HOLMES INSTITUTE FACULTY OF HIGHER EDUCATION HOLMES INSTITUTE FACULTY OF HIGHER EDUCATION POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM PROPOSED SUBJECT OUTLINE FOR SEM 1 2017 INTAKE HI6008 Business Research Holmes Institute is committed to providing the highest quality education in a dynamic, student-centred learning environment. Holmes Institute fosters in its students rational thought, intellectual integrity and social responsibility. www.holmes.edu.au SUBJECT OVERVIEW & RATIONALE HI6008 Business Research seeks to engage students in exploration of the entire business research process and how to plan, organise and carry out own business research project. The entire business research process is investigated in a great detail from defining a suitable business research question, conducting thorough literature review, selecting appropriate research methodology to collect and analyse data, and to write the research paper. Ethics in business research is also addressed. STUDENT ASSESSMENT ASSESSMENT TYPE DUE DATE WEIGHT LEARNING OUTCOMES Individual Assessment 1 Literature Review Week 6 30% 1, 2, 3, 5 Individual Assessment 2 Research Proposal Week 12 50% 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Individual Assessment 3 Individual Reflective Journal Week 13 20% 1, 2 ,3 ,4 ,6, 7 ASSESSMENT POLICY To be eligible to pass this subject, students must complete all forms of assessment and demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes. All assignments must be submitted electronically using a word processor, uploaded to Blackboard via SafeAssign. The assignment cover sheet must include the student/s name, number, subject code and subject name, subject lecturer’s name, assignment due date and time of submission. Submission deadlines are strictly enforced and late submission incurs penalties of 5 (five) % of the assessment value per calendar day unless an extension and/or special consideration has been granted by the Subject Coordinator prior to the assessment deadline. Unless an extension and/or special consideration has been granted by the Subject Coordinator prior to the assessment deadline, no assessments are accepted after 14 calendar days of the due date or the end of the trimester for assessments due later in a trimester. STANDARD GRADING SYSTEM AND DISTRIBUTION GRADE LETTER RANGE High Distinction HD 80% and above Distinction D 70 – 79% Credit CR 60 – 69% Pass P 50 – 59% Fail NN 0-45% (did not meet the standard required according to the learning outcomes in the Subject Guide ) Faculty Pass* FP 46 – 49% (awarded by Board of Examiners) Supplementary Exam Granted (a temporary grade) NS Supplementary examination granted Deferred Exam (a temporary grade) ND Officially Deferred examination Fail NA Student did not submit any work according to the schedule in the Subject Guide Result Withheld RW Additional assessment and/or work required Result Withheld WH Outstanding fees or non-return of Holmes Institute materials * This grade is sometimes referred to as a conceded pass at other institutions Explanation of Letter Grade HD Outstanding work which exhibits sophisticated understanding and critical synthesis, analysis and evaluation of the subject matter. While the work utilizes opinions of others, judgements about the value of the subject matter are made and drawn together in an organized whole. Gaps in the subject matter might also be identified and the implications discussed. D Substantial work of high quality, which demonstrates a clear understanding of the subject matter, in which the relationship between the constituent elements are identified clearly and discussed with some level of critical analysis. The work also applies abstract ideas in concrete situations. CR Sound and competent work, which demonstrates a reasonable but not complete grasp of the subject matter. The work utilizes recall and paraphrases the work of others concerning the subject matter. Some basic level of critical analysis is evident. Originality in the work is rarely evident. P Work that demonstrates a satisfactory engagement with the subject matter such that the student is said to have a general understanding of the field. Provides an adequate basis for further study. NN Did not meet the learning objective of the subject VIEWING STUDENT GRADES Results including the final grade can be viewed via the Grade Centre on Blackboard. Results for all assessments are published within two weeks of the due date of the assessment and the final examination. Students who wish to appeal their mark for a specific assessment are advised to follow the procedures outlined in the Student Handbook. PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT Holmes Institute view any forms of academic misconduct as most serious offences. Academic misconduct in any form during an examination is not tolerated and will be dealt with according to the policies and procedures set out in the Holmes Institute Student Handbook (located on Blackboard in the Student General information Subject: HE-General Study Information (HGEN_HE). Plagiarism occurs when one uses another person’s ideas or manner of expressing them and passes them off as one’s own work by failing to give appropriate acknowledgement (that is, referencing the source). Any instances of plagiarism will be dealt with promptly). It is important that student reference their work appropriately. The Faculty of Higher Education at Holmes Institute uses the Harvard style of referencing. A detailed guide to referencing can be found in the Student Handbook and Resource Centres. It is expected that you will be familiar with the Harvard style of referencing. USE OF BLACKBOARD Holmes Institute uses Blackboard as its online teaching platform and all students enrolled have access to Blackboard to view and download their lecture material, grades, important announcements on their subjects and discussion rooms for selected subjects. Please note that it is the student’s responsibility to check Blackboard on a regular basis. It is expected that students will have viewed lecture materials and additional readings before class. All students are advised to familiarize themselves with the use of Blackboard. Guides to Blackboard