Lectures

Tutorial

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1

The aim of the course is to introduce the students to the basic concepts and terms related to scientific research and to familiarize them with a series of research methods and the ways they are applied in the fields of Administration and Economics.

Upon successful completion of the course, students acquire the following knowledge, abilities and skills:

Knowledge: a) They are able to provide directions and tools for conducting a scientific research, b) They can explain in detail all modern methods for developing qualitative and quantitative research (e.g. sample formation, questionnaire construction, questionnaire testing, conducting surveys, analyzing data, commenting on survey findings).

Skills: At the end of the course, students will be able to a) Recognize the types and basic characteristics of scientific research in the Social Sciences, b) Understand the processes of scientific publication, c) Identify the basic structural parts of a research paper , d) Understand the role of each of these structural parts, e) Understand the missing elements of a complete research report, f) Write the summary, purpose, research questions, methodological framework, results and discussion of a research report reference.

Competencies: They are able to a) distinguish and choose between alternative research methods and b) prepare a complete scientific paper.

Search for printed primary and secondary sources.

− Searching sources in digital academic databases

- Synthesis and comparison of information

- Work in an interdisciplinary environment

- Independent and teamwork

- Promotion of free, creative, and inductive thinking

− Development of research ethics

- Criticism and self-criticism

− Ability to make presentations

1. Introductory concepts: research methodology, types of tasks, time constraints, other parameters.

2. Sources of secondary and primary data. The role of secondary sources and their identification.

3. Archival materials, Internet help, subscriptions and other sources. Scientific articles.

4. The List of Scientific References (Citation Index) and the Impact Factor (impact factor) of the published articles - Books and monographs - Other bibliographic sources.

5. Linking theory – empirical research and construction of working hypotheses. Objectivity, validity, reliability in research.

6. Writing a research report – writing a scientific paper. Introduction, main text, conclusions, tables and graphs. Ethics rules.

7. Primary research – Quantitative and qualitative research – Planning and stages of conducting research.

8. Data collection methods in primary research.

9. Methods of conducting qualitative research. Focus groups. In-depth interviews. Observation. Experiments and observation.

10. Structured questionnaire. Face to face survey. Telephone and postal inquiries. Conditions of their application.

11. The size and degree of complexity of questionnaire. Distinguish between questions and variables. Rules for correct wording of questions.

12. Presentation of results of the research work.

13. The writing of the scientific work.

In order to better familiarize with the methods of scientific research, in the tutoring part of the course there is a critical study and analysis of scientific articles, search and analysis of quantitative and/or qualitative research data and also, examples of preparation and presentation of scientific papers are examined.

Specifically, case studies are examined, such as:

- Introduction, analysis and formulation of specific research problems on the occasion of a given research topic.

- Access to secondary data sources and electronic databases are used.

- Search – bibliography coding.

- Presentation and analysis of selected scientific articles.

- Processing and analysis of secondary and primary data.

- Assignment of work based on primary data within a specific thematic framework that changes periodically. Presenting and commenting on personalized assignments.

The course includes two (2) written exams, each of which contributes 15% to the final grade of the course.

The remaining 70% comes from the grading of the final exam paper.

1. Babbie, E., Introduction to social research, Critique, Athens 2011

2. Bell J., How to write a scientific paper, Metaichmio, Athens 2007

3. Bell J., Methodological design of pedagogical and social research, Gutenberg, Athens 1997

4. Zafeiropoulos, K., How is a scientific paper made?, 2nd ed., Kritiki, Athens 2015

5. Javeau, Cl., Questionnaire research: the good researcher's handbook, Typothito-Dardanos, Athens 1996

6. Bourliaskos V., How to write a scientific paper, Dionikos, Athens 2010

7. Robson C, Real world research. A tool for social scientists and professional researchers, Gutenberg, Athens 2007