Quantitative Methods in Business and Management Research module (RD52004)

​​Numbers are only as good as the thinking behind them. This module develops the statistical understanding that doctoral research in business and management requires. You will develop the vital statistical rigour required to excel in modern, data-driven business environments and advanced management research. 

​The focus throughout is on hands-on methodological execution. You will master the core principles of research design, exploring how to establish validity, ensure reliability, map causality, and achieve generalisation. You will dive deeply into primary data collection, learning the mechanics of probability, sampling distributions, and sampling methods. Moving from theory to practice, you will learn how to construct effective online surveys, engineer sound questions, and leverage secondary data and official statistics to supplement your primary research design.

​The module also covers secondary data analysis and official statistics, giving you the tools to draw on existing datasets alongside primary research. You will use hands-on practice videos with Excel and Stata, the standard statistical package used across the social sciences and business research. 

​Assessment is split equally between an timed coursework online exam (50%) and data analysis report coursework (50%). 

​What you will learn 

​In this module, you will: 

• ​Understand the strengths and limitations of quantitative methods in business and management research
• ​Evaluate and select the correct quantitative research methodologies for specific business problems
• ​Design experiment and questionnaire surveys using appropriate sampling methods 
• ​Execute complex statistical techniques, from hypothesis testing to multivariate regression analysis. 
• ​Use Excel and Stata to analyse, and present quantitative findings 

​By the end of this module, you will be able to: 

• ​Understand the strengths and limitations of quantitative methods in business and management research 
• ​Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental statistical concepts for experiment and survey design and secondary data analysis 
• ​Collect data through the quantitative design of experiments and questionnaire surveys using appropriate sampling methods 
• ​Analyse data using appropriate statistical techniques 
• ​Produce succinct, coherent, and evidence-based reports persuasive to executive audiences​

Assignments / assessments

2,000-word research methods critique (50%)

• You will critically evaluate a published quantitative research paper. This will be selected from a curated set of contemporary business and management studies. The assessment focuses on developing the ability to interpret and critique research design, hypothesis development, sampling strategy, statistical methods, and methodological rigour.
• You will also reflect on how the selected study informs the design of your own DBA research project.
• ​Papers are released in Week 3 and submission due in Week 9

​Coursework: 2,500-word analytical report with statistical output appendices (50%)

• You will conduct an applied quantitative analysis using your own organisational data, pilot research data, or an approved public dataset where primary data is unavailable. The assessment is designed to mirror real-world analytical practice within business and management contexts.
• ​You will formulate research questions, apply appropriate statistical techniques, interpret findings critically, and reflect on methodological limitations and implications for future research.
• ​The assessment brief will be released in Week 3  with submission due in Week 12

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

• ​​Lectures 
• ​Computing lab sessions using Excel and Stata 
• ​Drop-in office hours for additional support