Introduction
Welcome to the Advanced Entry MBA Campus-based programme particularly I trust you will find your studies both challenging and enjoyable. The purpose of this Student Handbook is to provide guidance on certain aspects of the programme and, consequently, it should be read in conjunction with the e-resource handbook which will help navigate Blackboard, the virtual learning environment which is used as the communication medium on this course.
It is important to remember that you are embarking on a significant piece of individual study and need to be disciplined and realistic in your use of time. In order to be successful, you need to adopt a methodical and systematic approach to your studies. To assist you in this process there are deadlines for the submission of key pieces of work which you will find in this handbook.
Please familiarise yourself with the following:
UWIC Student Handbook
Programme Handbook
Online material accessed via Blackboard site:
If you experience any difficulty whilst undertaking this course, please ensure that you let me, or the administrative officer know immediately so that we can agree the best way forward.
Good luck in your studies
Regards
Caroline Jones
Lead Academic MBA Advanced Entry - [email protected]
Administrative Officer MBA Advanced Entry - [email protected]
This is the module descriptor for Research Methods and identifies aims and objectives along with required and recommended reading:
Module Title
Module Number
JACS Subject Code
ASC Category/ies
Research Methods
MBA404
X210
11B
Level
Credits
ECTS Credit
Module Value
% Taught in Welsh
Module Type
M
20
10
1.0
0
Taught
Teaching Period
Pre-requisites
None
Module Leader
Schools
Campus
Dr Julia Fallon
Cardiff School of Management
Llandaff
Assessment Methods
Assessment Type
Duration/Length of Assessment Type
Weighting of Assessment
Approximate Date of Submission
Coursework
Comparative analysis exercise 1500 words
40%
23 October 2010
Dissertation proposal
3500 words
60%
8 January 2011
Aims
This module provides a comprehensive introduction to research as practised in business and management disciplines. It provides an overview of the key quantitative and qualitativemethodologies that are needed to undertake, evaluate and present a small scale research project. Following an introduction to research the module will move on to explore the major paradigms and debates in business research. It will help students to build appropriate strategies for reviewing literature and developing a coherent set of aims and objectives for a research study. The module will covermajor research methods (observation, surveys, case studies, interviews and action research), the implications of using them as well as the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data and presentation of findings. It identifies how to develop research questions/hypotheses and how to produce robust and realistic research considering issues of data validation, triangulation and reliability. Following satisfactory completion of this module, students will progress to the dissertation.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module students should be able to:
Interpret existing research as a prelude to carrying out further investigation and demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of a range of research designs and their appropriate utilisation;
Source, evaluate and appropriately reference information from a range of sources;
Integrate the findings of existing research to ask a new research question;
Engage in critical thinking when reading and comprehending research articles;
Critically evaluate a range of quantitative and qualitative research paradigms;
Conceptualise a problem; formulate hypotheses and objectives; design a research strategy, collecting, analysing, and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data as appropriate;
Apply theoretical principles underlying descriptive and inferential statistics;
Select and justify the most appropriate analyses, interpret the results, and write up the results accurately and completely;
Develop a robust research proposal appropriate for an MBA dissertation.
Learning and Teaching Delivery Methods
Lectures/workshops
20 hours
Student-centred learning
180 hours
Total
200 hours
Indicative Content
Introduction to research:academic and non-academic research (e.g. market research; opinion polls; economic indicators; media research). Ontology, epistemology, methodology and method. Alternative paradigms of business and management research.
Reviewing the field: Choosing a research question and methodology: Writing a research proposal. Critical analysis of published research. On-line and library research skills. Research skills: writing and presentation skills; referencing procedures. Time management.
Research ethics:confidentiality; plagiarism; copyright; IPR.
Measurement &data collection strategies:Types of measurement. Choice of qualitative/quantitative variables. Sources of data. Quantitative methodologies: surveys; experiments; modelling, sampling; questionnaire design; choosing survey media. Small sample surveys and analysis. Qualitative methodologies: Ethnography; action research; hermeneutics; discourse analysis; history; biography. Qualitative methods: sampling; interviewing; participant observation; self-reporting; data recording and transcription; critical incident diaries; deep description.
