Module ACCT42360: Individual Research Project

Department: Accounting

ACCT42360: Individual Research Project

Tied To

• N4R201: Accounting (with Integrated Studies)

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To provide students with the opportunity to conduct an in-depth pilot investigation for their doctoral research of a specific issue in accounting.
• To facilitate students’ understanding of how to manage and implement research projects.
• To develop students’ doctoral-level research skills in relation to developing innovative, rigorous and relevant research questions.
• To develop students’ critical understanding of decision-making during the research process and the implications of decisions taken.
• To develop students’ self-management and time management skills.

Content

• During the module students select a research topic that fits within the remit of their subject area. The topic will be approved by the students’ supervisory team and ratified by the PhD Programme Director.
• The Individual Research Project is of the scope of a Masters dissertation and is a pilot study for their doctoral research. It should therefore have sufficient focus, allowing the student to review the relevant literature critically and in sufficient depth, and to apply research methods taught in previous modules.
• In producing the project, students will make use of and manage library facilities, databases and other learning resources.

Learning Outcomes

• Critical understanding of the research process and decision-making during this process
• Critical understanding of ethical implications and challenges during the research process
• Critical understanding of key steps and decision points in comprehensive research projects

• Ability to effectively organise, structure and manage a research project at an advanced level, including undertaking critical appraisal of relevant literature, and apply critical judgement and discrimination;
• Ability to operate independently on a research topic and exercise appropriate judgement in the selection of material;
• Ability to manage the skills of inquiry, quantitative and qualitative research design, experimental research, data collection and information retrieval, bibliographic search, measurement and analysis, interpretation and presentation of results;
• Developed advanced skills of research, analysis and scholarly expression in a chosen topic.

• Self-management and time management
• Advanced academic reading and writing
• Problem solving and analysis

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

• Students work independently on their research, analysis and writing up, under the guidance of a supervisor. Normally the student will meet their supervisor on no more than six occasions.
• The summative assessment of the module is designed to facilitate students’ understanding of the full research process, from idea development to data collection, analysis and final write-up.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Research proposal of no more than 1000 words.