• Details with Schedule

Role of the module in the doctoral study plan
The module is required as a cross-faculty course in the preparation phase of the doctoral programs “Architecture and Planning” and “Business Economics”.

Description
Subject definition
This module supports formal research training at the doctoral level by focusing on fundamental aspects of research design, particularly through the lens of the special disciplines, styles of inquiry and cultures of learning at the University of Liechtenstein. It also helps to develop research management skills.
Research design describes 'the structure of any scientific work. It gives direction and systematizes the research. Different types of research designs have different advantages and disadvantages.' In technical terms a typical research design is a detailed outline of how an investigation will take place. A research design will typically include how data is to be collected, what instruments will be employed, how the instruments will be used and the intended means for analysing data collected.Research management skills, or so called transferable skills, comprise the ability to manage projects, be self-motivated and autonomous, network internationally, to think analytically and to be creative, inquisitive and original. In combining both research design and management skills, the University of Liechtenstein aligns itself with aspirations of the League of European Research Universities (LERU). It calls for an innovative doctoral education that brings together cohorts of candidates and includes elements of professional development training. This combination nurtures a range of skills that help PhD candidates to be more effective in their research projects but also to nurture abilities that will be useful in their future lives and careers.
To provide a tailored program, the PhD students attend one topic of ‘Specialisation according to PhD study’ (4 taught lecture units). In addition to this, the PhD students select five topics from the pool of “General academic and technical skills” and participate in all of the topics from the pool “Personal and professional management skills”. The features of the series “Personal and professional management skills” are open lectures, and every interested staff member is invited to join and listen.

Specific academic and technical skills

• Introduction to Research Design (mandatory: two taught units)

Specialisation according to PhD study

Mandatory: One topic from this group (four taught units per topic), according to the student’s focus area

• Research Design for Business Process Management
• Research Design for Finance
• Research Design for Entrepreneurship
• Research Design for Sustainable Building
• Research Design for Sustainable Urban Design and Planning
• Research Design for Architectural Theory

General academic and technical skills
Electives: Students have to select 5 topics from this group (two taught units per topic)

• Use and types of Observations and Surveys
• Intervention and Evaluation Research Design
• Experimental Research Design
• Correlational Research Design
• Panel Data: Fixed and Random Effects
• Big Data Skills
• Literature Reviews
• Concepts of Time-Series Econometrics
• Inquiry by design
• Round table Experience of tutors I
• Round table Experience of tutors II
• Round table Experience of PhD students I
• Round table Experience of PhD students II

Personal and professional management skills
Mandatory (one taught unit per topic)

• Ethics
• Publication process
• International doctoral exchange / PhD network
• Project management
• Intrapersonal & Self-leadership Skills
• Interpersonal & Leadership Skills
• Written & Oral Communication
• Grant application process

Interactive, seminar style presentations and discussions

The course aims to develop a range of skills that help PhD candidates to be more effective in their dissertation research but also to work on a broader range of transferable and widely applicable skills that will be useful in their future lives and careers, qualifying them as competent researchers beyond the assembly and execution of their particular dissertations.
By imparting skills in research design and management, and an appreciation of modes of independent modes of insight acquisition, this module pursues high academic aims. It provides an understanding of the logic and procedures involved in the discovery and formation of knowledge, of the planned development, interpretation and sharing of evidence and findings, and the conception and architecture of research programs and projects in this pursuit. It presents specific personal andacademic competencies supporting this quest. Participants will learn to appreciate the structure and performance of successful research endeavours. They will acquire conceptual and technical skills needed for designing their own research approaches, styles and methodical constructs.

After completing the module, students will be able to

• appreciate the value of a sound research design and well constructed research project architecture
• independently conduct resarch design and method recherches and evaluate and select options assemble and test research designs for their own projects, evolving dynamic models
• capable of being optimised over time embark on a self-propelled path towards mastering a range of essential time, resource and other research management skills
• speak the language of research design and management, and converse reflectively with teams in house and internationally
• develop personal yet professional and continually evolving research styles and customise management and communication options responsibly devise research programs
• pursue their funding and establish their standing in the published research communities
• appreciate the range of research styles and cultures across the University of Liechtenstein and in wider research communities

Teaching aims are to

• provide an overview about current approaches to research design
• build abilities to evaluate research design cases from a diversity of fields
• impart an ability to develop the research design for their dissertation
• develop a broader understanding of and skills in research design across different topics and styles and inquiry
• nurture the ability to initiate, fund, manage, promote and publish projects
• help participants in their quest to become more self-motivated and autonomous
• assist in developing cooperative frames locally, and networks internationally
• build confidence in analytic and creative thought
• promote curiosity, inquisitiveness and originality in research.

The students will be assessed in this module through

• a seminar paper,
• the presentation and defence of the seminar paper,
• and their participation in class.

