Case Study Reflection Assignment: Approaches and Methods in Conducting Research

Assessment Criteria

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding tested in this assignment:

·understand relevant methodological concepts and challenges associated with business research

·critically evaluate a range of approaches to research and assess their potential relevance to the chosen research topic.

·Appropriate application of learning theory.

Learning Outcomes: Skills and Attributes tested in this assignment:

·effective development of reflective thinking and writing skills

·Ability to evaluate and make distinguishing choices to establish best practice for the type of research to be conducted.

Feedback /Marking criteria for this Assignment

Performance will be assessed using HBS Grading Criteria and Mark scheme.

Guidance for improvement will be given in writing on the Assessment Feedback Form or on the StudyNet Feedback Form within 4 weeks of submission.

For each day or part day up to five days after the published deadline, coursework relating to modules submitted late will have the numeric grade.  If a submission is more than 5 days after the published deadline, a grade of zero will be awarded.

Where the numeric grade awarded for the assessment is less than 40, no lateness penalty will be applied;

In order to assist in understanding approaches to research, the reflection on the weekly case studies discussed allows for insights into the approaches and methods used in conducting research.

The Case Study Reflection assignment is based on the 10 case studies discussed during the Module covering the different aspects of research and sequentially building a complete overview of approaching a research project.

·The technical aspects of the types of research and research approaches being identified. Such as the nature of reviewing literature; the research philosophy considered; the research design, such as the case study method used.

·What skills have each person in the case study used or developed, such as research skill; making notes; interviewing skills

·What dilemmas, problems and issues have the persons in the case studies been facing, having to think about and resolve problems about.

·Apply the above to yourself and your own research

The suggested structure of this reflection assignment to be as follows (with NO Headings/Subheadings included):

-Short introduction

This is a short description as to the nature of the assignment and what you have been asked to do, as well as what issues and skills that are going to be considered.

-Main body of the reflection

Outlining what has been learned from the approaches and issues discussed in the case study scenarios, and how this learning is going to be applied in your own research in the future. This may include:

oa discussion of aspects, e.g. opportunities and challenges of conducting a research learnt from the case studies; how the adopted approach to the research has been arrived at; what have been some of the key aspects that have influenced the design of the research,

oidentifying any skills and skill development for carrying out research as identified in the case studies,

oreferring to relevant additional sources/literature (beyond the case studies) to make sense of your learning,

ohow you would apply what has been learnt from the case studies to the future approach of your own research (action plan)

This should be a short description, based on the discussions and analysis developed in the main body of the assignment and identifying the key issues that have been identified in the main body.

·You can use the first person (i.e. I, my) in this reflective account.

·The reflection needs to be written in an essay format with NO Headings or Subheadings.