UGB301 Business Research Dissertation Guidance Notes

Module Delivery and Credits

These notes provide guidance to those undertaking the UGB301 Business Research Dissertation module as part of Undergraduate Programme in Business and Management at Sunderland University in London.
The notes are not exhaustive in the detail they provide. In particular, they are not intended to be a ‘guide to research’ per se. Their main purpose is to set out the general requirements for completion of the Dissertation and to provide advice about how the module is best undertaken. Other essential information is also provided from time to time by the Course Team.
Suggested sources of guidance about research generally, including research methodologies, are listed in the ‘Recommended Reading’ for the Business Research Dissertation module and in the bibliography at the end of these notes. Participants should also consult regularly with their academic supervisor or with the Dissertation Co-ordinator at Sunderland University in London in order to confirm that their progress is satisfactory. 

The module conforms to the conventional requirements for a business undergraduate Dissertation. These are described formally in the definitive documentation for Undergraduate Programmes at Sunderland University. 
1. The module is delivered throughout two consecutive terms: in Term 1, module teaching will take place whereas Term 2 will be devoted to dissertation supervision and other support activities.
Please, refer to the Scheme of work available in section 6 of this module guide below. This module carries 40 credits which is equivalent to typical two modules on the course. The dissertation is the crowning element of not only this module, but of your 3 year course with Sunderland University as a whole. It will therefore contribute significantly to your overall final degree classification.
The first part of the module delivery will be in combination of both theory to introduce students to the fundamentals of research methods and practical sessions (workshops) to apply research methods. The delivery is expected to complete within just first 6 weeks of the term, with the rest of the term time to focus on your own research and independent study. The students thus are expected to embark on their research journey straight away. The delivery of the theory will be followed by students presented their research idea(s) in form of an individual Business Research Dissertation Plan (RDP) which is compulsory and will be assessed summative by the module team.
Before commencing work for their dissertation students must submit a Business Research Dissertation Proposal to include rationale for the proposed topic and background, and define scope of your research. The proposal will explain the rationale for the question the students intend to investigate together with initial evidence of the availability and relevance of the literature they intend
to examine and the methodology they intend to use, and the likely outcomes of their endeavours.
Students must provide a clear statement of aim and research objectives. It is paramount that students would start thinking about a potential research topic and their approach from the very beginning of the delivery. The proposal is an individually written report of no more than 750 words to be submitted to your module leader in London.