PS6004EFA Project Assignment : 8,000-word Individual Research-Based Dissertation on Business and Management Topics

Module Summary

This module aims to provide students with an opportunity to apply and develop their research skills and to extend their knowledge, understanding and ability to critically analyse in a specialist area of interest. The student will choose an academic area related to their programme of study and apply their independent learning skills to research this area in depth. Students will receive academic support through a series of group supervisions and will be allocated a project supervisor.

The module includes an individual research-based dissertation route, and all project titles must be approved by the project supervisor in advance of commencing the project.

Aims and Summary

Module Size and Credits

Module level = 6

Learning credits = 20 credits

Assessment credits = 20 credits

ECTS credits = 10 credits

Total student study hours = 200 hours

Total study weeks = 13

Pre-requisites and co-requisites = None

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Intended Module Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, the learner should be able to:

• Identify and justify a research question or business issue of relevance to the student’s programme of study.
• Critically evaluate the key concepts involved in the research project and identify and apply appropriate theories to form a coherent research proposal, including structured and focused research objectives appropriate for study at the Undergraduate level.
• Identify, analyse, and critically review the relevant literature.
• Evaluate and utilise appropriate research methodologies and methods, and understand the principles of effective and ethical research practice.
• Analyse, interpret, and critically evaluate the data or information obtained and present the analysis and findings (or artefacts) of research with clarity.
• Formulate realistic and appropriate conclusions and recommendations from a
  dissertation/project, including suggestions for future research and/or practice as appropriate.

Indicative Content

Content will depend on the topic chosen by the student. However, there will be preparatory support through online materials and some taught sessions, which will cover the following:

• Introduction to undertaking business and management research.
• Choosing a research topic / identifying a relevant business issue.
• Time management and professional skills.
• How to structure an extended writing project
• Research methodology, methods, sampling, data collection and analysis (quantitative and qualitative).
• Research ethics.
• Identifying literature and appropriate academic sources and undertaking a literature review.
• Keeping up to date with recent industry developments.
• Academic writing and scholarship skills.

Group supervision will also be used to report on individual progress throughout the module.

Teaching and Learning

The module is primarily student-led; however, students will be supported through a series of group supervisions led by the project supervisor. Students will be allocated to a group depending on their chosen route: either an individual research-based dissertation, an individual business project, or a group business project. A Moodle module page will be used to support students outside of the classroom. Owing to the module’s nature and aims, students will be required to undertake a substantial amount of independent and self-guided study.

Students may also be required to develop and write an ethical approval application in line with the University guidelines and policies on research ethics.

The learning will incorporate examples and case studies, the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME): sustainability, social responsibility, responsible leadership, and ethics.

Assessment Components

Please note that coursework must be uploaded through the Turnitin link provided on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) for a plagiarism check.

Details of Assessment Tasks

Project: An 8,000-word individual research-based dissertation on an approved business topic that relates to the student’s course of study.

Pass Requirements

The project must be at least 40%, and the module mark must be at least 40%.

Method of Reassessment

Re-assessment by resubmission of the project with a reflective element, which explains the changes made since the original submission and explains how the feedback previously received has been acted upon.

Module Resources

Essential Reading List

Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2019). Research Methods for Business Students (8th ed.). Pearson.

Recommended Reading List

Collis, J. & Hussey, R. (2021). Business Research: A Practical Guide for Students (5th ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.

An annually updated reading list including a list of other resources such as contemporary journal articles, reports, magazines and blogs will be provided.

In addition, students will be expected to carry out independent research to explore topics within contemporary publications in order to broaden their knowledge and understanding beyond the core content delivered in lectures.

Important - Please Read This Warning Regarding Plagiarism

Assessments must be all your work and must not have been copied in part or whole from any other source, such as books or the internet, or from other students’ work. If you wish to use another author’s exact words in a short quotation, this must be marked up in inverted commas with the exact source given, including page number, so that the reader can see which words have been copied and are not your own. Just quoting references used at the end is not sufficient. Copying another student’s work, using previous work of your own or copying large sections from a book or the internet are examples of plagiarism and carry serious consequences.