Philosophical Foundations of Research
Overview
This unit aims to engage Higher Degree Research (HDR) students in examining the philosophical premises on which their research may be founded, and examines assumptions and theories that can inform a conceptual framework guiding the students in the formulation of their research questions and hypotheses. Its discussions and assessment activities explore foundational theoretical and practical considerations in research design, to: inform further decisions in research method selection; illustrate good practice in developing the main argument of an HDR thesis; and articulate the relative significance of a research study’s contribution to knowledge, with a view to increasing its chances of publication.
Requisites
27-October-2024
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Critically evaluate different epistemological, ontological and axiological perspectives informing research in the business and law fields
- Critically evaluate methodological issues associated with at least two different research paradigms as developed in the business and law fields
- Apply advanced knowledge to present and defend a philosophically informed argument supporting their methodological rationale and the contribution of their research to knowledge in the business and law fields
- Apply advanced and coherent knowledge of significance and novelty criteria in business and law research, with a view to enhancing their quality publishing potential
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face to Face Contact (Phasing out) Lecture | 1.33 | 12 weeks | 16 |
| Online Contact (Phasing out) Online Learning Activities | 1.67 | 12 weeks | 20 |
| Unspecified Learning Activities (Phasing out) Independent Learning | 9.50 | 12 weeks | 114 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 | Individual | 40 - 60% | 1,2,3 |
| Assessment 2 | Individual | 40 - 60% | 1,2,3,4 |
Content
- Ontological and epistemological issues in business and law research: applications
- Axiological and action-theoretical issues in business and law research: applications
- Key paradigms in business and law research (positivism and post-positivism, phenomenology, hermeneutics, historical-genealogical approaches, critical theory, postmodernism, pragmatism, critical realism)
- Patterns of theory adoption in business and law research: critique and solution generation
- How to formulate significant and novel empirical, practical, methodological, theoretical and conceptual contributions to knowledge in the business and law fields: methodological implications
- How to meet advanced scholarship criteria for quality peer reviewed publications in the business and law fields
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.