Cardiff Metropolitan University London School of Commerce MODULE TITLE: BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES PROGRAMME: CMET BABS4 SEMESTER: Semester Three/ Four ACADEMIC YEAR PERIOD: November 2016 – March 2017 LECTURER SETTING ASSESSMENT: Roger Telfer DATE ASSESSMENT SET AND LOADED ON TO STUDENT PORTAL: 23/01/2017 DATE ASSESSMENT TO BE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED: 23/02/2017 SUBMISSION METHOD/MODE: Online via Turnitin --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Assessment Type: [Assignment] "Research Proposal" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- Indicative Assessment Requirements for the Module;- Individual Assignment and supporting documentation (Equivalent to an overall maximum of 3000 words in total). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- Maximum Word Limit and Assessment weighting for each aspect within the assessment: • Individual Research Proposal (3000 words); Assessment Weighting 40%. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------BRM Assignment Select a research topic of your choice based on a business issue and design a research proposal for this topic. This proposal should not exceed 3000 words. Task Based on the selected topic, you are required to: • Develop a research question and an appropriate set of research objectives • Justify the choice of research topic including the background and context of the research • Develop a critical literature review of the research topic • Design a research methodology based on the topic selected. This would require you to develop a research design and justify your choice as appropriate. Your research design should include the following: Research Philosophy (e.g., positivism, interpretivism, realism and/or pragmatism) Research Approach (inductive or deductive) Research strategy • Discuss and justify the data collection methods – type of data, sampling method and target group • Discuss the data analysis procedure to be adopted • Discuss the possible ethical issues that need to be considered in this research • Discuss any possible limitations to this research • Support with relevant references (Harvard format) • Provide a research plan (timescale) In your data collection and data analysis section, discuss how you would collect primary data through the use of one or a combination of methods of data collection methods e.g. questionnaire, interview, focus groups, observation, etc., and how you would analyse this data. The above requirements are indicated as the required areas of focus for you to articulate your individual responses. The submission of your work for assessment should be organised and clearly structured in the order outlined below. Suggested Structure - Research Proposal 1. Research Proposal Title – Reflect as accurately as possible the content of your chosen topic. 2. Abstract – This is a brief statement of what you are intending to research. It should be no more than 150 words. This also needs, in brief, to describe the proposal content. 3. Introduction • Relevance of the Proposed Research to Business Research • Place the proposed study in context • Justification of the chosen topic • Value of this research 4. Research Question(s) and Research Objectives• The research question would normally be one overall question, but, exceptionally, a small number (up to 3) question(s) that the research process will address. • Research objectives (usually 4-5 different research objectives) must be clear statements that identify what the research process seeks to achieve. • Both the research question(s) and research objectives must relate to the literature review 5. Literature Review • Clear and precise knowledge that relates to the research topic. • Explains how the proposal relates to the academic debate which has been identified as part of the literature review. • Demonstrates a link between previous work and current work that has been done in your field of research interest. • Highlights in the literature review where your research question(s)/objectives came from. 6. Method This has to relate to the research questions and research objectives and shows how they will be achieved. Your method consists of the following parts: (1) Research design – relates to the research opinion (philosophies, approaches, strategies, choices, time horizon). You are expected to make strong justifications in support of your chosen research design. (2) Data collection – relates to the last phase of the research – the techniques and procedures. Identify how specifically the data will be collected (i.e. questionnaire, focus group, etc...). You are expected to provide the advantages and disadvantages of the various data collection methods and select the most appropriate data collection method(s). (Your chosen method (1) Research design and (2) Data collection must relate to the purpose of your study.) (3) Ethics considerations (4) Validity and Reliability issues (5) Resource Requirements and (6) A Time plan – perhaps in the form of a Gantt chart 7. References 8. Appendix (if required) The instructions below will provide you with some more, hopefully helpful, advice Research Proposal Title: The title is to create interest and reflect seriousness and relevance. Avoid vague and sweeping phrases covering broad areas of subjects. Endeavour to be clear, specific and precise. Remember that a title, brief as it may be, needs to be faithful to the contents of the research.Abstract: This is a brief statement of what you are intending to research. It should be no more than 1-2 paragraphs. This needs to describe the proposal content. Think of this as an executive summary. Introduction: You need to define the problem. Evidence of analytical thinking, argument analysis, theory application, and data management analysis is required as part of research. Remember to emphasis: • Relevance of the Proposed Research to Business Research • Place the proposed study in context • Justification of the chosen topic • Value of this research Research question and objectives: This is to form the heart of the research proposal, creating interest and raising queries while serving to discipline and monitor thinking. Good research questions should be clear, specific, and answerable. The research objectives will comprise a general statement on the purpose, intention, or desire outcome of your research project. Please remember: • There must be 1 research question (exceptionally up to 3) and an appropriate set