Lecture 11 Assignment Review

8/11/2019 Lecture 11 Assignment Review

1/33

Research Methods for

Business Management

(MOD001105)Module Leader: Dr Noah Karley

Email: [email protected] LAB322 Ext. 5739
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


2/33

Lecture 11

Assignment Review

Module Leader: Dr Noah Karley

Email: [email protected] LAB322 Ext. 5739
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


3/33

Teaching Objectives

At the end of this lecture/seminar you will befamiliar with:

Modules assignment.

Assignments structure.

Modules reading list.

Marking criteria.

3


4/33

Assignment

The assignment for this module consistsof 2 parts:

Part 1: Prepare a Project Poster (worth 20%)

Part 2: 3000 word research proposal (worth 80%of final mark)

444


5/33

Assignment These assignment tests your achievement of the following

learning outcomes:

Demonstrate a critical awareness of different research designsand respective methodologies relevant to academic andpractitioner researchers working within an international context.

Explain their chosen research question/hypothesis and research

objectives, and all the relevant elements contributing to aresearch proposal suitable to researching a contemporaryinternational business topic.

Critically evaluate the literature relevant to their research aims inorder to develop a conceptual framework or critical stance.

Act as an independent self-learner demonstrate the skillsnecessary to plan, organise, undertake and present aninternational business project.

55


6/33

Structure: Introduction

Consider the following structure:

1. Introduction

a) Title: initially this might be regarded as a workingtitle, and ideally should mirror closely the content ofthe document.

b) Background: This informs the reader of theproblem or situation and the context you areinterested in. 66


7/33

Structure: Introduction

c) Rationale for this study:

What is the research issue?

Why is it an issue?

Why is it an issue now?

What could this research shed light on?

d) Research aim, objectives, and researchquestions.

77


8/33

Structure: Literature Review

2. Literature review

This section will demonstrate your knowledge of

the literature and make a critical link with the

research question to be investigated. Students areexpected to critically review at least 6 sources to

underpin the study.

The literature should mostly rely on published

academic journal articles in the research area.

This critical activity should produce a conceptual

framework.88


9/33

Structure: Research Design and

Methodology

3. Research design and methodology

This section should provide a detailed rationale of how youintend to achieve your research objectives. You areexpected to address the following areas:

Type of investigation: Explain clearly whether yourresearch can be classified as an exploratory, descriptive orhypothesis testing study. Refer to the lecture notes andtextbook for details on each type.

Data collection method: Explain how you are going tocollect the data (e.g. postal questionnaire, telephoneinterview, focus group, etc) and why this fits the purpose ofyour research.

99


10/33


Methodology

Sampling method: Explain whether you plan touse a probability or non-probability samplingdesign and the specific sampling technique. Thestudy participants should be able to offer the righttype of information to enable you address theresearch problem.

Accessibility issues: what accessibility issues areyou likely to encounter when you collect the data?How are you going to manage the accessibilityissues? 1010


11/33


Methodology

Ethical issues: You must discuss any ethical issues that arerelevant to your research topic, participants, and method.Discuss how you are going to deal with the ethical issues.

Data analysis plan: how you intend to analyse the data youwill collect? This section must be consistent with theprevious section on data collection method and must bemindful of the nature of the data collected, whether this isquantitative or qualitative.

Research limitations: Define the limitations of the studythat you believe you may encounter and could be affect thequality, scope, or value of the research.

1111


12/33

Structure: Timetable and

References

4. Timetables and references Provide a chart on how you will use your available

time to complete your proposed research. This willprovide an indication of the viability of the

proposal. You will need to justify your plan.

The reference list at this stage need not belengthy, only sufficient to inform your proposal.

The list must include all the sources that were citedand consulted in writing the research proposal. Youmust use the Harvard Style of referencingrefer toappendix 1 of your textbook for details. 1212


13/33

Reading List

Bryman, A. and Bell, E. (2011). Business Research Methods. (3rd edn). Oxford: Oxford

University Press.

Easterby- Smith, M., Thorpe, R. Jackson, P. and Lowe, A. (2008). Management Research.

(3rd edn). London: Sage.

Keleman, M. and Rumens, N. (2008). An introduction to critical management research.

London: Sage.

Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2012). Research Methods for Business Students.

(6th edn). Harlow: Prentice Hall.

Sekaran, U. and Bougie, R. (2010). Research Methods for Business: A Skill Building

Approach. (5th edn). New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Wilson, J. (2010). Essentials of Business Research: A Guide to Doing Your Research Project.

London: Sage.

13


14/33

Word Limit

Word limit: 3000

Written assignments must not exceed the specified

maximum number of words.

All assignments which do so will be penalised.

The penalty will be the deduction of 10% of the maximum

marks available (i.e. 10%).

Assignments will not be accepted without a word count on

the cover sheet.

14


15/33

Submission Dates

Part 1- Poster: Between weeks 4-6 to TBA by TutorPart2: Research Proposal Essay. This assignment

must be received by no later than:

For Semester 1: 5pm on 6 January 2014

For Semester 2: TBA

For this module you are required to submit your Turnitin

15


16/33

Marking Criteria Marks

1. Does the working title mirror closely the content of the poster? Maximum 4%

2. Does the introductory part of the poster inform the reader of the problem or

situation and the context the student is interested in?