In the seminar paper the students will be asked to outline and discuss a potential research design for their dissertation. That way, the seminar paper builds on knowledge acquired in the course, and it serves to transfer this knowledge to the students’ individual PhD project. Attendance of all mandatory and selected classes as well as the presentations is expected; 80% attendance is required for a positive grade.

Just as the doctoral consortium, the summer school serves multiple purposes in the students' education: Whereas the doctoral consortium aims at presenting the own work to an international audience, the summer school is supposed to deepen the students' methodological skills. In addition, working together with professors and PhD students from abroad also contributes to developing the students' social and communicative skills in an international and intercultural environment.

In preparing their proposals and applications for a summer school, students will be assisted by lecturers of the Institute of Information Systems at the University of Liechtenstein. Accepted students will take part in the summer school. A reflection of the lessons learned at the summer school together with the lecturers is also part of the module.

The primary objective of the summer school is to get further insights into the research methods applied by the PhD students and to discuss evolving questions with other young scientists.

The students will be assessed in this module through:

• competitive selection process of the summer school
• specific mechanisms of the summer school

Module availability:
On application at an internationally renown summer school, such as organised e. g. by the European Research Center for Information Systems (ERCIS).

Just as the doctoral consortium, the summer school serves multiple purposes in the educational programme of the students: Whereas the doctoral consortium aims at presenting the own work in an international frame, the summer school intends to deepen methodological skills in a specific field of choice relevant to the PhD theses of the students. In addition, working together with professors and PhD-students from abroad also contributes to social and communicative skills of the students in an international and intercultural environment.

Doctorate entrepreneurship and management students participating in an international Ph.D. summer school study contemporary issues in research design and/or methodology.

The primary objective of the summer school is to get further insights into the research methods applied by the PhD students and to discuss evolving questions with other young scientists and leading experts in the field.

The students will be assessed in this module through:

• competitive selection process of the summer school
• specific mechanisms of the summer school

Module availability:
On application at an internationally renown summer school, such as organised e. g. by the Swiss National Science Foundation or Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis and Collection.

Research Methods in International Financial Services can be very different, depending on the specific research area of Banking, Finance and Taxation. This module description is developed for a student with a need for advanced methods in econometrics. For students with different needs appropriate courses will be choosen and credited.

• Principles of Estimation and Testing
• Limited Dependent Variable Methods
• Longitudinal Data Models
• Stationary Time Series Models
• Stochastic Trends and Co-Integration

Lecture and self-study; presentation and paper by students is possible.

The module "Research Methods in International Financial Services " aims at deepening the students' competences regarding knowledge in their research design.

• This course should help - based on research methods offered on the master's level - to apply advanced econometric research methods, currently used by the research community.
• This course helps the student to independently develop a research concept for specific research questions.
• This course helps students to discuss methodological issues with colleagues working in the same area.

Students will be able to:

• Have an advanced overview of econometric principles for cross-sectional, panel, and time-series data sets.
• Apply econometric techniques in the area of microeconomics, macroeconomics and finance.

The students will be assessed in this module through:

• Written exam or presentation and paper (about 4000 - 5000 words)

The module "Research Methods in Information and Process Management Science" aims at deepening the students' skills in research design. It focuses on pivotal issues of conducting and structuring research activities as part of information and process management research.

Subjects dealt with in the module comprise (but are not limited to):

• Introduction into design science
• Design science vs. behavioural science
• Rigour vs. relevance
• Design science in information systems research
• The design science research process
• Reviewing the literature
• Design science examples
• Design science challenges
• Theorizing in design science
• Publishing design science

• Lecture
• Self-study
• Presentation by students

Students successfully participating in the module will

• know how to explain the design science approach as related to 'traditional' approaches in research,
• be able to differentiate between major constructs and issues in information systems research, such as relevance, rigour, truth, and utility,
• know about the major contributions on design science published in information systems research,
• be able to structure the design science research process,
• be capable of conducting rigorous literature reviews as part of design science research,
• know about major evaluation methods,
• be aware of the role of theories in design science research, and
• know the major information systems outlets for publishing design science research.

The students will be assessed in this module through:

• Presentations
• Discussions

Besides a more in-depth knowledge in epistemology doctoral students in entrepreneurship and management research require an applicable base of research methods and tools.

The course will cover the following topics:
Epistemology in entrepreneurship and management research
Research design and the use of theoryResearch questions and hypotheses
Quantitative methods
Qualitative methods
Mixed method procedures
Transdisciplinary research

Participant centered learning approach consisting of individual paper development workshops

• The students will be able to clearly understand and communicate the epistemological underpinning of their research work, differentiate between different schools of thought, design research, processes corresponding to their research questions, select suitable qualitative and quantitative research methods, evaluate their own research with respect to validity, reliability and generalisability

• The students will be assessed in this module through:Paper; ready to be submitted to a scientific conference (e.g. AOM) or journal.

