Critical Reflection on Business and Management Research

Module title	Critical Reflection on Business and Management Research
Module code	BEMM831
Academic year	2026/7
Credits	30
Module staff

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	0	11	0

Number students taking module (anticipated)	10

Module description

This module supports students in transitioning from theoretical exploration to developing their research topics and questions. Through discussions, peer review, and faculty feedback, students refine their research ideas and learn to frame meaningful research questions, identify literature gaps, and position their work within theoretical and methodological traditions. Faculty provide tailored guidance to challenge assumptions, foster originality, and sharpen research focus. Students also develop peer review skills, offering and receiving constructive feedback. By the end of the module, students will have a clear research topic with focused questions and rationale, equipping them to advance rigorous and impactful academic research.

Module aims - intentions of the module

By the end of this module, students will be able to:

A) Formulate clear, focused, and original research questions grounded in existing literature and theoretical frameworks.

B) Critically evaluate and synthesize feedback from peers and faculty to refine their research ideas.

C) Demonstrate the ability to engage in constructive scholarly dialogue, providing thoughtful and actionable feedback to others.

D) Position their research topic within the broader field of management scholarship and articulate its significance.

E) Develop a preliminary research proposal outlining research questions, rationale, and positioning within the literature.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

1. Refine research ideas and evidence precise research questions that address gaps in the management literature.
2. Demonstrate a clear rationale for the significance of their proposed research.
3. Critically evaluate and synthesize existing management theories and frameworks to inform research development.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

4. Engage with constructive feedback to enhance the quality and rigor of their research ideas.
5. Identify appropriate theoretical approaches to answer their research questions.

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

6. Communicate research ideas clearly and persuasively in both written and verbal formats.
7. Provide constructive, well-articulated feedback to peers.
8. Build resilience and adaptability by responding to feedback and refining their work iteratively.

Syllabus plan

Indicative Teaching and Learning Methods:

Faculty-Led Workshops: Faculty provide expert insights and facilitate group discussions on research topics.
Student Presentations: Students present their evolving research ideas, receiving feedback from peers and faculty.
Peer Review Sessions: Structured sessions where students evaluate and provide feedback on each other's work.
One-to-One Consultations: Opportunities for students to receive individual feedback and guidance from faculty members.
Written Assignments: Development of a preliminary research proposal, demonstrating clarity of research questions, rationale, and positioning.

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
40	260	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	40	Seminars (10 x 4 hours)
Guided independent study	60	Preparatory reading before taught sessions
Guided independent study	200	Preparation (research and writing) of assignment

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Discussion of research	Various	1-8	Verbal or written

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
Research Presentation	50	20 minutes	1-8	Verbal, group
Research Proposal	50	3000 words	1-8	Written, individual

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
Research Presentation	Resubmit Research Presentation (20 minutes, 50%)	1-8	Referral/deferral period
Research Proposal	Resubmit Research Proposal (3000 words, 50%)	1-8	Referral/deferral period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

The readings on the module are primarily taken from key academic journals such as:

Administrative Science Quarterly
Academy of Management Journal
Academy of Management Review
Journal of Applied Psychology
Journal of Consumer Behaviour
Journal of Organizational Behaviour
Management Science

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Key words search

Critical reflection, management research

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module pre-requisites	Restricted to MRes students.
Module co-requisites	None.
NQF level (module)	7
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	20/01/2025
Last revision date	02/06/2025