Module: Research Design Workshop
Aims
- To ensure that students are familiar with relevant and rigorous theories of business and management research within their field of study.
- To ensure that students are aware of the neighbouring theories that they can take advantage of in terms of borrowing insights and/or research methods.
- To develop the level of integration of students field knowledge.
- To develop students ability to identify a suitable research topic, and generate theoretically relevant research questions that can be answered rigorously and scientifically.
- To develop students ability to identify suitable research methods to answer their research questions.
- To develop students ability to appreciate ethical issues in research
Content
- Logic and argumentation
- Models and methods
- Suitability of different analytical methodologies
- Rigor and relevance in business and management research theories, models and methods
- Data collection methods: Participant and non-participant observation; Unstructured, semi structured and structured interviews; survey data; archival data, experimental data
- Ethical challenges associated with the conduct of research into organisations
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific knowledge
- Have an up-to-date knowledge of the relevant theories
- Have a comprehensive understanding of neighbouring fields
- Have an advanced understanding of research design issues
- Understand contemporary developments in subject-specific research methods
- Have a comprehensive understanding of subject-specific methodological considerations
- Understand limitations on data availability and management of research access
- Understand the time demand of different data collection methods
- Understand issues concerning research and confidentiality
- Understand ethical challenges associated with the conduct of research into organisations, and the appropriate responses
Subject-specific skills
- Ability to skilfully conduct research
- Ability to critically assess existing research
- Ability to develop novel theory
- Ability to test newly developed theory
- Ability to unify or synthesise theories
Key skills
- Ability to make an initial formulation and articulation of a research problem
- Ability to transform the research problem into a set of research questions
- The ability to design the research to answer a particular research question
- Ability to design and execute data collection.
- Ability to design data coding
- Ability to design the data analysis
- Effective oral communication skills
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- The module will be delivered via workshops taking the students through all the relevant phases of research design.
- By commenting on each others’ suggestions, students will acquire both the capability and the attitude to critically evaluate and improve research designs
- Learning will also occur through face to face and online support from the module leader and/or supervisors.
- The module enables the students to develop their own research design.
- The assessment of the module is by a combination of: a 15,000 word written assignment based on a clear research proposal and an extensive literature review and field knowledge (assessed by supervisors); and an oral examination of the students on research design issues by an academic panel (including supervisors and module leader). The assessment is designed to test students' knowledge and understanding of the subject-matter and their ability to articulate a researchable issue. The module is assessed on a pass/fail basis and students must pass both components.
Summative Assessment
- Individual oral examination on research design issues, 30-45 minutes
- Individual written assignment based on an extensive literature review and field knowledge, 15,000 words.
Formative Assessment
Students will receive the RDW information and readings at least one week prior to the module being delivered and will produce a formative piece of work in preparation for the main module assignment. The formative assessment will comprise an individual 2,500-5,000 word assignment. The latter can be based on the work that students will conduct during the RDW and can be accompanied by slides. Although the formative assignment is optional, students are encouraged to take this opportunity and receive feedback from their supervisors.