6 ECTS credits
178 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1018350CNR for all students in the 1st and 2nd semester at a (C) Bachelor - specialised level.

Semester
1st and 2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Je hebt ‘Onderzoekmethoden in Economie en Management’ gevolgd, alvorens ‘Bachelorproef’ op te nemen.​
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
ES Academische eenheid
Educational team
Ilse Scheerlinck
Leo Van Hove
Filip Van Droogenbroeck (course titular)
Emmelien De Roock
Activities and contact hours
20 contact hours Lecture
25 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
133 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

This course provides a profound introduction in research methodology. We focus on different stages of scientific research in the domain of (business) economics. Next to the research process, also research methods will be covered.

The skills of students with respect to the consultation, reading and processing of scientific literature are refined with particular attention for the practices of correct referencing and citing. Next the formulation of the research problem and the research questions is addressed. Via an deeping review of the spectrum of research methods for (business) economics, the students are motivated to compile a research design and to execute the research project. When interpreting the research project results, the importance of linking own findings to existing academic literature is again highlighted. Hands-on advice is provided for reporting and presenting the intermediate work products as well as the end product, the Bachelorpaper.

The course is scheduled in different stages with assignements throughout the academic year. Given that academic research is increasingly done in teams, a number of assignments will also involve teamwork. The final result of this research process - the Bachelorpaper - is individual.

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Slides en Artikels/Cases, Canvas
Handbook (Recommended) : Researching and Writing a Dissertation, An Essential Guide for Business Students, Fisher, C, UK: Pearson, 9780273723431, 2010
Additional info

In case guest lectures are organised, attending the sessions is mandatory and the presented information is integrally part of the course content.

This course is a final paper completing a Bachelor' s programme and cannot be taken as part of a credit contract.

Learning Outcomes

Research Problem

Identify a research problem and formulute a research question.

Literature review

Consult scientific literature and correctly compile an explorative and critical literature review.

Research method

Demonstrate insight in different methods and select the appropriate research method for the research problem.

Research design and research

Compile a research design and execute research.

Report

Report in writing and orally about intermediate steps and final results.

Teamwork

Work together in team to perform scientific research.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Bachelor thesis determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Bachelor thesis category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Bachelor Paper with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Evaluation is based on assignments throughout the academic year and on the resulting end product in the form of a Bachelor's Paper which exists out of a group and an individual assignment.

  • To obtain an end score for this course, students need to complete all assignments,
  • In order to pass this course, a score of at least 50% must be obtained on both the group assignments and the individual written assignment,
  • In the second session, the grades earned on the intermediate assignments can be kept, while only the revised version of the Bachelor's Paper and an optional presentation will be re-assessed,
  • Peer evaluation may be applied to differentiate the team score into individual scores,
  • Erasmus students need to contact the course teacher at the beginning of the academic year for an alternative arrangement
Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Business Engineering: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Business Engineering: Verkort traject na vooropleiding Professionele bachelor Bedrijfsmanagement met Afstudeerrichting Accountancy-fiscaliteit of Financie- en verzekeringswezen (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Business Engineering: Verkort traject na vooropleiding Professionele bachelor Bedrijfsmanagement met Afstudeerrichting Logistiek Management of Professionele bachelor toegepaste informatica (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Business Engineering: Verkort traject na vooropleiding Professionele bachelor Bedrijfsmanagement met Afstudeerrichting Marketing (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Business Engineering: Verkort traject na vooropleiding Industriële wetenschappen of Ingenieurswetenschappen (only offered in Dutch)