Indicative Content
Students will extend and deepen their knowledge of an aspect of a business-related subject area appropriate to their award. They will apply a range of secondary research skills covered in the Research Methods subject.
Learning Outcomes
1. DEVELOP KNOWLEDGE OF, ANALYSE AND CRITICALLY ASSESS THE LITERATURE IN A GIVEN BUSINESS - RELATED SUBJECT AREA.
2. IN CONJUNCTION WITH A SUPERVISOR, FORMULATE RESEARCH QUESTIONS OR OBJECTIVES IN THE GIVEN SUBJECT AREA.
3. CONSTRUCT AN ARGUMENT EMPLOYING RELEVANT AND VALID EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF A CONCLUSION THAT DIRECTLY ADDRESSES THE PROBLEM POSED BY THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS OR OBJECTIVES.
4. DEMONSTRATE COMPETENCE IN INDEPENDENT LEARNING.
5. DEMONSTRATE COMPETENCE IN THE COMMUNICATION SKILLS NEEDED TO GENERATE THE REQUIRED FORMAT OF WRITTEN PRESENTATION.
An ASSIGNMENT consisting of 2000 WORDS and a PROGRESS REPORT.
Teaching & learning Strategies
Guided independent learning is the core strategy on this module. You will have workshop sessions with a group of fellow students to discuss ideas, approaches and problems, and one-on-one meetings with your supervisor to review progress. Both of these will occur in a timetabled weekly slot. The module handbook will provide a detailed learning schedule.
PROJECT - WORKSHOP
Assignment Steps
When choosing a research topic:
- What you are interested in
- Your award
- The discipline you would like to work in
- The size of the topic
- The time you have available
- The resources you have available
- Access issues
Topic generation techniques:
- Brainstorming
- Mind maps
- Relevance trees
- Reading relevant publications
- Communication with module leader/supervisor
Step one: Choose a topic
The topic should be SMART which means:
1. Specific
2. Measurable
3. Achievable
4. Realistic
5. Timed
Step Two: Introduction:
The introduction must include:
a) Brief information about your topic
b) Write your question
c) Tie between your question & the information.
Step Three: Write a question, or objective
the question should be;
1. One only
2. SMART
3. Clear
4. simple
Step Four: Examples of secondary data sources:
Secondary data such as:
- Textbooks
- Articles in academic publications
- Conference papers
- Reports
- Published statistics
- Annual reports and accounts
- Popular media e.g. newspapers, broadcasts
- Electronic databases
- Internet
2. You need at least 20 sufficient references
3. You must use Harvard Referencing system within the assignment text and at the end of the assignment.
4. Arrange them Alphabetically
5. Start with:
• Books.
• Articles
• Websites
First: Conducting a literature review:
Start as soon as possible
III Decide on the scope e.g. timescales or geography
- Key word identification
- Identify quality research articles i.e. discuss the methodology, results and conclusions
- Use the references to guide to other sources
Second: When writing up:
- Define terms
- Select only relevant material
- Group material into categories
- Draw out important features
- Make comparisons of results
- Be critical
Third: Writing the literature review The literature review should:
- Summarise the main ideas, issues & debates
- Link these to your assignment question.
- Link these to your findings.
Fourth: writing slyer
- Use a consistent style of writing throughout your project.
- Tie the ideas you are reviewing to your own work.
- Discuss how your research extends ideas that you are reviewing.
- Compare your work to that of others.
Fifth: Ask yourself:
- Have I critically' analysed the literature - comparing and assessing not just describing and summarizing?
- Have I cited and discussed studies contrary to my perspective?
- Will the reader find my literature review informative, relevant, appropriate and useful?
Step Five: Start Reading the literature review: First: Critical Reading:
1. Keep your purpose in mind when you read
2. Don't let the arguments in the book distract you from your reading agenda.
3. Skim the headings and the abstract of the piece; perhaps look at the first line of each paragraph and the conclusion
4. You don't need to read everything with equal attention.
A. For the Articles focus on the abstracts.
B. For the books, check the index & the contents. introduction & conclusion.
Second: Check Your Skills
- Research
- Analysis
- Prioritisation
- Concise writing
- Organisation
- Time management
- Consistency
- Spelling
Step Six: Conclusion
Should include:
Findings
2. Results
3. Recommendations
Step Seven: Avoid Common Mistakes
Never write comma after that
2. (At) always after aim
3. Poor subject choice - not enough research
4. Un-SMART objectives
5. Poor presentation
6. Little theoretical foundation
7. Descriptive and repetitive
8. Little effort
9. PLAGIARISM = Zer00000000000
Step Eight: Make sure that you have successful Project
Characteristics of successful Project:
- Evidence of depth and breadth of relevant and contemporary research
- Ability to analyse, evaluate and argue
- Clear and logical structure
- Appropriate application of theoretical concepts and models
- Professional presentation
Do Not ...!
- Leave your research to the last minute - this assignment will take longer than you think
- Not communicate with your supervisor - they are there to guide you
- Just summarise your research findings without adding any commentary
- Expect to write your review once - you need to be prepared to edit and refine Finally: What your supervisor will be looking for:
You must demonstrate:
- Awareness of the current state of knowledge in the chosen subject
- Appreciation of the limitations of current research
- Transparency i.e. clear writing and referencing.
PROGRESS REPORT
Introduction:
The aim of this project is to in the setting of
This progress report discusses the progress made by the researcher.
Note: the author introduces this by 1) reminding what the project deals with and 2) what the progress report deals with (time period).
Describe the activities, processes, and procedures that were undertaken during the months specified in each phase.
Phase I -
Project title conceptualization and approval
Phase II -
Data identification and gathering (including sources of data)
PROJECT - 2000 WORDS ( + 10% )
The Project Module structure will be as follows:
Chosen title (student choice according to specialisation)
Introduction
A brief introduction about the topic in 3 paragraphs (250 Words Approximately) Two paragraphs should discuss / talk about the topic with appropriate citations coming from 2 reliable sources.
One paragraph shall state the assignment objective/s or question/s.
Literature Review (1500 Words Approximately) (As Main body)
Conclusions (250 Words Approximately)