WOLLO UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS

DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE

Course Title : Research Methodology in Accounting & Finance

Course code: AcFn 552
Credit Hours: 3 Lecture hours
Prerequisite : None

Course Description:

This course provides students with applied skills in understanding and conducting research in
business. The course examines and explores a range of methods that align with theory
building and testing. The course is designed to equip graduates to undertake different
researches in the areas of Financial Accounting principles and concepts, taxation, auditing,
investments and finance. It is a combination of quantitative techniques and research methods
in Accounting & Finance; it develops mathematical and statistical frame works for dealing
with problems in accounting and finance. The course also deals with techniques to solve
business problems via research in accounting and finance. The research part focuses on the
use of business data, its operations and problems, to measure and suggest solutions, though
the application of statistical and other tests.
Course Objective:
After the successful accomplishment of the course, graduates will be able to;
 Develop mathematical and statistical skills for solving Accounting & Finance related
problems.
 Understand the principles of scientific research methods and their application in real
life business environment.
 Identify the potential research areas in Accountancy, Auditing, Taxation, Finance and
Investment.
 Render research based consulting services in Accountancy, Auditing, Taxation,
Finance and Investment.
 Prepare thesis proposal
  The specific objectives are (i) to ensure that students acquire some practical research;
and (ii) to enable students to link the research process with theories of their specialist
areas.
Teaching Methods:
The teaching methods will consist of a mix of lectures, group assignments, individual
assignments, and article reviews. Since the course is seminar, the student is expected to make
presentation of assignments and be active in class participation. The student is also highly
advised to develop independent learning style where the role of the teacher is limited to
simple briefing of the issues.
Course Contents
Chapter 1: Research Methodology: An Introduction
1.1. Meaning of Research
1.2. Objectives of Research
1.3. Motivation in Research
1.4. Types of Research
1.5. Research Approaches
1.6. Significance of Research
1.7. Research Methods versus Methodology
1.8. Research and Scientific Method
1.9. Importance of Knowing How Research is Done
1.10. Research Process
1.11. Criteria of Good Research
1.12. Knowledge Claims
Chapter 2: Review of Literature
2.1. What is a Research Problem?
2.2. Selecting the Problem
2.3. Necessity of Defining the Problem
2.4. Technique Involved in Defining a Problem
2.5. Identifying topic
2.6. Literature review in different research designs
2.7. Steps in writing a literature review
2.8. Citations formats
Chapter 3: Research Design
3.1. Meaning of Research Design
3.2. Need for Research Design
 3.3. Features of a Good Design
3.4. Important Concepts Relating to Research Design
3.5. Different Research Designs
3.6. Basic Principles of Experimental Designs
3.7. Developing a Research Plan
3.8. Census and Sample Survey
3.9. Implications of a Sample Design
3.10. Steps in Sampling Design
3.11. Criteria of Selecting a Sampling Procedure
3.12. Characteristics of a Good Sample Design
3.13. Different Types of Sample Designs
3.14. How to Select a Random Sample?
3.15. Random Sample from an Infinite Universe
3.16. Complex Random Sampling Designs
Chapter 4: Research Proposal
4.1. Introduction
4.2.Components of research proposal: Title, Background of the study, statement of the
problem, literature, objective of the study, research questions and hypothesis, research design,
data collection instruments, significance of the study, scope, limitation, budgets and
references.
Chapter 5: Measurement and Scaling Techniques
5.1. Measurement in Research
5.2. Measurement Scales
5.3. Sources of Error in Measurement
5.4. Tests of Sound Measurement
5.5. Technique of Developing Measurement Tools
5.6. Scaling
5.7. Meaning of Scaling
5.8. Scale Classification Bases
5.9. Important Scaling Techniques
5.10. Scale Construction Techniques
Chapter 6: Methods of Data Collection, Processing and Analysis
6.1. Collection of Primary Data
6.2. Observation Method
6.3. Interview Method
6.4. Collection of Data through Questionnaires
 6.5. Collection of Data through Schedules
6.6. Difference between Questionnaires and Schedules
6.7. Some Other Methods of Data Collection
6.8. Collection of Secondary Data
6.9. Selection of Appropriate Method for Data Collection
6.10. Processing Operations
6.11. Some Problems in Processing
6.12. Elements/Types of Analysis
6.13. Statistics in Research
6.14. Measures of Central Tendency
6.15. Measures of Dispersion
6.16. Measures of Asymmetry (Skewness)
6.17. Measures of Relationship
6.18. Simple Regression Analysis
6.19. Multiple Correlation and Regression
6.20. Partial Correlation
Chapter 7: Hypothesis testing and Multivariate Analysis Techniques
7.1. Testing of Hypotheses-I (Parametric or Standard Tests of Hypotheses)
7.1.1. What is a Hypothesis?
7.1.2. Basic Concepts Concerning Testing of Hypotheses
7.1.3. Procedure for Hypothesis Testing
7.1.4. Flow Diagram for Hypothesis Testing
7.1.5. Measuring the Power of a Hypothesis Test
7.1.6. Tests of Hypotheses
7.1.7. Important Parametric Tests
7.1.8. Hypothesis Testing of Means
7.1.9. Hypothesis Testing for Differences between Means
7.1.10. Hypothesis Testing for Comparing Two Related Samples
7.1.11. Hypothesis Testing of Proportions
7.1.12. Hypothesis Testing for Difference between Proportions
7.1.13. Hypothesis Testing for Comparing a Variance to Some Hypothesized Population Variance
7.2. Testing of Hypotheses-II (Nonparametric or Distribution-free Tests) and Multivariate
Analysis Techniques
7.2.1. Important Nonparametric or Distribution-free Test
7.2.2. Relationship between Spearman’s r’s and Kendall’s
7.2.3. Characteristics of Distribution-free or Non-parametric Tests
7.2.4. Growth of Multivariate Techniques
 7.2.5. Characteristics and Applications
7.2.6. Classification of Multivariate Techniques
7.2.7. Variables in Multivariate Analysis
7.2.8. Important Multivariate Techniques
7.2.9. Important Methods of Factor Analysis
7.2.10. Rotation in Factor Analysis
7.2.11. R-type and Q-type Factor Analyses
7.2.12. Path Analysis