Maximum 4%

3. Does the poster inform the reader of the rationale of this study?

a.What is the research issue?

b.Why is it an issue?

c.Why is it an issue now?d. What could this research shed light on?

Maximum (a, b, c, d) 12%

a. max 3%

b. max 3%

c. max 3%d. max 3%

Assessment Form Coursework A (20%) Research Poster


17/33

Part 2: Dissertation proposal worth 80%

Coursework B is marked out of 100% but worth 80% of

the final mark for this module

Assessment Criteria Allocated Marks (%)

Development of research aims, objectives and

hypothesis/question

25

Appropriateness and rigour of research methods 20

Synthesis and analysis of initial literature on the

topic

20

Strength of anticipated findings and how they

relate to aims and objectives of study

15

Appropriateness of proposed dissertation

structure

10

Acknowledgement of sources and correct

referencing technique

5

Style/Grammar/Presentation 5

Total 100

Note: The marking scheme allows flexibility, and it is by no means exhaustive.


18/33

Guides

Writing is a creative process and a powerful wayto clarifying your thinking.

A report needs a clear structure that helps to

develop the storyline.

All the information should be readily accessible tothe reader.

Use a clear writing style free and check for spelling

and grammatical errors.

Be prepared to rewrite the first draft several

times.

Remember to check the assessment criteria.18


19/33

Guides

You need to pick a project topic that is feasible, which

means do-able in the short time that you have.

What is feasible?

Many student project proposals are initially over-

ambitious. They are often very wide-ranging in their

focus and could present significant problems for students

in collecting primary data.

19


20/33

Guides

The best projects are those where:

The topic is of particular interest to you.

You can easily collect informationthe

information is readily available or you can collectand analyse it easily, and within a short time

period.

The aim of the project is focused on a particular

aspect of a chosen topic.

20


21/33

Guides

Keep the following points in mind when

choosing your topic :

Is the topic of academic significance, and not

trivial?

Is the topic really manageable in the time

available? It is a common mistake to imagine

that you can cover far more than is actually

feasible, so keep a suitably narrow focus. Do not

ask too big a question. 21


22/33

Guides

Set your own system, generate stages:

Write the main topic in the middle of the page.

Jot down the other ideas that occur to you at other pointson the page:

as the page begins to fill, relationships between ideassuggest themselves and lines between the ideas may bedrawn.

this allows you to group the ideas into discrete but relatedchunks, which enables to form a section or a chapter.

Finish the writing session on a high point - if it is a complexsession you may forget the main idea.

Revise your work. Get people to read your work.22


23/33

Guides

Introduction should includes:

The research questions(s) and a clear statement of

research objectives.

Brief background and a guide to the storyline.

23


24/33

Guides

Introduction is not a literature review. It should be a

summary of existing evidence that motivates your specific,proposed work.

Start broad become increasingly specific.

End with a review, and broaden out to discuss potentialapplications of the proposed work

Topics to be addressed: whats been done; what hasnt;

what is needed and why; indicate your part or

contribution (scoping your domain).

24


25/33

Guides

Literature review purpose is:

To set your study in the wider context.

To show how your study supplements existing work.

You can engage with some or all of the following questions:

What previous research has already been done on this

topic?

Who did it, when and, perhaps, why?

What conclusions did previous researchers reach?

How relevant are these conclusions today generally and for

your own research?25


26/33

Guides

Methodology should help in understanding the

reliability and validity of methods, selected by youand includes:

Theoretical setting.

Participants in the sample. Materials.

Procedure.

26


27/33

Guides

The purpose of the methodology is to

define a problem, outline procedures that

the researcher plans to use in order to

learn more about the problem, and

identify possible variables that theresearcher may face during his or her

research.

27


28/33

Guides

How to Structure the Methodology Chapter

Section I:Philosophy

This will deal with the philosophy whichunderpins your research. You will set out theresearch paradigm here.

Section II: Approach

Here you will need to explain the context and

theoretical/empirical framework of your research,its limitations and specifically answer the w-questions, which include How, Why, What Whereand When? 28


29/33

Guides

Section III: Strategy and Research Design

In this section you will outline how you are

planning to collect your data.

You will have to explain your choice for using the

particular methods, such as online surveys, phonesurveys, face-to-face-interviews and so on.

29


30/33

Guides

Section IV: Data Collection and Analysis Methods

You have to explain how you are planning to collect thedata (by what means) and then explain the analysis tools

you will use. If you use software tools then you will have to

say what these are and why you have to chose to use these

particular ones.

In this section you have to explain very clearly how you are

planning to arrive at your findings and state clearly why

they should be reliable and how they will answer yourresearch questions or test the hypotheses on which your

research is based.

30


31/33


32/33

Guides

32


33/33

References

Gay, L. R. Mills, G. E. and Airasian. P. W. (2008).Educational Research: Competencies for

Analysis and Applications. Harlow: Prentice

Hall.

Saunders, M. Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A.

(2012). Research Methods for BusinessStudents. Harlow: Prentice Hall.

333333

Lecture 11 Assignment Review

Documents

Transcript of Lecture 11 Assignment Review