AGRI 5782

An appropriate study design is critically important to gather evidence for the answers of research questions. With examples of evidence-based research in the field of business management, this course will introduce the concept and principle of some intermediate level research designs, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. Based on the research topic of their theses, students will explore options for designing a research protocol including appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative data collection and analytical strategies. They will also learn strategies to mitigate weakness of the certain study design, to manage sampling bias, and to critically evaluate published research results. Although the focus of this course is for business management studies, the principle is generally applicable to economics and social sciences studies, particularly in the fields related to agri-food issues.