ME-640 From idea to paper (Autumn 2026)

Upon successful completion of the course, PhD candidates will:

• Understand data preparation, description, and analysis using appropriate models based on data characteristics.
• Be able to articulate and justify their research aims, pose research questions, and develop arguments for data analysis.
• Learn to analyze individual behavior within the context of national conditions.
• Be able to formulate specific hypotheses.
• Be capable of writing regression models, expressions, or equations to describe effects.
• Analyze hierarchical data using relevant models, focusing on the hierarchy of individuals within countries.
• Gain an understanding of the antecedents of the chosen phenomenon.
• Understand the consequences of the chosen phenomenon.
• Be able to develop a structured extended abstract or research outline based on their analysis.

This course is only given on-demand in the PhD programme.

The main course objectives are to enable students to develop a solid quantitative research design, conduct quantitative data analysis, and prepare their work for potential presentation at a research conference. The specific goals include:

• Choosing a relevant topic
• Designing a rigorous research plan
• Setting an engaging hook for the study
• Constructing a well-reasoned argument and specifying hypotheses
• Effectively integrating theory with methodology
• Performing statistical analysis to describe data
• Conducting statistical analysis at both the individual and firm levels
• Analyzing data that is nested across multiple levels (micro, meso, and macro)
• Discussing and elaborating on the results of the analysis
• This structure will help ensure a comprehensive understanding of the research process.