Research Inquiry for Practice

Module title	Research Inquiry for Practice
Module code	BEP2060
Academic year	2019/0
Credits	15
Module staff	Dr Constantine Manolchev (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks		11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	60

Module description

This module is compulsory for you if you are studying on the Business BSc in Penryn. It is a pre-requisite for the future-facing dissertation module in your final year. Research Inquiry for Practice will equip you with the required research skills necessary for conducting your own independent research.

The module teaches you :

The principles of research design and execution
The key skills required to conduct research using both primary and secondary data
The key skills required to collect and analyse both qualitative and quantitative data
How to present your research findings in a report/dissertation format

On completion of this module you will be better equipped to design a research proposal, select an appropriate set of research methodologies, decide which is the most relevant tool for analysis and how to present your findings in a coherent format.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The principle aim is to prepare you for your own independent study in the form of your dissertation.

The secondary aim of the module is to equip you with the skills required to conduct your own primary and secondary research using both quantitative and qualitative data with the appropriate method of analysis.

Finally, this module will give you some insight into how to work with or commission research in your future employment contexts.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. explain the difference between different theoretical approaches to conducting research
2. gain awareness of the ethical concerns associated with conducting research on private individuals and commercial organisations.
3. analyse/discuss issues associated with the validity of research claims
4. assess and select the most suitable research methods and analysis tools for to investigate your chosen research questions.
5. complete a research project.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

6. design an ethical proposal
7. produce a literature review for a topic of your choice
8. design appropriate research questions, a quantitative survey questionnaire and relevant analysis methods, use qualitative data collection and analysis methods.
9. adopt a methodology suitable for chosen research question
10. collect and analyse both quantitative and qualitative data

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

11. use a variety of software to analyse and present research findings.
12. present a variety of data in order to answer a specific research question(s).

Syllabus plan

Introduction to research – how to go about completing your dissertation and independent research, why we conduct empirical research, the different sources of data – i.e. primary and secondary, the different types of data qualitative and quantitative. Different approaches to research.
Research Design – The process and steps to conducting research. Designing a research proposal.
Setting the scene – Narrowing your focus and designing your research objectives
Secondary data sources – and how to conduct a literature review
Methodology part 1 – Quantitative data collection methods the different types, how to design a questionnaire, online survey tools e.g. Survey Monkey
Methodology part 2 – Quantitative data analysis methods, basic stats for data analysis and introduction to SPSS
Methodology part 3 – Qualitative data collection methods, inc: focus groups, in depth interviews, practice participant observation approaches
Methodology part 4 – Qualitative data analysis methods, content analysis and NVivo
Presentation of Results, Conclusions and recommendations
How to present your dissertation/report structure

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
26	124	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	22	Taught lectures to deliver the course content
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	4	Tutorials Practical IT based workshops to be conducted in an ICT suite to train the students in the appropriate technology e.g. SPSS, Survey Monkey, NVivo
Independent Study	124	You will be expected to manage your time accordingly for research, analysis and write up.

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Submission of an e-Ethics form		1,2.3.4,6	Verbal

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Literature and a methodology on a chosen topic	40	2,000 words	1-4, 6, 7,9	Written individual feedback
Collection and analysis of quantitative or qualitative data	60	2,000 words	5, 8, 10, 11	Written individual feedback

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Literature and a methodology on a chosen topic	A literature review, methodology and an ethical consent form- 2,500 words	1,2,3,4,6,7,9	August
Collection and analysis of quantitative or qualitative data	Interview questions/questioannaire and a discussion of analysis - 1,500 words	5, 8, 10, 11	August

Re-assessment notes

A student will be referred in all components if the student fails the module with a mark of below 40% overall.

A student if deferred in a single component will be reassessed in that component only.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Bazeley, P. and Jackson, K., (2013) Qualitative Data Analysis with Nvivo,Sage,
Bell, J. (2005) Doing Your Research Project, Open University Press
Black, K. (2007): Business Statistics for Contemporary Decision-Making, Fifth Edition, Wiley
Bryman, A. & Bell, E. (2011), Business Research Methods. Third Edition, Oxford University Press.
Burke, R. (2003) Project Management: Planning and Control Techniques, Fourth Edition, Wiley.
Coles, T.E., Duval, D.T. and Shaw, G. (2013) A Student’s Guide to Writing Dissertations and Theses in Tourism Studies and Related Disciplines. Abingdon: Routledge
Cresswell, J.W. (2008) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, Sage.
De Walt, K.M. (2010) Participant Observation: A Guide For Field Workers, AltaMira Press
Easterby-Smith, M., Thorpe, R. & Jackson, P. (2012) Management Research, Fourth Edition, Sage
Gill, J. & Johnson, P. (2012) Research Methods for Managers, Fourth Edition, London: Sage
Gray, D. (2009) Doing Research in the Real World, Second Edition, Sage
Hart, C. (1998) Doing a Literature Review, Sage
Horn, R. (2009) Researching and Writing Dissertations: A Complete Guide for Business and Management Students, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
Jankowicz, A. (2005) Business Research Projects, Fourth Edition, Thomson Learning
McMillan, K. & Wevers, J. (2009) How to Write Dissertations and Project Reports, Prentice Hall
Myers, M.D. (2008) Qualitative Research in Business and Management, Sage
Yin, D. (2009) Case Study Research: Design and Methods, Fourth Edition, Sage

Key words search

Research methods, management, management dissertation, Business BSc

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	5
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	01/09/2014
Last revision date	03/09/2019