BU4061 - Research Paradigms in Business

Credit points:	03
Year:	2009
Student Contribution Band:	Band 3
Administered by:	School of Business

This subject introduces students to the notion of paradigms as "ways of seeing" the business world. Depending on one's paradigm orientation, people explain the same behaviour in different ways. The subject examines the contributions of various social theories to explaining and interpreting behaviour in business settings. Students will explore theories related to functionalism, structuralism, interpretive understanding, and social psychology to build understandings of business behaviour in its broadest context.

Learning Outcomes

• Appreciate and understand the main social theories by which business behaviour in particular settings can be interpreted;
• Appreciate and understand how different ways of seeing similar phenomena can produce different behaviours;
• Appreciate and understand that from a research perspective, the adoption of a particular paradigm orientation will influence how research is conducted and how various results are interpreted;
• Appreciate and understand the many factors at work in the interplay of people and organizations.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments;
• The ability to adapt knowledge to new situations;
• The ability to speak and write logically, clearly and creatively;
• The ability to access and employ online technologies effectively;
• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning processes and products;
• The ability to learn independently and in a self-directed manner;
• A commitment to lifelong learning and intellectual development.

Availabilities
Townsville, Internal, Study Period 1
Census Date 27-Mar-2009
Coordinator:	Professor Philip Pearce
Lecturers:	Mr Alf Kuilboer, Professor Philip Pearce.
Contact hours:	26 hours lectures 12 hours tutorials
Assessment:	other exams (25%); presentation 1 (25%); presentation 2 (25%); presentation 3 (25%).
Cairns, Internal, Study Period 1
Census Date 27-Mar-2009
Coordinator:	Professor Philip Pearce
Lecturers:	Mr Alf Kuilboer, Professor Philip Pearce.
Contact hours:	26 hours lectures 12 hours tutorials
Assessment:	other exams (25%); presentation 1 (25%); presentation 2 (25%); presentation 3 (25%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.