Designing and Running a Research Project

RATIONALE 

This module provides an introduction to principles of research design and techniques for conducting research studies. It supports the development of research literacy (the ability to engage with, and critique, research outputs) and skills required to design and run small-scale research projects. It therefore forms part of the preparation of students for the Extended Project that they will complete at a later stage. During the module, students will have the opportunity to review research studies in the form of topic overviews, videos and formative tasks. The purpose is for the students to make connections between the formal elements of academic research design and the interests of those that use research to inform important business decisions. This module forms part of a development of academic skills that will be required at Level 6, particularly in the completion of the Extended Project. It will also help students with the development of ideas suitable for their research project. The module is also designed to ensure that students appreciate the value of research (as structured enquiry) as part of professional practice. By drawing out key learning and exposing students to a wide variety of topics, the module will help students appreciate the value of research to their future careers (beyond the completion of the dissertation). 

AIMS 

Through the completion of this module students will: 

• To highlight a range of business-related research topics to students 
• To develop the confidence of students in relation to the development of topics for their Extended Project at Level 6 
• To support students to describe and interpret approaches to business-related research 
• To support the development of professional skills that relate to the use of data for supporting good business decisions 

LEARNING OUTCOMES 

On successful completion of this module, a student will be able to: 

1. Describe the research approach taken in a small range of projects using appropriate terminology 
2. Appraise the choice of research approach, weighing up the scope for employing alternative approaches 
3. Demonstrate how different research approaches might be used to investigate the same broad topic area, giving different perspectives 
4. Explain how a properly conducted research study might be used to improve practice in a professional or applied setting