Quantitative research methods in business studies (doctoral course, 7,5 ECTS credits)

The aim of this course is to introduce doctoral students to quantitative research methods in business studies.

The focus of the course is on reading, interpreting, implementing and evaluating quantitative research. The course uses generic methodological examples from all fields of business administration as well as economics. Examples are chosen so that no specific contextual knowledge is needed.

Course start: October 13, 2026

Syllabus Quantitative research methods in business studies pdf, 99.2 kB.

Course content

The course deals with the following topics:

• Differences between qualitative and quantitative research
  
• The quantitative research process: models, constructs, measurement, design
  
• Mathematical modeling
  
• External and internal validity
  
• Introduction to Stata
  
• Basic statistical analysis: summarizing and describing samples of data
  
• Statistical inference (from samples to populations): probability; estimation; hypothesis testing for relationships between variables and comparing groups.
  
• Statistical association and causation among variables
  
• Regression analysis
  
• Experimental and quasi-experimental design
  

Teaching and learning activities

The course consists of combined lectures and exercise sessions. There are five parts/sessions:

1. Introduction to quantitative research in business studies
   
2. Mathematical modelling
   
3. Descriptive statistics, inference and introduction to regression analysis
   
4. Regression analysis continued
   
5. Causal analysis
   

Please note that all students must bring a laptop with the software Stata installed to all sessions (Stata/IC, Stata/SE and Stata/MP will all work).

Schedule

October 13: 14:00-18:00 The Board Room, Floor 5
October 14: 09:00-13:00 Meeting Room 41, Floor 4
November 23: 14:00-18:00 The Board Room, Floor 5
November 24: 09:00-13:00 The Board Room, Floor 5
December 1: 14:00-18:00 online
 
The course meetings will take place at Stockholm Business School, Stockholm University, Campus Albano, House 2 (Albanovägen 18).

Contact

Course directors:
Olov Isaksson, olov.isaksson@sbs.su.se
Fredrik Eng Larsson, fredrik.englarsson@sbs.su.se

Registration

To register for the course, please contact the doctoral programme coordinator: Helene Olofsson, helene.olofsson@sbs.su.se