Data analysis, interpretation &evaluation:Quantitative data analysis: Data coding and management. Factor analysis. Regression, correlation, causality; extrapolation. Quantitative analysis software: Excel and SPSS. Qualitative data analysis: Categorising; comparing; the use of narrative. Qualitative analysis software: NVIVO.
Writing the dissertation.
Recommended Reading and Required Reading
Required Reading:
Saunders, M, Lewis, P and Thornhill, A (2009), Research Methods for Business Students(5th Edition), New Jersey: Financial Times/Prentice Hall.
Bryman, A and Bell, E (2007), Business Research Methods(2ndedition), Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Collis, J and Hussey, R (2003), Business Research(2ndedition), Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Gill, J and Johnson, P (2002), Research Methods for Managers(3rdEdition), London: Sage.
Lancaster, G (2005), Research Methods in Management,Oxford: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann
Recommended Reading
Babbie, E (2006), The Practice of Social Research (International Student Edition), Belmont: Wadworth Publishing.
Bell, J (2005),Doing Your Research Project (Fourth Edition),Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Black, TR (1999), Doing Quantitative Research in the Social Sciences, London: Sage.
Creswell, JW (2007), Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design Choosing Among Five Traditions(2ndedition), London: Sage.
Easterby-Smith M, Thorpe R, and Lowe A (2002) Management Research: An Introduction(2nd edition), London: Sage
Gilbert, N (2001), Researching Social Life (2ndedition), London: Sage.
Gillham, B (2008), Developing a questionnaire (2ndedition), New York: Continuum.
Gray, DE (2004), Doing Research In the Real World, London: Sage Publications
Huberman, AH and Miles, MB (2002), The Qualitative Researcher's Companion: Classic and contemporary readings, London: Sage.
Hussey J and Hussey R (2002), Business Research: A practical guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students(2nd edition), London: Macmillan.
Keats, DM (2000), Interviewing: A Practical Guide for Students and Professionals.Buckingham: Open University Press.
Pallant, J (2007), SPSS Survival Manual(3rdedition). Buckingham: Open University Press.
Partington, D (2002), Essential Skills for Management Research, London: Sage
Peterson, RA (2000), Constructing Effective Questionnaires, London: Sage.
Robson, C (2002), Real World Research: A resource for social scientists and practitioner- researchers(2ndedition), Oxford: Blackwell.
Scheyvens, R and Donovan, S (2003), Development Fieldwork: A Practical Guide, London: Sage
Sekaran, U (2003), Research Methods for Business: A Skill Building Approach, Chichester: John Wiley.
Travers, M (2001), Qualitative Research Through Case Studies, London: Sage
Wilkinson, D and Birmingham, P (2003). Using Research Instruments: A Toolkit for Researchers,London: RoutledgeFalmer.
Wolcott, HF (2001), Writing Up Qualitative Research(2ndedition), London: Sage.
Yin, RK (2003),Case Study Research: Design and Methods (Third Edition), Sage.
Access to Specialist Requirements
Library and learning resources
Research Methods(MBA 404)
Teaching Programme
9 October 2010
Workshop 1 - an introduction
Rooms: 01.08, 01.09, 01.10, 01.11, 01.13, 01.14, 01.15, 02.08
6 November 2010
Workshop 2 - Doing a literature review
For this week only - D004, D006, D008, D103, D103A, D304, D310, D212
8 January 2011
Workshop 3 - Formulating Research Methods
Rooms: further details will be given on Blackboard
5 February 2011
Workshop 4 - Mastering data collection and data analysis
Rooms: further details will be given on Blackboard
2 April 2011
Workshop 5 - Crafting Conclusions
Rooms: further details will be given on Blackboard
Teaching Staff
Jo Berry
Harry Cameron
Paul Dowell
Jarred Evans
Matthew Exton
Andrew Hunt
Jon Travers
Richard Ward
Ahmad El-Gohari
Contact details are available on Blackboard.
