Understand and deploy various research methodologies
Assessment Guidance
SUGGESTED FORMAT FOR THE PROJECT REPORT
The format below is recommended. You may also wish to refer to this in the design stages of your project as it includes lots of prompts that you may find useful.
TITLE PAGE
The following details should be stated on your title page:
– The title of your project
– Student number
– Name of supervisor
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank any people that have assisted/contributed to your project.
CONTENTS
Provide a list of the sections of your project with page numbers.
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION
– What is the setting for your project?
– What are the aims of your project?
– What is your project about?
– How and why did you choose the project?
– Describe how your project will assist the organization, if relevant.
– Describe the consultation process you have undertaken with the organization, if appropriate.
SECTION 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
Review of relevant literature related to your research. Make sure you consult a wide range of relevant literature. All sources should be correctly attributed using the Harvard format.
SECTION 3: PROCESS
– What methodology did you adopt (inductive or deductive?)
– What methods did you choose?
– How did you carry out your project?
– Who did you work with?
– Why did you choose this particular approach?
SECTION 4: DISCUSSION AND EVALUATION
– An analytical critical discussion of your project with references to literature to support your arguments.
– How far do your findings contradict/confirm existing research?
– Refer to any diagrams, questionnaire results, graphs, etc.
SECTION 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
– What do your findings show?
– What were the limitations of you project?
– What recommendations would you make on the basis of your findings?
– Do you think your recommendations are innovative or entrepreneurial? How and why are they?
SECTION 6: REFERENCES
– A list of references using the Harvard system.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module, participants will be able to:
Knowledge and Understanding
a) Identify, understand and deploy various research methodolgies, both quantitative and qualitative, in order to conduct research into a range of management problems and issues.
b) Critically examine and articulate the importance of the varying philosophical positions that influence management research and the researcher.
c) Identify and apply the key data triangulation techniques required to analyse business case problems, plans and issues.
d) Demonstrate and enact the chief ethical considerations that impact management research.
Subject Specific Skills
e) Apply a range of quantitative and qualitative research techniques to management problems and issues.
f) Use appropriate software such as SPSS and Nvivo to analyse quantitative and qualitative data.
g) Source, identify and critically review primary and secondary data material.
Key Skills
f) Develop and demonstrate the ability to work independently and to manage the entire research process from question formulation through to analysis and interpretation of results.
h) Develop and demonstrate an appropriate report writing style that balances the demands of brevity, comprehension and criticality and is appropriate for both academic submission and for corporate requirements.
i) Develop report presenting skills in both written and oral forms including defence strategies and summarising skills.