of objectives • The research questions and objectives are linked to your Literature review. Literature review: This is designed to situate your research project in a scholarly tradition, acknowledging the contributions made by other scholars and/or practitioners while highlighting the innovative approach of your project, which is expected to shed a new light on the subject or fill a gap in the available literature on it. A critical survey (or critique) of the literature in the research area will also help you define or single out a major work, theory or school of thought you could use or build. (A conceptual or theoretical framework) Research method(s) used: This is to inform the reader how you intend to proceed regarding data (based on what you need, where the data are located, how to get them, what to do with them). The two main methodologies in this connection are Qualitative and Quantitative. Your method consists of two parts: (1) Research design – relates to the research onion (philosophies, approaches, strategies, choices, time horizon). You are expected to make strong justifications in support of your chosen research design. (2) Data collection – relates to the last phase of the research (techniques and procedures). Identify how specifically the data will be collected (i.e. questionnaire, focus group, etc...). You are expected to provide the advantages and disadvantages of the various data collection methods and select the most appropriate data collection method(s). Module Learning Outcomes to be assessed: • Understand the scientific process, its application in economics and business, and its utilisation in the problem-solving approach to social work practice. • Demonstrate the skills necessary to assess and interpret existing research as a prelude to carrying out further investigation. • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a range of research designs and their appropriate utilisation by social workers.• Conceptualise a problem; formulate hypotheses and objectives; design a research strategy, collecting, analysing, and interpreting both quantitative and qualitative data, including commonly encountered statistical procedures. • Understand the theoretical principles underlying inferential and descriptive statistics. • Analyse datasets appropriately using SPSS. • Engage in critical thinking when reading and comprehending research articles. • Choose the most appropriate statistical analyses, interpret the results, and write up the results accurately and completely.Marking scheme Business Research Methodologies Criterio n Maximu m marks Marks awarded 1 Introduction Background and academic context Definition of research topic Research question(s) and its relationship to the topic Research objectives Relation of research objectives to the research question(s) Relation of research objectives to the research aim 15 2 Literature Review Range of relevant sources selected The discussion of the literature reviewed The theoretical base established via the Literature Review The identification of the "gap" 35 3 Research Methodology Choice of research philosophy/appropriateness to the Research Objectives and justification Choice of research approach and research strategy/ appropriateness to the Research Objectives Data collection methods Appropriateness of the data collection methods Sampling discussion Data analysis procedures 35 4 Ethics; validity and reliability issues; resources issues; time plan 10 5 Presentation and Referencing 5 Total 100ASSIGNMENT MARKING CRITERIA MARK 29 or less 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 – 59 60 - 69 70 + CONTENT: Has the question been answered? The Topic Literature review and methodology are appropriate. Vague, random, unrelate d material Some mention of the issue, but a collection of disparate points Barely answers the question – just reproduc es what knows about the topic Some looseness/ Digression s Well focused Highly focused TOPIC KNOWLEDGE Is there evidence of having read widely and use of appropriate and up to date material to make a case? No evidence of reading. No use of theory – not even hinted at implicitly . No evidence of reading. An implicit hint at some knowledge of theory, etc. No evidence of reading. Very basic theories mentione d but not develope d or well used. Some reading evident, but confined to core texts. Good reading. Good range of theories included. Excellent reading. Well chosen theories. UNDERSTANDING & SYNTHESIS Are ideas summarized rather than being reproduced, and are they interrelated with other ideas? No theory included. Vague assertions /poor explanatio ns. Long winded descripti ons of theory. Some long winded sections. Some quotations , but stand alone. Some interconnectio ns. Good summary of theory. Good use of quotatio ns that flow with narrative . Good interconnecti ons. Succinct, effective summarie s of theory. Excellent choice and threading of quotation s into argument. Good counterpo ising of a range of perspectiv es. APPLICATION Does it show appropriate use of theory in a practical situation? No examples No/ limited/ inappropri ate examples Few examples Uneven examples Good examples Excellent range of examples.ANALYSIS Does it identify the key issues, etc in a given scenario, proposal or argument? Vague assertion s about issues. Largely descriptiv e with no identificat ion and analysis of central issues. Limited insight into issues. Some good observatio ns. Good, detailed analysis. Comprehe nsive range of issues identified and discussed fully. EVALUATION & RECOMMENDATIO NS Does it critically assess material? Are there workable and imaginative solutions? No evaluatio n. Uncritical acceptanc e of material. Some evaluatio n but weak. Little insight. Good interpreta tion. Some but limited sophisticat ion in argument. Good critical assessme nt. Independ ent thought displayed . Full critical assessmen t and substantia l individual insight. REFERENCING Thorough and accurate citation and referencing No referenci ng No referencin g Limited/ poor referenci ng Some inconsiste ncies in referencin g Appropri ate referenci ng Appropria te referencin g PRESENTATION Logical and coherent structure to argument and effective presentation No structure apparent . Poor presentat ion. Poor structure. Poor presentati on. Acceptab le, but uneven structure . Reasonab le presentat ion. Reasonabl e structure. Good presentati on. Good argument . Well presente d material. Excellent argument. Very effective presentati on format.