For all organizational details please get in touch with Dr. Ferdinand Thies (ferdinand.thies@uni.li).

The research proposal must include a description of the dissertation as a research agenda and of the methodical approach. In the colloquium on the research proposal, doctoral students shall present their dissertation project and provide reasons for their chosen approach.

Details are listed in the Implementing Provisions concerning the Doctorate Regulations

The supervisor and the co-supervisor decide on the acceptance of the research proposal and recommend a grade.

This module serves manifold competences: As a doctoral consortium it aims at deepening both, methodological and professional research skills of the students. In addition, it is designed to foster the international profile of their work.

By means of submitting their work to an internationally reknown doctoral consortium the students learn how to position themselves in a highly competitive environment.

Since successful applications are invited to be discussed by a selective academic committee the doctoral consortium also serves to further develop the communicative and social competences of the students.

Students' participating in a doctoral consortium arranged in the context of an internationally well-regarded information systems conference, therein share both the main contents of and progress in their own researches. Moreover, they benefit from listening to the other students' experiences and results and receive valuable feedback of the consortium chairs and student participants.

Students will be assisted by lecturers of the Institute of Information Systems at the University of Liechtenstein in preparing their proposal and application for the doctoral consortium. Accepted students will take part in the consortium. Also a reflection of the lessons learned at the consortium together with the lecturers at Liechtensetin is part of the module.

The primary objective of the doctoral consortium is to present and defend the PhD students' research in a competitive and international scientific environment.

The students will be assessed in this module through:

• Competitive Selection Process of the docotral consortium
• Research paper submitted to the doctoral consortium
• Assessment by the Professors discussing the proposal at the doctoral consortium

Module availability:
On application at an internationally renown doctoral consortium, e.g. at ICIS, International Conference on Information Systems; ECIS, European Conference on Information Systems; AMCIS, American Conference on Information Systems or ACIS, Australasian Conference on Information Systems.

The primary objective of the doctoral consortium or the International Conference Participation is to present and defend the PhD students' research in a competitive and international scientific environment.
Since successful applications are invited to be discussed by a selective academic committee this module also serves to further develop the communicative and social competences of the students.
Students' participating in this module arranged in the context of an internationally well-regarded doctoral consortium or a conference in International Financial Services receive critical comments and feedback on their research project by experienced faculty members and student participants. Moreover, they benefit from listening to the other students' experiences and results.

Preparation of paper and presentation

This module helps to enable the student

• to further intensify the existing knowledge and methodology needed for the dissertation project;
• to independently develop a research concept for specific research questions;
• to develop, analyze and synthesize new complex ideas;
• to develop a social, scientific and/or cultural progress for an academic or non-academic environment;
• to discuss methodological issues with colleagues working in the same area and also with laymen.

Students will be able to:

• Have an advanced and intensified overview on specific topics needed for the dissertation project;
• Develop their own research project;
• Apply the methodological structures of these specific topics for their dissertation project;
• Present, discuss and defend their research results to academics and make it understandable for laymen.

The students will be assessed in this module through:

• competitive selection process

Module availability:
On application at an internationally renown doctoral consortium or conference on International Financial Services.

This course is designed to give first year PhD Students an aid for their academic endeavour. Just like in Research Design, the focus lies on methodological competences. At the same time, however, this course also aims at techniques rather than design strategies. The objective is to provide core compentences on how to craft a scientific text properly. Due to the concept of peer-monitoring applied in this course also social competencies will be trained.

During the first year students will be working on their academic writing style, they will be made familiar with normative writing styles and ways to publish tackling various kinds of genres, and they will help and learn from each other through peer-monitoring activities. As a base sample texts will be used and the texts students will be producing will be worked on. The course is built on three pillars:

• Knowledge Management:
  Working with databases, literature management softwares, etc.
• Publishing:
  How to write and publish various genres: abstracts, research papers, articles, data commentaries, reviews, project proposals, formatting, etc.
• Peer-Mentoring:
  Giving and receiving feed-back, presenting and reviewing, considering peer-feedback, joint writing activities, etc.

Workshops, one-on-one and think-pair-share sessions, individual and guided e-learning.

Students will be acquainted with principles of academic writing, normative writing, publishing, and peer-mentoring.

By the end of the course they will be able to make use of academic vocabulary, they will be able to discuss texts, tables, charts, and figures, and they will be sensitised about their personal and academic command of the English language.

They will be familiar with reference management systems, working with databases, formatting written texts, and academic values.

They will know principles of certain academic genres, like abstracts, research papers, articles, data commentaries, reviews, project proposals, etc.

They will be able to give and consider peer-feed-back, present and review, and they will be able to carry out joint writing activities, etc.

• identify exemplary A-journal papers of your field
• provide own texts for review
• prepare and present reviews
• participate in text discussions
• prepare and present learning input