Undergraduate Business Research Methods (Top-Up)

Assessment Document 2021-22

Module code: BIN3020-N

Module: Undergraduate Business Research Methods

Submission ECA: May 20th 2022 at 16.00

dates:

Module Purpose

This module seeks to develop students’ skills in research methods applicable to

business and related areas. The module will provide students with an understanding of
the principles underpinning rigorous and ethical management research. The module is
designed to develop an understanding of the concepts and processes involved in
conducting effective research and to develop the necessary practical skills required to
enable students to conduct an academic research study. The module focus will enable
students to plan for the undergraduate level business research project.

Module Learning Outcomes

Module learning outcomes detail the specific knowledge and understanding, cognitive
and intellectual skills, practical and professional skills, and the key transferable skills
that you will develop during this module. The learning outcomes for this module are
detailed below. These learning outcomes will be assessed when marking your
assignment.

Knowledge and Understanding

1. Evaluate the relevant processes, design strategies and methodologies involved in the
execution of a business related project.
2. Assess a range of both quantitative and qualitative research tools and techniques.
3. Identify appropriate research samples.
4. Develop research questionnaires and develop appropriate interview strategies.
5. Analyse secondary data.

Cognitive and Intellectual Skills

6. Identify and select appropriate sources of information, evaluate appropriate data

collection methods and techniques of analysis.
7. Prepare a formal written proposal to undertake a project.
8. Undertake an analysis of a particular topic by making use of appropriate
methodologies.
9. Draw conclusions about a particular topic drawing upon the analysis of a topic.
10. Relate the analysis to the context of the literature on a particular topic.

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 Practical and Professional Skills

11. Analyse both qualitative and quantitative data.

12. Undertake a self-initiated investigation.
13. Gather information, assess its adequacy and evaluate the meanings or explanations
that it may possess.
14. Acquire and use intellectual and conceptual frameworks, major theories and the
essential knowledge and understanding of a projects subject.
15. Demonstrate an ethical approach to research.

Key Transferable Skills

16. Appreciate the use and limitations of intellectual tools, models and modes of
analysis relevant to a particular discipline.
17. Evaluate the elements of a research proposal.

Module Assessment

The assessment requirements for the Undergraduate Business Research Methods

module, in addition to the generic Level 6 University Assessment Criteria (see your
module handbook) and correct use of the required referencing format and style, include
the following module specific criteria:

ECA (100% of the final mark): submit to Bb in Week 13 (3,500-word individual report):
 Title;
 Introduction and background: A rationale for the proposed research project;
 State the aim and objectives of the research;
 Provide an outline review of key underpinning literature;
 Provide an outline of the research project strategy and its data requirements;
 Outline the key findings so far from your secondary research.
 Outline anticipated milestones in the preparation and execution of the project –
create a Gantt chart and describe the project journey.

Presentation Guidance

 Use font size 12;

 Use 1.5 Line and Paragraph spacing;
 Headings in bold;
 Include your name and student number as a header on all pages;
 Include page numbers as a footer;
 Use Harvard referencing throughout;
 Include a reference list of all of the sources cited in your work.

Word limits and penalties for assignments

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If the assignment is within +10% of the stated word limit no penalty will apply.

The word count is to be declared on the front page of your assignment and the
assignment cover sheet. If this word count is falsified, this will be regarded as academic
misconduct.

The word count does not include:

 Title and Contents page;

 Reference list;
 Appropriate tables, figures and illustrations.

Please note, in-text citations [e.g. (Smith, 2011)] and direct secondary quotations [e.g.
“dib-dab nonsense analysis” (Smith, 2011 p.123)] are INCLUDED in the word count.

If the word limit of the full assignment exceeds the +10% limit, 10% of the mark
provisionally awarded to the assignment will be deducted. For example: if the
assignment is worth 70 marks but is above the word limit by more than 10%, a penalty
of 7 marks will be imposed, giving a final mark of 63.

Summarising and compressing the information in your assignment into the word limit
is one of the skills that students are expected to acquire and demonstrate as part of the
assignment process.

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Module Assessment Criteria

Please note that this is replaced by a more detailed VLE rubric marking scheme

Max First Second

ECA Assessment Criteria Feedback Comments
Mark Marker Marker
Working title of research 5
project: should be clearly
presented, unambiguous and
realistic.
Introduction and background: 20
you should include a detailed
discussion of the reasons for
conducting your research topic
and indicate contribution to
knowledge and beneficiaries of
your research.

Aim and objectives of your

research project: you should
include an introduction to your
research topic and the aim and
objectives should be clearly and
concisely presented.
Literature review: you should 30
include a summary literature
review linked to your research
objectives.
Research design and research 20
methodology: you should
indicate clearly the kinds of data
your research will require, the
sources and data collection
methods to be employed.
Findings and analysis: provide 10
an overview of how you plan to
analyse both your secondary and
primary data.
Conclusions: provide your key 10
conclusions so far from your
secondary research and possible
primary research.
Presentation: your research 5
proposal should be well
structured and written, be free of
sentence construction and
grammatical errors and include
correctly formatted referencing.
Total 100 0

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