Case Study Reflection Assignment: Approaches and Methods used in Conducting Research

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.

Description of the assignment:

In order to assist in understanding approaches to research, the 500-word reflective essay 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. You may not need to include all the 10 case studies but must include at least 4 case studies to show your learning, engagement and understanding of the case studies.

It is worth noting, the reflective essay is NOT a summary / mere description of the case studies, but a reflective account discussing what you have learnt from the case studies and reflect on how the case study learning will impact on you as a researcher and your own research project.  

Detailed Instructions:

In order to maximise your learning outcome and achieve high out of the assignment, you are strongly advised to

1.Read each of the 10 case studies every week and make a note of your feelings and learning from each of them while making a note on the following areas:

a.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, ethics consideration taken.

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

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

d.Apply the above to yourself and your own research

2.Attend the weekly tutorials so to discuss each case study and the answers to the case study questions with your tutor and peers, so that you can gain more insight into learning. This can also feed into the reflective essay.

3.Discuss your learning from the case studies, and apply to yourself, as a researcher and your own research, and reflect it in the reflective essay  

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

4.A Title Page consisting of:

Title of the assignment, Module code and title, your student ID – NOT your name for anonymous marking, word count and submission date

5.Short introduction (1st paragraph)

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.

6.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:

a.a 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,

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

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

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