Assessment 3 – Practical Exercise: Research Plan Date due: Outline: Week 9 Plan: Week 10 Presentation: Week 11 Value: Outline: 5% Plan: 20% Presentation: 5% Total 30% Rationale Practical exercises assess students’ ability to apply theoretical learning to practical, real world situations. Instructions The research plan is a crucial element of any research project. A plan that fails to adequately address key topics or themes, or that fails to clearly identify aims and objectives may also fail to obtain important funding or institutional support. In this assessment students must design and plan a research project. They must develop a research question relative to a contemporary business or social issue and identify key elements including: • • The reasons and aims of the research project • • Details of the type of research approach (quantitative or qualitative) • • Possible data sources • • Possible data collection methods • • Data analysis techniques addressing measurement and research variables for reliability and validity. The research plan should be 1,500 words (plus or minus 10%) written as a formal plan. Submission: The plan will be submitted through the Martin HE LMS for this assessment. Research Plan Outline A research outline is required as part of Assessment 3 to ensure you have identified the following points and understand the research and analysis requirements of the plan. Develop the outline with a brief description addressing the following points: • • proposed reasons and aims of the research plan • • identified possible type of research approach (quantitative or qualitative) • • identified possible data sources • • identified possible data collection methods • • possible data analysis techniques that address measurement and research variables. The research plan outline should be 300 words in length (plus or minus 10%). Research Plan Presentation An in-class presentation of the research plan must be provided and take no more than 5 minutes and contain a maximum of 10 slides (excluding the opening and concluding slide). The presentation must (at a minimum) address the following areas: • • The reasons and aims of the research project • • Details of the type of research approach (quantitative or qualitative) • • Possible data sources • • Possible data collection methods • • Data analysis techniques undertaken to address measurement and research variables for reliability and validity. On-campus students will be required to give their presentations in the Week 11 tutorial classes. On-line students will have to submit their presentations on the Martin HE LMS in week 11 (date to be advised). As these presentations will not be presented in class students are required to use a voice over on their slides. Information on how to use a voice over on PowerPoint slides will be supplied. Research Plan Outline Criteria The following elements will be assessed in the presentation: Criteria Marks Research Project Aims The reason and aims of the proposed research plan are very clearly identified and explained. 1.5 marks Research Approaches Details of possible research approaches (quantitative or qualitative) are clearly identified and explained. 1.5 marks Data Sources and Data Collection Methods Possible data sources and collection methods are identified. 1 marks Data analysis techniques Data analysis techniques for measurement and research variables are identified. 1 marks Research Plan Criteria The following elements will be assessed in this submission: Criteria Marks Research Project Aims The reason and aims of the research project are extremely relevant and very clearly identified and explained. 6 marks Research Approaches Details of the type of research approach (quantitative or qualitative) are very clearly identified and explained. 4 marks Data Sources and Data Collection Methods Data sources and data collection methods are relevant, appropriate, clearly identified and explained. 5 marks Data analysis techniques Data analysis techniques addressing measurement and research variables for reliability and validity are very clearly identified and explained. 3 marks Use academic language and structure. Adhere to referencing conventions and acknowledge sources. A coherent, concise and fluent argument in discipline specific academic language. Acknowledged all relevant sources. Accurate and consistent referencing system. 2 mark Research Plan Presentation Criteria The following elements will be assessed in the presentation: Criteria Marks Research Project Aims The reason and aims of the research project are extremely relevant and very clearly identified and explained in the presentation. 1 mark Research Approaches Details of the type of research approach (quantitative or qualitative) are very clearly identified and explained. 1 mark Data Sources and Data Collection Methods Data sources and data collection methods are relevant, appropriate, clearly identified and explained. 1 mark Data analysis techniques Data analysis techniques addressing measurement and research variables for reliability and validity are very clearly identified and explained. 1 mark Presentation Delivery Questions and queries clearly answered. Overall presentation very clearly addresses all relevant aspects of plan and its components. 1 marks