A major part of your DScIT program is the completion of a high-quality, doctoral-level research project. The program has been carefully designed to ensure you have the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve this task. The research components/courses include the following 6 courses:

• ITEC 7110 Research for Decision Making
• ITEC 7120 Statistical Analysis for Decision Making
• ITEC 7130 Advanced Research for Decision Making
• ITEC 7140 Qualitative Analysis for Decision Making
• ITEC 7150 Research Design Proposal
• ITEC 8900 Doctoral Research Project

Through these courses, you will learn about conducting a doctoral-level research project that will add to the body of knowledge. The process of gaining knowledge and skills to write your final research project is deliberate and delivered in an incremental format throughout the program. By the time you reach ITEC 8900 (Doctoral Research project), you will be armed with all the knowledge and skills essential to complete your research project.

Research Courses & Sequence

ITEC 7110 Research for Decision Making

Covers the elements of research design, this course utilizes common methods to conduct research for decision-making within organizations. Research design and method are emphasized.

Learning Outcomes
Upon the successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Identify the selection of a research approach
• Identify and explain the approaches to research design
• Create and write a review of literature
• Identify and develop the research topic
• Explain the use of theory

ITEC 7120 Statistical Analysis for Decision Making

The course emphasizes statistics to solve management problems for decision-making. Research design and method are emphasized.

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Think critically with respect to quantitative information
• Apply appropriate data collection and quantitative analysis methods to solve real-world problems.
• Interpret descriptive and inferential statistics
• Use statistical analysis tools to engage in analyzing data

ITEC 7130 Advanced Research for Decision Making

This course covers advanced multivariate statistics for decision-making. Topics include multivariate analysis of variance, principal components, and factor analysis, among others. Research design and method are emphasized. Research design and method are emphasized.

Learning Outcomes
Upon the successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Identify appropriate research design and methods for decision-making.
• Explain the fundamental concepts of multivariate analysis.
• Construct proper multivariate analysis models.
• Apply exploratory and confirmatory multivariate methods properly.
• Use statistical and analytical software correctly

ITEC 7140 Qualitative Analysis for Decision Making

The course emphasizes qualitative research methods to solve management problems for decision-making.

Learning Outcomes
Upon the successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Identify and discuss the five major qualitative research methods.
• Comprehend the scope of applied qualitative research in information systems.
• Identify and describe instances where a qualitative research plan is appropriate to investigate a research problem or opportunity
• State a research problem valid to a qualitative study, including the background and significance.
• Demonstrate the ability to formulate a good purpose and research question.
• Develop and present an appropriate qualitative research plan for investigating a problem in the field of information systems.
• Produce a qualitative research proposal that is free of errors and adheres to accepted principles of style.

ITEC 7150 Research Design Proposal

Students will identify and develop components of their research design proposal. Topics include a problem statement, the purpose of the study, research questions/hypotheses, literature review, proposed research design methodology, protecting the rights of human subjects/IRB, data collection procedure, and data analysis.

Learning Outcomes
Upon the successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Identify and create the key components of a research proposal
• Demonstrate the ability to write a problem statement, the purpose of the study, research questions/hypotheses
• Demonstrate the ability to develop and conduct literature reviews
• Identify and create a proposed research methodology that includes research design
• Describe the important concepts related to using human subjects in scientific research
• Develop the skills to objectively review and write a scientific critique of a colleague's proposal

ITEC 8900 Doctoral Research Project

The doctoral research project is the last course in the program. Students will develop a research project that focuses on the creation of new knowledge.

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Design and conduct independent research that generates new knowledge.
• Write a formal research report to include the introduction section, statement of the problem/opportunity identified, the purpose of the study, literature review, the research methodology, findings interpretations, discussion/implications of findings, conclusion, limitations, and recommendations for future research.
• Develop a formal presentation of the research project to engage in collegial discussion with peers and faculty.