Newcastle University

Aims

This module is designed to provide students with the necessary training to undertake advanced level research in Business and Management. The module has two aspects. First, it focuses on the nature of research in the Business/Management area, and the social sciences in general, examining the study skills necessary to manage and undertake a research project; and secondly, it provides students with opportunities to be familiar with important empirical and theoretical research issues in Business and Management research. Such skills are intended to provide a good foundation for undertaking a dissertation/ project.

Original Summary:
This module will enable students to develop an understanding of the nature and scope of advanced research in Business and Management. It focuses on research issues relevant to the production of a final year dissertation project and covers key skills areas, including: research proposal writing; research design and strategy-making; data-collection and research methods; recording and interpretation of results; and writing up. The lectures and any supplementary weekly tasks will help students to develop a good working knowledge of both the literature and research practice.

Outline Of Syllabus

Semester I:
Introduction to Module. What is Research? Developing a research question.
Literature Review.
Research skills using Library resources. Critical Analyis
Introduction to Research Philosophy.
Research design: quantitative & qualitative approaches; Quantitative data collection methods in practice: Questionnaire design & administration; Quantitative data analysis/presentation; Assignment One Guidance.
Semester II:
Qualitative data collection methods in practice: Interviewing & Focus group methods; Qualitative data analysis/presentation; Research Proposal - Purpose and Function & Assignment One Feedback; Ethnographic approach to research; Action Research: Management Practice and Applied Research; Ethical Considerations of Research; Dissertation/Consultancy and the Proposal.

Students will also be given the opportunity to discuss their emerging proposals on a one-to-one basis with lecturing staff towards the end of each semeste

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Students will be given the underpinning knowledge during lectures that will then be practised in directed private study.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

This module underpins the dissertation/business consultancy project and the assessment is directly related to this. The majority of students will undertake the dissertation. However, all students will be expected as part of their dissertation/business consultancy project to be able to undertake a literature review in their chosen subject area.

Resit is by assignment only.