BUSI43915: METHODS OF INQUIRY (EXECUTIVE)

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• To equip students with the skills necessary to undertake Masters-level research, and specifically to produce a first-class dissertation or business project. The focus will be on how to identify an interesting and manageable research question, and then to answer it. We will examine what makes an outstanding research project (and dissertation), and then learn about the building blocks of successful research.

• The nature of the Dissertation.
• How to use databases to identify the important literature.
• How to write an evaluative literature review.
• Introduction to empirical research in the management context.
• Types of research, types of data.
• Experiments and quasi-experiments.
• Questionnaire design.
• Interviews and focus groups.
• Ethical issues in business and management research.
• How to infer relationships between measurements; practical tips on using statistical methods.
• How to manage a research project.
• Writing up your dissertation; what makes a good dissertation.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• By the end of this module, students should:
• have a critical appreciation of how empirical research is conducted in a business context.
• have a critical appreciation of ethical issues in business and management research.

Subject-specific Skills:

• By the end of this module, students should:
• be able to conduct advanced literature searches to identify important literature and outstanding research questions;
• be able to write an evaluative review of the literature;
• be able to conduct a Masters Level research project from beginning to end. This involves the following: identifying an interesting and practical research question at an appropriate advanced level; developing a method for answering the question; conducting the research, including managing all aspects of the research project; interpreting the results; being able to identify and manage any ethical issues that might arise.

Key Skills:

• Written communication; planning, organising and time management; problem solving and analysis; using initiative; computer literacy.

• Learning outcomes will be met through a combination of lectures, groupwork, case studies and discussion, supported by guided reading. The summative assessment is in the form of a written research proposal to provide a direct link with the learning outcomes.

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