Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2022-2023 (archived)

Module ACCT3071: Research Methods in Accounting

Department: Accounting

ACCT3071: Research Methods in Accounting

Type Tied Level 3 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2022/23 Module Cap None. Location Durham
Tied to N408
Tied to N409

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to undertake an independent research project under appropriate supervision.
  • To distinguish between research philosophies, identify appropriate research methods, plan a research project and complete a review of relevant literature.

Content

  • Research Philosophies including Positivist, Realist, Interpretivist and Pragmatic approaches to research
  • Searching for academic literature
  • Research methods appropriate to research paradigms
  • Project management skills for research
  • Ethics in research

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of the module students are expected:
  • To have acquired extended knowledge of a relevant topic of interest and completed a review of relevant literature;
  • To have developed their knowledge of approaches to research and be able to distinguish between Positivist, Realist and Interpretivist paradigms.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • By the end of the module students are expected:
  • To have acquired skills of independent research and project management;
  • To be able to demonstrate an ability to present and analyse data in a clear and appropriate manner.
Key Skills:
  • Written communication
  • Planning, organising and working to deadlines
  • Problem solving and analysis
  • Initiative
  • Computer literacy

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

  • Learning is facilitated by weekly workshops designed to explore research ideas.
  • Formative assessment is by means of a poster presentation to outline the research proposal.
  • Summative assessment is through the production of a research plan, building on the formative work, and a literature review.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Workshops 10 Weekly 2 hours 20
Preparation, Reading and Independent Study 180
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Research Plan Component Weighting: 20%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Research Plan 1000 words 100% Same
Component: Literature Reivew Component Weighting: 80%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Literature Review 3000 words 100% same

Formative Assessment:

Poster presentation


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