduced to data coding, memo writing, theoretical sampling, data presentation, and the use of qualitative data analysis software. Perspectives on what it means to draw conclusions and build theory from qualitative data are explored. Students will be given the opportunity to apply what they have learned in project work. The course concludes with some guidance on how to write and publish qualitative research.