are available in the Resource Centre on each campus. Should you have difficulties accessing and/or using Blackboard, please contact your lecturer or the Holmes Institute Blackboard Helpdesk on: [email protected]. USE OF RESOURCE CENTER AND PROQUEST For most subjects, students are expected to engage in additional research. Textbooks and teaching materials available in the Resource Centre will be of use here. In addition, current students have access to a range of electronic academic journals via Proquest, which is accessible once you log into Blackboard. Should you require any assistance with the use of Proquest and/or online research, please contact your lecturer and/or the Resource Centre staff on your campus. STUDY SKILLS & ACADEMIC SUPPORT Students who have difficulties with their studies and/or specific forms of assessment should contact their lecturer/tutor or Higher Education Coordinator on campus. Holmes Institute also offers regular Academic Support, which is free for any student enrolled. Students with insufficient academic progress are required to attend regular Academic Support sessions. Academic Support sessions are timetabled each trimester. DETAILED INFORMATION ON SUBJECT ASSESSMENTS Item Due date Weighting Length Individual Assignment 1 Literature Review Week 6 30% 2000 to 2500 words Individual Assessment 2 Research Proposal Week 12 50% 1500 to 2000 words Individual Assessment 3 Individual Reflective Journal Week 13 20% 1000 to 1500 words Assessment topic: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Social Networks in Business ASSESSMENT TASKS Assessment 1 Literature Review - Individual Assignment (2000 to 2500 words) For this assessment, students are expected to demonstrate their understanding of the extant, academic literature related to an approved, business topic. In consultation with their lecturer, students need to decide on a business-related topic/concept. Students need to select approximately eight to twelve (8-12), but at least three (3), peer-reviewed articles or comparable sources (online resource can be accessed using ProQuest or Google Scholar) that are related to the topic (as the basis of their literature review). In the context of their chosen topic, students need to review the articles and sources selected, i. e. read and critically analyse (compare and contrast) the literature. In doing so, students are required to discuss the key ideas/arguments put forward by authors, identify communalities/similarities, differences and conclusions drawn by different authors. Based on this analysis and discussion, students are expected to point out potential gaps in the literature that will form the basis of Assessment 2, the research proposal. Marking criteria of the literature review include: the quality and currency of the literature selected; the student’s ability to compare and contrast author’s arguments/viewpoints and identify gaps in the existing literature in the context of the chosen business topic; the demonstrated ability to use Harvard referencing. Assessment 1: Marking Criteria: Marking Criteria’s Marks Literature review scope and objective 5 Comparative Analysis 10 Quality and currency of articles and sources used 5 Gaps identified and conclusions drawn 8 Use of Harvard Referencing 2 TOTAL MARKS 30 Assessment 2 Business Research Proposal - Individual Assignment (1500 to 2000 words) For this assessment, students are expected to present a written research proposal that is based on the literature review (Assessment 1) and demonstrates their understanding of business research/research paradigm. Based on their literature review, students are required to write a business research proposal outlining the details of the proposed research project that addresses the gaps identified in the literature. Derived from the business topic, the proposal needs to include clearly state research questions (primary and secondary), and provide a solid research methodology that supports the feasibility of the research project Marking criteria of the research proposal include: the justification of the research questions that operationalize the research topic; the demonstration of a detailed research methodology addressing research instrument, sample size and sampling approach, research location/s and schedule as well as providing a critical assessment of the limitations of the methodology and the expected outcome of the research project. Assessment 2: Marking Criteria: Marking Criteria’s Marks Research Project Introduction and justification 5 Research Questions and justification 15 Research Methodology 30 TOTAL MARKS 50 Assessment 3: Individual Reflective Journal – Individual Assignment (1000-1500 words) For this assessment, students are expected to write a weekly journal over the duration of the 12-week teaching period that documents a critical analysis of their learning process. In the journal students need to reflect/review how they have progressed with the learning goals related to assessments 1 and 2. Students need to write their individual reflective journal concurrently to performing assessment tasks 1 and 2, i.e. from the first week of the subject. For each week, students need to make journal entries that provide a reflection of their ‘journey’ of gaining, and applying knowledge of the research paradigm. For each week students should reflect and compare the theoretical knowledge with what they apply into practice. As assessment 1 and 2 are completed, students should clearly identify learning goals achieved. Assessment 3: Marking Criteria: Marking Criteria’s Marks Introduction and Reflective Journal Scope 5 Critically and depth of learning reflections reflective analysis 10 Conclusion 5 TOTAL MARKS 20 SUBJECT RESOURCES Prescribed Textbook (compulsory) Prescribed text: Bryman, A. and Bell, E. (2015), Business Research Methods, (Fourth Edition), UK, Oxford University Press. Recommended Reading - Zikmund, W. G. (2012), Business Research Methods, (9th edn), USA, Cengage - Sherri L. Jackson (2015), Research Methods and Statistics; Critical Thinking Approach, (5th edn), USA, Cengage. - William, T., James, P. and Arora, K. (2015), Research Methods: The Essential Knowledge Base, (2nd edn), USA, Cengage