MBM7552 - Business Research

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Formulate a critical rationale for a researchable topic with appropriate research aims and objectives.
Critically situate the research proposal in relation to existing academic and industry-based literature, and other relevant sources.
Critically justify an appropriate methodology and research method(s) needed to support the research proposal.
Identify, develop and apply theoretical frameworks for data collection and analysis.
Demonstrate appropriate planning for implementing the research proposal, for securing access to data and for gaining ethical approval.
Communicate logically and effectively a coherent and critically justified research proposal.

Content:

The module will introduce the principles of social science research and key business, management and marketing research methodologies. Sessions will include a range of qualitative and quantitative approaches and techniques, including survey, case study, focus groups and statistical analysis. The module will cover the process of research design, proposal writing for a study that includes an element of primary research, gaining ethical clearance and communicating research ideas through a poster presentation.
It is anticipated that research project will also build students’ in depth knowledge and understanding in one of five core subject areas (K1-5: External Environment, People and Organisations, key Functional Specialism, Customer Orientation and Strategy) depending on the area of their interest.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The sessions will be organised in mainly 2.5 hour teaching blocks. Lectures will deliver core theoretical frameworks followed by workshops on key elements of the research proposal. The course will allow for students to develop individual research proposals through one-to-one tutorial feedback. It will also provide the opportunity for students to present and gain feedback on the planned proposal through their delivery of a poster presentation.

Lectures
Contact hours: 16
Intended Group size: Whole cohort

Workshops
Contact hours: 8
Intended Group size: Whole cohort
,br> Guided independent study
Contact hours: 176
Intended Group size: 1

Further details relating to assessment
Students will gain feedback on their research proposal through giving a 10 minute poster presentation.
Students must make a substantitive attempt in both components of assessment in order to pass the module and proceed to the dissertation.
Students who do not attain an aggregated pass mark (50) will need to re-sit the failed component(s). 1 re-sit opportunity is provided for each failed component to achieve an overall pass mark for this module.

Other relevant matters
Students will be required to gain ethical approval for their projects in line with the University’s responsibility for ensuring that research conducted by its staff and research students abides by accepted standards of conduct and ethics. The application process is integrated within the content of the module. The process is coordinated by the Module Leader / lecturer and requires signing ethical approval documentation before any project can be actioned. The process follows key principles of the published University Code of Research Conduct and Ethics.

Assessment:

001 Poster Presentation 10 minutes end of scheduled teaching 10%
002 Research Proposal 1 x 3000 words end of module 90%


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