Developing a Research Proposal for Business or Management Issues

What do I need to do to make a success of this assignment?

Assignment task(s)

This assignment requires you to develop a research proposal. You are expected to formulate a research aim to address a business or management issue, which could form the basis of your dissertation, and research question(s)/hypotheses and a research methodology to study that research aim and question(s). You may choose to use purely secondary research data, if appropriate. Within this  assignment you must:

1. Present your research aim and research question(s).

2. Discuss the key area/s of literature upon which your dissertation/thesis will draw and identify how your research will contribute to scholarly knowledge of the topic; you need to provide convincing justification of the need of your research and highlight the academic gap you are attempting to fill in.

3. Detail your research methodology and strategy (e.g. inductive/deductive; positivist/interpretivist; qualitative/quantitative etc.) and state why these choices are appropriate to your research aim.

4. Detail your specific research methods (e.g. telephone interviews, postal questionnaire survey) and why these are appropriate to your research aim.

5. Identify the possible limitations and the likely ethical issues of your chosen methods, problems you might encounter in implementing them, and suggest how you might address these.

1. NOTE: If you are proposing to use only secondary research you must (Failure to do so with result in a H grade):

a. Explain and evaluate your choice of secondary research as the sole research method, and

b. Identify the sources of data that you intend to use.

c. Evaluate the research methods used to generate at least one of the secondary data sets you identified above.  

The assignment should act as a standalone assignment; as such, it will be marked independently from the dissertation that is being proposed. It is therefore imperative the assignment includes enough detail for the marker to understand what is being proposed.

Therefore, it is not simply enough to say statistical/qualitative analysis will be used without explaining what form of analysis will be used and how it will answer the research question(s) proposed. A good indicator as to whether it contains enough detail is that a marker who is not aware of your proposal beforehand, should be able to undertake your proposed project and analysis after reading your proposal.

How should I present my work?

 

 

The research proposal is to be submitted as a professional report. The word count for this assignment is 3000 words. This includes everything in the main body of the text. Everything before (ie abstract, acknowledgements, contents, executive summaries etc) and after the main text (ie references, bibliographies, appendices etc) are NOT included in the word count limit.

There is no fixed penalty for exceeding the word count, but the marker will not consider any work after the +10% word count has been reached, within the allocation of marks. You may therefore be penalised for a failure to be concise and for failing to conclude the work within the word count specified.”

You should structure your work in a clear and professional manner. You are encouraged to attend all the sessions as the tutor will give you guidance on presenting your work.  

Title Page:

Title

Student number

Submission date

Module

Assignment Title

Tutor 

1. Executive Summary - Excluded from the word count.

2. Table of Contents - Excluded from the word count.

3. Main Body of the Assignment  

a. Research aim and research question(s)

b. Previous literature

c. Underpinning methodology (including justification of their suitability)

d. Proposed research methods (including justification of their suitability)

e. Limitations and Ethical Issues

f. Conclusion

4. References – (Excluded from the word count)

5. Appendices

You should save your work with the title BUSM4375-Ass01-Student Number.

GRADE

The clarity of the research aim and research question(s)

Identification of how your research links with, and builds on previous literature

Discussion of the suitability of the research methodology in achieving the research aims

Critically discuss and analyse possible limitations and ethical issues

 

Breadth and depth of evidence gathering

Appropriate presentation, academic writing and referencing

A

The research aim and research question(s) of the proposed research are very clear, thoughtful and developed through a solid argument based on the theoretical or practical background.

Research complex issues systematically and creatively, drawing on a mastery of analytical and specialist disciplinary skills, knowledge and understanding to make original contributions to scholarship in the field. The proposed research builds on existing literature and a ‘gap’ in the literature has been presented and well justified.

Exceptional ability in accomplished and innovative application of comprehensive critical and practical understanding of techniques of enquiry to provide original solutions to complex problems in the field of study. It is exceptionally clear as to how the proposed research methods will achieve the research aims

Possible limitations and ethical issues have been critically discussed and their impact analysed in exceptional detail.

Excellent literature search conducted covering a wide range of reliable sources and showing deep critical analysis and evaluation of evidence and expert opinions. Goes well beyond what is taught in insightful, advanced study/research, to develop original critical analysis and evaluation that shows exceptional initiative and an authoritative independent grasp of issues.

Exceptional skills in

constructing

academic

arguments and

communicating

complex ideas/

viewpoints/

information/

evidence to

advance knowledge

and understanding. The presentation and Harvard referencing is excellent.