Course Management - Programme Schedule
The schedule below identifies the various deadlines for the course:
Date
Assessment
Workshop 1 9 October 2010
Comparative analysis exercise details will be handed to students along with the Literature review proposal assignment
23 October 2010
Comparative analysis exercise handed in on BB site
30 October 2010
Marks will be submitted to Lead Academic
Workshop 2 6 November 2010
Feedback generic and individual on comparative analysis 40%
Workshop 3 8 January 2011
Literature Review Proposal 60% hand in date
Workshop 4 5 February 2011
Feedback on proposal
Dissertation supervision starts
Workshop 5 2 April 2011
Progress will be monitored
Key date 3 May 2011
Dissertation submission
June 2011
Examining board ( Caroline Jones to look at managing retrievals)
November 2011
Graduation
September 2011
Retrievals submitted
The above gives an outline of key dates, in particular:
23 October 2010 - First assignment submission
8 January 2011 - Literature Review Proposal submission
3 May 2011 -Dissertation submission
Research Methods (MBA404) - Assignment 1 (40%)
Assignment Brief
Task
You are required to produce a comparative analysis of two peer-reviewed journal articles relating to a topic of your own interest.
Your submission should include the two articles (word count = 1,500 words)
Assessment Criteria
The assignment will be assessed against the following criteria:
Clarity of analysis and argumentation
The extent to which the answer reflects a critical rather than descriptive analysis of the two articles
The extent to which conclusions are made that are consistent with the analysis
The extent to which the assignment is structured and formatted in a coherent and systematic manner
Deadline for submission: 23 October 2010
Assignments are to be submitted via Blackboard
Some journals which you may find useful to use which I have chosen and examples of the types of publications you may use are shown below:
Institute of Business and Economic Research
ESRC Centre for Business Research
European Planning Studies
Project Management Journal
Journal of Managerial Studies
Journal of Modern Business
Harvard Business Review
The Journal of Management Studies
Strategic Management Journal
Industry and Innovation
Journal of Managerial Issues
International Journal of Management Reviews
The above are some examples of current journals but you may, as stated in the task, choose journals not stated above.
Research Methods (MBA404) - Assignment 2 (60%)
Dissertation proposal
The second assessment will directly inform the dissertation because it will provide an outline for the literature review chapter. This work will allow students the opportunity to explore the literature and demonstrate how this informs your choice of topic and overall aim. A marking scheme is detailed below showing how marks will be allocated and this demonstrates that the writing must be informed by the secondary data currently within the academic body of knowledge.
Proposal for the dissertation based on Literature Review.
The word count = 3,500 words
Submission Date: 8 January 2011
Marking Scheme for Dissertation Proposal
Name:
Student number
WorkingTitle:
Does the study have a working title; defining the subject/topic/variables of the title and reflecting the dissertation's content?(4 marks)
Not evident
Weak
Satisfactory
Good
Very good
0
1
2
3
4
Purpose:
Does the study clearly say why it is being done? (E.g. 1-2 purpose statements, like: to explore..., or to investigate...etc) (4 marks)
Not evident
Weak
Satisfactory
Good
Very good
0
1
2
3
4
Research questions:
Does the study specifically state what is to be found out on the subject? (E.g. 1-2 general research questions, like, what..., or how... etc) (4 marks)
Not evident
Weak
Satisfactory
Good
Very good
0
1
2
3
4
Scope:
Is the scope of the research defined and rationalised? (E.g. whose perspective/viewpoint/position is to considered [employer, employee, government, industrial sector, size of company, etc) (4 marks)
Not evident
Weak
Satisfactory
Good
Very good
0
1
2
3
4
Conceptual underpinnings:
Is the study based on appropriate concepts/ideas/theories? (40 marks)
Not evident
Weak
Satisfactory
Good
Very good
0
10-19
20-29
30-34
35-40
Is the study based on relevant literature (e.g. academic journals and books)? (4 marks)
Not evident
Weak
Satisfactory
Good
Very good
0
10-19
20-29
30-34
35-40