Chapter 8:Interpretation and Report Writing

8.1. Meaning of Interpretation
8.2. Why Interpretation?
8.3. Technique of Interpretation
8.4. Precaution in Interpretation
8.5. Significance of Report Writing
8.6. Different Steps in Writing Report
8.7. Layout of the Research Report
8.8. Types of Reports
8.9. Mechanics of Writing a Research Report
8.10. Precautions for Writing Research Reports
Mode of Evaluation:
Group Assignment (material preparation) ---------------------------------------------- 15%
Article Review (3 articles) --------------------------------------------------------------- - 30%
Proposal Development ------------------------------------------------------------------- - - 25%
Final Exam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30%
Total 100%

References:
1. Alan Bryman and EmmaBell (2007), Business Research Methods, (paper back-).
2. Donald cooper and Pamela schindle (2007), Business Research Methods, (The
McGraw-Hill /Irwin series/ operations and Decision sciences).
3. Donald cooper and Pamela schindler (2005), Business Research methods ( McGraw-
Hill/ Irwin).
4. Donald R. cooper and C.Willian Emory (1994), Business Research Methods (Irwin
series in statistics).
5. Joe Hair, Arthur Money, Phillip samouel, and BarryBabin (2003), Essentials of
Business Research Methods.
6. Mark N.K Saunders, Adrian Thorn hill, and Philip Lewis (2009), Research Methods
for Business students, 5th Edition.
7. White John Adams, Hafiz TaKhan, Robert Raeside, and David I (2007), Research
Methods for Graduate Business and social science students, Sage Publications LTD.
8. William G. Zikmund, Babin, jon c. carr, and Mitch Griffin (2009), Business Research
Methods, (hardcover-).