This course has two components: theory development and qualitative research methods. PhD students will first be equipped with the necessary foundations and skills to engage in both deductive and inductive theory building.  Deductive theory building involves drawing on the relevant literature to identify opportunities for new theory.  Inductive theory building involves drawing on data/phenomena, often informed by the literature, to identify opportunities for new theory.  Theory building incorporates several stages, notably: identifying a theoretical space and focus; searching for appropriate literature; defining concepts; theorizing relationships between concepts; formalising concepts as constructs with proposals; testing the proposed theoretical relationships empirically.  Second, students will acquire the appropriate skills to identify opportunities where they can apply qualitative research methods such as case studies and action research. The contribution of qualitative data to inductive theory building, for instance following the principles of data coding and grounded theory, will also be considered.

Continuous Assessment: 100%