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This course unit provides students with a detailed introduction to the research process and the different skills, knowledge and understanding required to conduct a final year business and management dissertation. Through a range of lectures and seminars, the course seeks to focus on the development of research questions, conceptual thinking and literature reviews and the selection and application of appropriate methods and techniques for data collection and analysis. A major aspect of this course is the provision of detailed individual feedback to ensure that students have support throughout the course and in relation to the different assignments. 

This course unit aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities needed to design and plan rigorous research in management, business, and the social sciences. Through an integrated combination of lectures and applied seminar sessions, students will develop strong research questions, conduct effective literature reviews, and gain practical expertise in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, including survey design, statistical analysis, interviewing techniques, and thematic analysis. The course also covers mixed methods approaches and ethical considerations essential to conducting responsible research. Overall, this course seeks to develop an understanding of how to conduct research in terms of producing research questions, proposal writing and supervision, writing a dissertation, literature reviews, research methods, and specific ethical issues. 

On completion of this course unit successful students should have: 

• A critical understanding of the different assumptions underlying research into the social sciences and the nature and status of research methodology 

• An overview of the different debates and issues underlying the research process and how this relates to the specific methods selected to conduct a study 

• An awareness of the research process and the different issues to consider when writing a proposal, performing a literature review, conducting empirical research and completing a dissertation.

Week 1: Introduction to Research Methodology 

Week 2: Developing Research Questions & Literature Reviews 

Week 3: Research Design & Ethics 

Week 4: Data Collection 

Week 5: Introduction to Quantitative Analysis 

Week 6: Quantitative Data Analysis 

Week 7: Qualitative Methods 

Week 8: Qualitative Analysis 

Week 9: Mixed Methods & Integration 

Week 10: Writing & Presenting Research 

Lectures: 20 hours

Seminar/tutorial/workshop/lab hours: 10 hours; 1-hour seminar/applied lecture every week (During seminar sessions, students may use software such as SPSS and Qualtrics to learn how to set up surveys and analyse basic data )

Independent study hours: 170 

Notional study hours: 200

• Understand the research process and the different issues to consider when writing a proposal, performing a literature review, conducting empirical research and completing a dissertation.

• Formulate a focused research question and critically synthesize relevant scholarly literature to establish a coherent theoretical foundation for independent research.

• Perform a literature review  
• Design an appropriate research methodology, demonstrating awareness of ethical considerations, practical feasibility, and the constraints of social science research. 

Formative Assessment:

Draft Research Question with Literature review & Methodology outline:  

• Students would need to provide their research question and detailed outline of their lit review with their key themes and debates identified, the research gap identified and 8-10 core sources. They should also have a draft outline of the methods they intend to use 

Summative Assessment:

Research Proposal (100%)

Components:  

• Introduction & research question (refined from formative) 
• Literature review (developed from formative outline) 
• Proposed methodology 
• Ethical considerations 
• Timeline/feasibility 
• References 

Feedback will be provided via Canvas and will be provided within 15 business days as aligned with university policy.

While there is no core text, the following list provides a range of introductory and extended reading in this area. 

• Bryman A and Bell E (2012) Business Research Methods, Oxford: Oxford University Press. 
• Bryman A, Williams M, May T and Wiggins R (1996). An Introduction to the Philosophy of Social Research. Routledge. 
• Chalmers AF (2001). What is this Thing Called Science? University of Queensland Press. Delanty G (2005). Social Science: Philosophical and Methodological Foundations (2nd edition). Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. 
• Delanty G and Strydom P (eds.) (2003). Philosophies of Social Science: The Classic and Contemporary Readings. Open University Press 
• Denzin N and Lincoln Y (2000). Handbook of Qualitative Research. Sage. Gilbert N (2008). Researching Social Life. Sage 
• Gill J and Johnson P (2010). Research Methods for Managers (4th Edition). London: Sage Publications. 
• Malhotra NK, Birks DF and Wills P (2012). Marketing Research, An Applied Approach (4th Edition). Pearson. 
• Punch K (1998). Introduction of Social Research. Sage 
• Robson C (2007). How to do a Research Project: a guide for undergraduate students. Oxford: Blackwell.
• Robson C (2011) Real World Research. London: Blackwell.
• Schwab DP (2011). Research Methods for Organizational Studies. Routledge. Seale C (2004). Researching Society and Culture. Sage 
• Silverman D (2013). A Very Short, Fairly Interesting, Reasonably Cheap Book about Qualitative Research. Sage. 
• Silverman D (2010). Doing Qualitative Research. Sage Smith MJ (1998). Social Science in Question. Sage

Available to students on BSc in Management/Management (Specialism), BSc International Management