STUDENT NAME: PROGRAMME: Business Management Level 5 STUDENT NUMBER: YEAR: 2016 -2017 GROUP: Level 5 Module Number: BRM5035 Term: 2 Module Title: Research Business Tutor Responsible For Marking This Assignment: Sofia Fernandes Module Leader: Sofia Fernandes Assignment Hand Out Date: 14/03/2017 Hand In Date: 14/05/2017 ASSIGNMENT TITLE: Research Business Proposal - 50% of overall grade FEEDBACK DATE(Return of assignments to students): One month after submission SECTION A: SELF ASSESSMENT (TO BE COMPLETED BY THE STUDENT) In relation to each of the set assessment criteria, please identify the areas in which you feel you have strengths and those in which you need to improve. Provide evidence to support your self-assessment with reference to the content of your assignment. STRENGTHS AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT I certify that this assignment is a result of my own work and that all sources have been acknowledged: Signed:______________________________________________ Date___________________________ SECTION B: TUTOR FEEDBACK (based on assignment criteria, key skills and where appropriate, reference to professional standards) STRENGTHS AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT AND TARGETS FOR FUTURE ASSIGNMENTS MARK/GRADE AWARDED DATE: SIGNED ASSIGNMENT MODERATED BY: DATE MODERATOR’S COMMENTS: BRM5035 Research Methods for Business – 50% of overall grade Submission details: • The deadline for submission into registry is on the Hand in Date shown on the Feedback sheet (1st Page) • Students are to submit one hard copy and one soft copy (on CD) to the front office on the hand in date via Moodle • Students must submit before due date. Any assessments brought after will not be accepted • THE UNIVERSITY’S REGULATIONS CONCERNING CHEATING, COLLUSION AND PLAGIARISM APPLY TO THIS ASSESSMENT. Key Skills: The key skills addressed through this assessment are logical reasoning, analysis, evaluating, synthesis, learning and study, structure and consistency. Harvard Referencing: Complete reference list which MUST conform to the Harvard System of Referencing must be included at the end of your assignment and in text citations where appropriate. Learning Outcomes On successful completion of the module, the student will have: o A robust knowledge of the research process in a wider context. o Be able to critically evaluate a variety of approaches to conducting research and develop the ability to recognise the advantages and limitations of commonly used research techniques. o Select a theoretical framework and research approach o Understand sampling strategies o Be able to use multiple data collection techniques. o Strong conceptual skills to be able to administer, collate and present data from both an applied and academic context. - Assignment: Research / Business Proposal 1,500 words equivalent Assessment brief (Description of the problems) Your research proposal must be written and presented in the format outlined below: • Title • Background • Research questions or hypothesis • Research objectives • Critical literature review • Research Methodology • Access to data and ethical issues • Timescale • References Guidelines Please read carefully the guidelines below: Background • Place the research into context. • Precise the added value of your research for business and management • What are your expectations and hopes from your research? Research purpose, research questions or hypotheses and research objectives • Research purpose: what does this research intend to find out? • Research questions (no more than 2) or hypotheses (no more than 2) • Research objectives (3-4) Critical literature review • Use of academic journals • Identify your area of research • Demonstrate your knowledge of the relevant literature • Clarify where your proposal fits into the debate in the literature • Critically compare and contrast the debates and hypothesis (if any) of your literature • Identify intellectual limitations in existing literature • Demonstrate a clear link between the previous work that has been done in your field of research interest and the content of your research proposal • Link your research to a theory (identify relevant academic theory, models, frameworks and concepts) Research Methodology • This section will precise how you intend to proceed to achieve your research objectives • It will explain your choice of research philosophy and approach • It will also justify your choice of method • It will also clarify where you intend to carry out the research • It will also detail which business or management field or sectors of the market you have chosen to research and why you chose these fields/sectors • It will justify the relationship between your research purpose, research questions, research objectives and research methods Access to data and ethical issues • Will you be able to access the data that you need to conduct your research? • What are the ethical issues to consider? Timescale • You must produce a very precise and detailed schedule that illustrates weekly activities and allows time for unexpected delays Word Limit 1500 (± 10%) Formatting Your assignment should be submitted in the format of a research proposal. Use 12pt font size Times New Roman, with 2.5cm margins all around and double-spacing. References, table of contents, and tables/figures/graphs may be single-spaced with a font size 10   Marking Scheme: MARK 29 or less 30 - 39 40 – 49 50 - 59 60 – 69 70 + CONTENT: Has the question been answered? Vague, random, unrelated material Some mention of the issue, but a collection of disparate points Barely answers the question – just reproduces what knows about the topic Some looseness/ digressions 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 mentioned but not developed 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 inter-related with other ideas? No theory included. Vague assertions/poor explanations. Long winded descriptions of theory. Some long winded sections. Some quotations, but stand alone. Some inter- connections. Good summary of theory. Good use of quotations that flow with narrative. Good inter-connections. Succinct, effective summaries of theory. Excellent choice and threading of quotations into argument. Good counterpoising of a range of perspectives. APPLICATION Does it show appropriate use of theory in a practical situation? No examples No/limited/inappropriate 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 assertions about issues. Largely descriptive with no identification and analysis of central issues. Limited insight into issues. Some good observations. Good, detailed analysis. Comprehensive range of issues identified and discussed fully. EVALUATION & RECOMMENDATIONS Does it critically assess material? Are there a workable and imaginative solutions? No evaluation. Uncritical acceptance of material. Some evaluation but weak. Little insight. Good interpretation. Some but limited sophistication in argument. Good critical assessment. Independent thought displayed. Full critical assessment and substantial individual insight. REFERENCING Thorough and accurate citation and referencing No referencing No referencing Limited/poor referencing Some inconsistencies in referencing Appropriate referencing Appropriate referencing PRESENTATION Logical and coherent structure to argument and effective presentation No structure apparent. Poor presentation. Poor structure. Poor presentation. Acceptable, but uneven structure. Reasonable presentation. Reasonable structure. Good presentation. Good argument. Well presented material. Excellent argument. Very effective presentation format.