PCOA 017 – ACCOUNTING RESEARCH METHODS

Course Description:

This course is designed to develop an in-depth knowledge of the methodology appropriate for
conducting business research. The course will teach the students how to frame research questions,
assess methods best suited to research questions, measure concepts, apply sampling procedures,
understand data collection strategies, and analyze data. At the end of the course, the students
should be able to complete a research proposal.

Course Learning Outcomes

Cognitive

1. explain the general concepts of research, know why research is undertaken, and be able to
confidently apply the concepts and theories in researching as applied to business;
2. discuss the overall process of designing a research study from its inception to its reporting;

Affective

3. develop values of honesty and patience in gathering data to obtain the general welfare of the
human race; and

Psychomotor

4. construct a business research proposal.

Course Outline

MODULES CLASS DATES

Course Orientation

Module 1 – Overview of Business/Accounting Research

Week 1, Week 2
1. The Nature of Research
2. Business and Management Research
3. What is a Good Research
4. The Research Process

Week 3, Week 4
Module 2 – Formulating and Clarifying the Research Topic

1. Attributes of a Good Research Topic

2. Generating Research Ideas
3. Refining Research Ideas: The Delphi Technique
4. TheTurning
module is for Research
the exclusive useIdeas into ofResearch
of the University La Salette, Inc.Projects
Any form of reproduction, distribution, uploading, or
posting online in any form or by any means without the written permission of the University is strictly prohibited.
5. Writing the Research Aim and Set of Research Objectives

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Module 3 – Critical Review of Literature (Part 1)

1. The Critical Review

Week 5
2. The Purpose and Types of Critical Review
3. Adopting a Critical Perspective in your Reading
4. Structuring and Drafting the Critical Review

Preliminary Examination Week 6

Module 3 – Critical Review of Literature (Part 2)

5. Literature Sources
6. Searching Using Online Databases Week 7, Week 8
7. Recording the Literature
8. Plagiarism
9. APA Citation Style Guide: In-text Citation

Module 4 – Writing the Introduction

1. Background of the Study

2. Research Questions Week 9, Week 10,
3. Significance of the Study Week 11
4. Literature Review
5. Theoretical or Conceptual Framework
6. Formatting Guidelines

Midterm Examination Week 12

Module 5 – Formulating the Research Design, Samples, and Collecting

Primary Data
Week 13, Week 14
1. Research Design
2. Sampling Design
3. Data Analysis

Week 15, Week 16,

Module 6 – Writing the Method Section Week 17

1. Research Design
2. Study Site and Participants
3. Instruments
4. Data Gathering
The module Procedure
is for the exclusive use of the University of La Salette, Inc. Any form of reproduction, distribution, uploading, or
posting online in any form or by any means without the written permission of the University is strictly prohibited.
5. Data Analysis

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6. Ethical Considerations

Final Examination Week 18

References

Brunt, P., Horner, S., & Semley, N. (2017). Research Methods in Tourism, Hospitality and Events
Management. SAGE Publications Ltd.

Lango, B. (2020). Procedure for Writing a Background Study for a Research Paper. DOI:
DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.18093.92644

Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper. Available at

https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/researchdesigns

Organizing Academic Research Papers: Types of Research Designs. Available at

https://library.sacredheart.edu/c.php?g=29803&p=185902

Participation in Research. Available at https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/bias-

free-language/general-principles

Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhil, A. (2016). Research Methods for Business Students (17 th
Edition). Pearson Education Limited.

Schinder, P. S. (2019). Business Research Methods (13 th Edition). New York: McGraw-Hill
Companies, Inc.

Theory and Practice in Hospitality and Tourism Research. Proceedings of the 2 nd International
Hospitality and Tourism Conference 2014, Penag Malaysia on September 2-4, 2014. Published by
CRC Press.

The module is for the exclusive use of the University of La Salette, Inc. Any form of reproduction, distribution, uploading, or
posting online in any form or by any means without the written permission of the University is strictly prohibited.

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