The development of any idea or product needs to begin with researching what has already been done by others and gathering new information where needed. You will learn the fundamentals of research theory, research methods and data analysis, enabling you to undertake and evaluate research.
Module will run
Occurrence
Teaching period
A
Summer Term 2022-23
Module aims
Subject content aims:
Ensure students are able to carry out appropriate research into identified issues using a robust and ethical approach;
Underpin the need for a thorough and critical literature review before any new research activity is initiated;
Allow students to fully understand the range of research approaches, methodologies and strategies available to them;
Give students the tools or knowledge by which they can collect data for analysis;
Clarify evaluation methods for collected data; and
Give feedback on chosen research methodologies for MSc projects to follow.
Graduate skills aims:
Capacity for analysis and synthesis
Capacity for applying knowledge in practice
Planning and Time management
Report writing
Communication skills
Research skills
Information management skills
Module learning outcomes
Subject content learning outcomes
After successful completion of this module, students will:
Generate research ideas
Undertake a critical literature review
Evaluate appropriate research methodologies
Analyse qualitative and/or quantitative information
Synthesise information and formulate appropriate outputs
Apply the principles of research ethics to data collection, storage & reporting
Communicate the output of research appropriately
Graduate skills learning outcomes
After successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
Analyse and synthesise data evidenced through the module assignment.
Apply knowledge in practice – evidence of application in the assignment
Plan and manage their time – plan their own activities and manage their own time to achieve the required deliverables
Communicate – through the module assignment
Research independently – the student will need to identify the information they need and the find it through desk research and by talking directly to people
Manage information – need to search for information from several sources, analyse and synthesise it from a relevance and usefulness point of view
Indicative assessment
Task
Length
% of module mark
Essay/coursework Individual report
N/A
70
Groupwork Group poster presentation
N/A
30
Special assessment rules
None
Additional assessment information
There will be formative working within the teaching schedule, e.g. practice using data analysis techniques and example research papers explaining how to complete certain types of data gathering and why the reporting of outputs needs to be particularly precise. There will also be examples of ethical practice in research to ensure this learning outcome is fully understood.
Indicative reassessment
Task
Length
% of module mark
Essay/coursework Individual report
N/A
100
Module feedback
Formative feedback will be given following the poster evaluation, the summative feedback will follow normal rules circa 25 days. It may be possible to combine the summative feedback of the individual report with that for the poster but typically each assessment type will have its own feedback schedule. All marks and feedback will be available before the MSc progression BoE,
Indicative reading
Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2019) Research Methods for Business Students, 8th edition, Harlow: Pearson Education.
Taylor, S. (2007) Business Statistics for non mathematicians, London: Palgrave-McMillan.
Pallant, J. (2020) SPSS Survival Manual: a step by step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS, 7th Ed., London: McGraw-Hill Education.
Creswell, J.W. (2014) A concise introduction to mixed methods research. London: Sage Publications Inc.
Other text that could be used:
Field, A.P. (2017) Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics: and sex drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, 5th Edition, London: Sage.