Course number

G-ECON31 7J101 SE39 G-ECON31 7J101 SE43 G-ECON31 7J101 SE44

Course title(and course Master Thesis Designtitle inEnglish)

Master Thesis Design

Target year

Instructor's
name, job title,and departmentof affiliation

2nd year students or above Number of credits 2

Days and periods Mon.5

Class style

SeminarGraduate School of Economics
Professor,KUROSAWA TAKAFUMI
Graduate School of Economics
Professor,TANAKA AKIRA
Graduate School of Economics
Professor,HISANO SHUJI
Graduate School of Economics
Professor,YANO GO
Graduate School of Economics
Professor,WATANABE JUNKO
Graduate School of EconomicsAssociate Professor,WANG, Tao
Graduate School of Economics
Associate Professor,IVINGS，Steven
Graduate School of Economics
Program-Specific Senior Lecturer,Ma Teng
Graduate School of Economics
Program-Specific Assistant Professor,HATA SACHIKO

Year/semesters 2023/Second semester

Language of instruction English[Overview and purpose of the course]
In this course, students are instructed in the basic academic skills necessary for writing a master's thesis, suchas research design, survey and analysis methods, and how to set research questions (how to formulatequestions appropriate to the research purpose and methodology). For students in the GLOCAL program, thiscourse is mandatory and it is not available for students from other programs. [*GLOCAL Students cannot
complete "Master Thesis Research" without taking this class and earning credits].
This course consists of individual research guidance for each student supervised by each faculty member, andclasses and workshops conducted jointly by multiple faculty members. Students will receive guidance basedon their individual research topics and plans, as well as learn more general research methods and know-how,and how to write papers.
[Course objectives]
The goal is for students to be able to apply the content of this class to their thesis writing in a practical way,so that they can independently conceive and prepare their master's thesis based on the content of the class,including basic skills and knowledge about research methods and thesis writing.
[Course schedule and contents]
1.Oct. 2 [Lecture #1] Introduction: What is a research plan?
2.Oct.16 [Lecture #2] Research design: methods and research questions
3.Oct.23 [GLOCAL Master thesis workshop #1]: Deciding tentative theme and tentative supervisor (KyotoUniversity faculty)
4.Oct.30/TBD [Individualized session #1] Individualized advice for the initial/tentative research plan
5.Nov.6 [Lecture #3] Approaches & Methods 1: Historical Approach
6.Nov.13 [Lecture #4] Approaches & Methods 2: Management & Organizational Studies
7.Nov.20 [Lecture #5] Approaches & Methods 3: Field Work & Interviewing
8.Nov.27 [GLOCAL Master thesis workshop #2a]: Presentations & discussion on the outcomes of theContinue to Master Thesis Design(2)↓↓↓

Master Thesis Design(2)literature review
9.Dec.4 [GLOCAL Master thesis workshop #2b]: Presentations & discussion on the outcomes of theliterature review
10.Dec.11/TBD [Individualized session #2] Personal guidance using a research grant application form.
11.Dec. 18 [Lecture #6] Approaches & Methods 4: Research integrity; avoiding plagiarism; writing tips
12.Dec. 25/TBD [Individualized session #3] Personal guidance to finalize research topic
13.Jan.15 [GLOCAL Master thesis workshop #3a] Presentations & discussion on the research plan;
Finalization of academic advisor at KU
14.Jan.22 [GLOCAL Master thesis workshop #3b] Presentations & discussion on the research plan;
Finalization of academic advisor at KU
15.TBD (Feb or Mar.) [GLOCAL Supervisor's session] Four-way meeting with faculty advisors as chosen by
UB and UoG to take place online and following the workshop format.
*The exact contents of the above are subject to minor variation.
[Course requirements]
This course is only available to GLOCAL Program students.
[Evaluation methods and policy]
Grading will be based on the following two criteria: 1) acquisition of basic knowledge of research design,
research methods, procedures necessary for writing papers, and rules on research fairness, and 2) ability toapply the knowledge to one's own research.
The evaluation will be based on the research theme, subject matter, and methods selected by the student, andthe general standards and norms in the relevant field will be applied.
Method of grading
1) Assignment and performance in workshops (50%)2) Proposal for master's thesis or first draft of master's thesis (50%)[Textbooks]
1.Turabian, Kate L. A manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations: Chicago style forstudents and researchers. University of Chicago Press, 2018.
2.Neville, Colin. The Complete Guide to Referencing and Avoiding Plagiarism, 2nd edition, Open UniversityPress, 2016

[References, etc.]（Reference books）
References books will be introduced in class. The following is a partial list.
1.Lipson, Charles, A Quick Guide to Citation Styles--MLA, APA, Chicago, the Sciences, Professions, andMore. University of Chicago Press, 2018.
2.Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, Joseph Bizup and William T. FitzGerald, The
Craft of Research, Fourth Edition, University of Chicago Press, 2016.
3.Creswell, John W. and J. David Creswell, Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods
Approaches, Fifth Edition. SAGE Publications, 2017
4.Murray, Rowena, How to write a thesis, McGraw-Hill Education, 2017
5.Saunders, Mark N.K. and Philip Lewis, Doing Research in Business and Management: an essential guide toplanning your project, 2nd Edition, Pearson Education, 2011
Continue to Master Thesis Design(3)↓↓↓

Master Thesis Design(3)[Study outside of class (preparation and review)]
Instructions will be given in class and in individual faculty advising sessions.
（Other information (office hours, etc.)）
Please visit KULASIS to find out about office hours.
*Please visit KULASIS to find out about office hours.