Aims

Enable students to examine plan and evaluate issues surrounding qualitative and quantitative research processes for business. Enable participants to examine the relationships between Philosophy, Science and Empiricism. Enable participants to develop skills in qualitative design and analysis, using business ethnographic, phenomenological and positivist approaches. Enable participants to undertake a quantitative research design incorporating exploratory, descriptive and causal methodologies. Enable participants to develop skills in a range of analytical methods, using SPSS and NVivo. Enable participants to critically evaluate research design, undertaken epistemic approaches, distinguish interpretive approaches, realist philosophies and develop hypotheses.

Learning outcomes
After completing the module, the student should be able to: 1. Critically appraise the salient qualitative and quantitative issues surrounding a business research problem. 2. Plan and identify the stages and tasks for an evaluation of a business research problem, incorporating preliminary research approaches, primary and secondary data requirements, sampling frame and sampling methods. 3. Produce a research design, proposal and ethical approval form for a Masters level research project for business management.

Outline Syllabus
1. Research and managers 2. Developing a research proposal 3. Role of theory and literature 4. Designing a research 5. Writing up a proposal 6. Quantitative data SPSS (1) 7. Quantitative data SPSS (2) 8. Qualitative data N-vivo (1) 9. Qualitative data N-vivo (2) 10.Tips on how to make a good proposal

Recommended Texts:
1. Punch, K. F. (2009) Developing Effective Research Proposals, 2nd Edi, Sage Publishing, London. 2. Gill John and Phil Johnson (2010) Research Methods for Managers, 4th Edi, Sage Publishing, London. 3. Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2009) Research Methods for Business Students, 4th Edi, Prentice Hall, London. 4. Creswell, J W (2009) 'Research Design :qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches' Sage 5.

Module Format
1. 1 x 3- hour lecture/Seminar per week 2. Directed study Note taking in essential

Assessment
You are required to develop a research proposal towards an understanding and resolution of a business problem/issue. This includes: 1. A research topic that fit within a business and an organisational setting; 2. Literature review that demonstrate your understanding of the subject matter; 3. Research design that links a range of data skills/strategies in seeking quality answers to the research question(s) indicated by the topic and literature review; and 4. A detailed plan that justifies an appropriate use of network, resources and time, and considers related ethical issues. The assessment is 100% coursework and individual-based. Word count: 3,500. The hand-in date is Thursday

Teaching schedule Date Week 1 Session One (2 hrs) Introduction, module guide, assessment, teaching schedule Week 2 What makes a good research topic 1 Session Two (1hr) Research proposal, research topic, linking RT to RP, student exercises Frameworks for developing research proposals Week 3 What makes a good research topic 2 The role of theory and dealing with the literature Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 What makes a good literature review Data and data strategies Methods and methodologies Writing the proposal Reading week Research proposals: structure and presentation Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 SPSS1, questions and discussions SPSS2, questions and discussions N-vivo1, questions and discussions N-vivo2, questions and discussions Quantitative analysis SPSS2 Qualitative analysis N-vivo1 Qualitative analysis N-vivo2 Tips on developing research proposals Quantitative analysis SPSS1

Research Methods for Managers Research proposal mark criteria & feedback sheet Students name: Proposed dissertation title: Problems and issues
Clearly explains problems/issue justifying why it is important both from an organisational and a personal perspective 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Student ID:

Date:

Research questions and objectives

Provides a clear statement of what the research seeks to achieve. Flows from previous section and objectives precisely written with observable outcomes 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Indicative literature review

Demonstrates knowledge of the relevant literature by identifying key debates, concepts and theories Clarifies how the proposal fits into the debate within the literature and how the literature will be used to inform the research design. 0 0 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10

Methodology
Explains the methodological approach Justifies the research strategy and data collection methods, includes a summary table Explores the credibility of the research and how the concepts of validity and reliability generally can be applied to the proposed research. 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 8 8 9 9 9 10 10 10

Access & resource implications

Reflects on and appraises the resources required including the researchers knowledge & skill. Considers the access and ethical implications associated with the proposal. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Action Plan
Provides an action plan or chart that demonstrates the proposal is viable given the available resources time researcher skills access to data etc. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Overall structure
Uses report format and presents items in a logical structure. Users Harvard referencing in text bibliography. Key: 0 = Does not meet expectations 10 = Exceeds expectations 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Please interpret in conjunction with grading criteria Handout.

Key strengths of this proposal: Main areas for improvement:

Final Mark (<=40%): 1 Marker: 2

nd st

Agreed mark (<=40%): Signature: Signature: Date: Date:

Marker: