Research Methodology

BMAN24802 Research Methodology 20 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 2 Dominique Burrows Unit coordinator Alliance Manchester Business School 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Middle part of Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 10.0 This course unit provides students with a detailed introduction to the research process and the different skills, knowledge and understanding required to conduct a final year business and management dissertation. Through a range of lectures and seminars, the course seeks to focus on the development of research questions, conceptual thinking and literature reviews and the selection and application of appropriate methods and techniques for data collection and analysis. A major aspect of this course is the provision of detailed individual feedback to ensure that students have support throughout the course and in relation to the different assignments. <o:p></o:p> This course unit provides students with a detailed introduction to the research process and the different skills, knowledge and understanding required to conduct a final year business and management dissertation. Through a range of lectures and seminars, the course seeks to focus on the development of research questions, conceptual thinking and literature reviews and the selection and application of appropriate methods and techniques for data collection and analysis. A major aspect of this course is the provision of detailed individual feedback to ensure that students have support throughout the course and in relation to the different assignments.  This course unit aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities needed to design and plan rigorous research in management, business, and the social sciences. Through an integrated combination of lectures and applied seminar sessions, students will develop strong research questions, conduct effective literature reviews, and gain practical expertise in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, including survey design, statistical analysis, interviewing techniques, and thematic analysis. The course also covers mixed methods approaches and ethical considerations essential to conducting responsible research. Overall, this course seeks to develop an understanding of how to conduct research in terms of producing research questions, proposal writing and supervision, writing a dissertation, literature reviews, research methods, and specific ethical issues. <o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p> On completion of this course unit successful students should have: <o:p></o:p>• A critical understanding of the different assumptions underlying research into the social sciences and the nature and status of research methodology <o:p></o:p>• An overview of the different debates and issues underlying the research process and how this relates to the specific methods selected to conduct a study <o:p></o:p>• An awareness of the research process and the different issues to consider when writing a proposal, performing a literature review, conducting empirical research and completing a dissertation. <ul><li>Understand the research process and the different issues to consider when writing a proposal, performing a literature review, conducting empirical research and completing a dissertation.<o:p></o:p></li></ul> <ul><li>Formulate a focused research question and critically synthesize relevant scholarly literature to establish a coherent theoretical foundation for independent research.<o:p></o:p></li></ul> <ul><li>Perform a literature review  <o:p></o:p></li><li>Design an appropriate research methodology, demonstrating awareness of ethical considerations, practical feasibility, and the constraints of social science research. <o:p></o:p></li></ul> The research methodology course provides the foundations for further research at an undergraduate and postgraduate level and also develops the ability to think through organizational and management problems critically and analytically. It encourages the students to structure their thinking in relation to specific perspectives and paradigms and develops their skills in proposal writing and research planning the process. Week 1: Introduction to Research Methodology <o:p></o:p>Week 2: Developing Research Questions & Literature Reviews <o:p></o:p>Week 3: Research Design & Ethics <o:p></o:p>Week 4: Data Collection <o:p></o:p>Week 5: Introduction to Quantitative Analysis <o:p></o:p>Week 6: Quantitative Data Analysis <o:p></o:p>Week 7: Qualitative Methods <o:p></o:p>Week 8: Qualitative Analysis <o:p></o:p>Week 9: Mixed Methods & Integration <o:p></o:p>Week 10: Writing & Presenting Research <o:p></o:p> Lectures: 20 hours<o:p></o:p>Seminar/tutorial/workshop/lab hours: 10 hours; 1-hour seminar/applied lecture every week (During seminar sessions, students may use software such as SPSS and Qualtrics to learn how to set up surveys and analyse basic data )<o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p>Independent study hours: 170 <o:p></o:p>Notional study hours: 200<o:p></o:p> 0 Other 100% Formative Assessment:<o:p></o:p>Draft Research Question with Literature review & Methodology outline:  <o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p><ul><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0cm;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo7;">Students would need to provide their research question and detailed outline of their lit review with their key themes and debates identified, the research gap identified and 8-10 core sources. They should also have a draft outline of the methods they intend to use </li></ul>Summative Assessment:Research Proposal (100%)<o:p></o:p>Components:  <o:p></o:p><ul><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0cm;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list 36.0pt;">Introduction & research question (refined from formative) <o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0cm;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list 36.0pt;">Literature review (developed from formative outline) <o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0cm;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo3;tab-stops:list 36.0pt;">Proposed methodology <o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0cm;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo4;tab-stops:list 36.0pt;">Ethical considerations <o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0cm;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo5;tab-stops:list 36.0pt;">Timeline/feasibility <o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin-bottom:0cm;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo6;tab-stops:list 36.0pt;">References </li></ul>  Feedback will be provided via Canvas and will be provided within 15 business days as aligned with university policy. N While there is no core text, the following list provides a range of introductory and extended reading in this area. <ul><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 18.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;">Bryman A and Bell E (2012) Business Research Methods, Oxford: Oxford University Press. </li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 18.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;">Bryman A, Williams M, May T and Wiggins R (1996). An Introduction to the Philosophy of Social Research. Routledge. </li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 18.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;">Chalmers AF (2001). What is this Thing Called Science? University of Queensland Press. Delanty G (2005). Social Science: Philosophical and Methodological Foundations (2nd edition). Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. </li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 18.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;">Delanty G and Strydom P (eds.) (2003). Philosophies of Social Science: The Classic and Contemporary Readings. Open University Press </li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 18.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;">Denzin N and Lincoln Y (2000). Handbook of Qualitative Research. Sage. Gilbert N (2008). Researching Social Life. Sage </li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 18.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;">Gill J and Johnson P (2010). Research Methods for Managers (4th Edition). London: Sage Publications. </li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 18.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;">Malhotra NK, Birks DF and Wills P (2012). Marketing Research, An Applied Approach (4th Edition). Pearson. </li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 18.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;">Punch K (1998). Introduction of Social Research. Sage </li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 18.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;">Robson C (2007). How to do a Research Project: a guide for undergraduate students. Oxford: Blackwell.</li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 18.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;">Robson C (2011) Real World Research. London: Blackwell.</li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 18.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;">Schwab DP (2011). Research Methods for Organizational Studies. Routledge. Seale C (2004). Researching Society and Culture. Sage </li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 18.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;">Silverman D (2013). A Very Short, Fairly Interesting, Reasonably Cheap Book about Qualitative Research. Sage. </li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 18.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;">Silverman D (2010). Doing Qualitative Research. Sage Smith MJ (1998). Social Science in Question. Sage</li></ul> Lectures 20 Seminars 10 0 170 Available to students on BSc in Management/Management (Specialism), BSc International Management <o:p></o:p>