Module BUSI1191: Introduction to Business Research

Department: Business School (Business)

BUSI1191: Introduction to Business Research

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• to introduce students to the use of basic tools of research and analysis in the world of business
• to explore key quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry used in business research
• to examine the influential philosophical and epistemological perspectives underpinning research
• to provide opportunities to acquire and develop entry-level skills in the practice of these techniques
• to form a foundation for the further development of business research techniques and approaches in subsequent years of the programme

Content

• Business research - philosophy and process
• Developing a research topic
• Conducting a literature review
• Establishing a research design - quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods
• Identifying, using and critiquing secondary data sources
• Primary data collection methods - observation, interviews, surveys, ethnography, etc
• Essentials of sampling
• Analysing quantitative data
• Analysing qualitative data
• Research ethics
• Writing and presenting business research projects

Learning Outcomes

• At the end of the module students should be able to:
• design and conduct a business research project
• demonstrate knowledge of a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods and techniques
• understand the importance of ethics in research and know how to approach ethical issues in research design and planning

• At the end of the module students should be able to:
• design and conduct initial research and investigation.
• understand the relation of positivist and interpretive frameworks.
• select appropriate methods and conduct initial analyses of data using basic statistical, mathematical and qualitative techniques.
• report on the process, outcomes and implications of a business investigation.

• Ability to access data and information from a range of sources.
• Ability to analyse and present basic quantitative and qualitative data.
• Written communication.
• Time management and project planning

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The module will be delivered by means of a series of lectures and practical workshops, supported by guided reading and online learning materials. Lectures provide the philosophical, epistemological and conceptual input to students’ research training, while workshops provide opportunities for students to explore particular research and data analysis methods, together with associated quantitative and qualitative software packages (e.g. SPSS, NVivo).
• Summative assessments provide opportunities to both build knowledge and practice research skills. Part One focuses on literature searching and the production of a formal literature review on an approved topic, equipping students with essential academic research and writing skills transferable across the programme. Part Two of the assessment takes the form of a practical project, students formulating a research question on the basis of their initial literature review, selecting an appropriate research design, collecting and analysing data, and documenting the findings in a formal project report.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Formative exercises will be embedded into all workshops to provide continuous assessment and feedback on students’ developing research and data analysis skills. In addition, all students will produce a short research proposal (1000 words max.) outlining the intended summative project.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University