B

The research aim and research question(s) of the proposed research are clear and developed through a strong solid argument based on the theoretical or practical background

Research complex issues systematically and creatively, drawing on thorough skills, knowledge and understanding to make independently sound, academically rigorous judgements in analysis and interpretation of outcomes. How the proposed research builds on existing literature is clear and a ‘gap’ in the literature has been presented and justified

Well-developed competent critical and practical self-directed application of techniques of enquiry to provide original solutions to complex problems in the field of study. It is very clear as to how the proposed research methods will achieve the research aim.

Possible limitations and ethical issues have been critically discussed and their impact analysed in great detail.

Very good literature search covering a wide range of reliable sources and showing deep critical analysis and evaluation of evidence and expert opinions. Evidence of systematic breadth and depth of critically appraised and insightful advanced study/ research to develop independent original critical analysis and evaluation

Very well developed communication/ presentation of complex ideas/ viewpoints/ information/ evidence to sustain scholarly arguments that advance understanding The presentation and referencing is good.

C

The research aim and research question(s) of the proposed research are vague and based partially on theoretical or practical background

Research complex issues systematically and creatively and make sound academically rigorous judgements in analysis and interpretation of outcomes, albeit with minor limitations. How the proposed research builds on existing literature is partly developed and a ‘gap’ in the literature has been presented

Comprehensive critical and practical understanding of techniques of enquiry and independent application to research/advanced scholarship in field of study. It is clear as to how the proposed research methods will achieve the research aims with some appreciation of how to analyse the data collected

Possible limitations and ethical issues have been discussed in some critical detail and their impact analysed in good detail.

A clear evidence of sufficient literature search with sound critical analysis and evaluation related to reliable sources and expert opinions. A good breadth of sources used. Evidence of systematic breadth and depth of independent engagement with advanced study and research to develop relevant critical analysis to inform good response to task

 

Effective logical and coherent communication/ presentation of complex ideas/ viewpoints/ information/ evidence to sustain informed arguments The presentation and referencing is reasonable.

D

The research aim and research question(s) of the proposed research are very general and based insufficiently on theoretical or practical background

Research complex issues systematically and creatively and make generally sound judgements in analysis and interpretation of outcomes, albeit with limitations How the proposed research builds on existing literature is vague and a ‘gap’ in the literature has been vaguely presented

Comprehensive critical and practical understanding of techniques of enquiry and application to research/advanced scholarship in field of study. It is somewhat clear how the proposed research methods will achieve the research aims.

Possible limitations and ethical issues have been discussed in limited critical detail and their impact analysed in some detail.

There is evidence of adequate literature search with signs of sound critical analysis and evaluation related some reliable sources and expert opinions. Evidence of independent engagement with advanced research and study to inform satisfactory response to task, but limited in range and depth of critical analysis

 

Competent logical and coherent communication/ presentation of complex ideas/ viewpoints/ information/ evidence to sustain argument with some weaknesses, eg in structure, coherence or currency, but generally sound if standard judgement The presentation and referencing is poor.

E

Vague research aim and research question(s) are presented with limited basis of  theoretical or practical background

Research findings not presented effectively and research design/ application and/or interpretation of data is flawed, with little reflection or analysis of this. The proposed research has been built on limited literature and the ‘gap’  in the literature is not clear

Evidence of critical and practical understanding of techniques of enquiry for area of study has significant gaps or flaws resulting in limited ability to critique advanced scholarship in field. It vaguely clear as to how the proposed research methods will achieve the research aims.

Possible limitations and ethical issues have been discussed in poor critical detail and their impact analysed in limited detail.

Inadequate literature search, and the work was dependent upon out-dated opinion and sources. Insufficient evidence of independent engagement with advanced research and study and/or of relevant current academic references

Argument/ explanation is weak/poorly constructed, unsubstantiated or significantly lacking in coherence or validity The presentation and referencing is very poor.

F

Vague research aim and research question(s) are presented with no basis of theoretical or practical background

 

Research findings not presented effectively and research design/ application and/or interpretation of data is flawed, with little reflection or analysis of this. The proposed research has been built on limited literature and the ‘gap’  in the literature is not presented.

Evidence of critical and practical understanding of techniques of enquiry for area of study is insufficient. It is not clear as to how the proposed research methods will achieve the research aims.

Possible limitations and ethical issues have been discussed in poor critical detail and their impact analysed in very poor detail.

 

No literature search, no legitimate academic sources were consulted. Insufficient evidence of independent engagement with advanced research and study and/or of relevant current academic references

 

Little evidence of an independently constructed argument with appropriate supporting analysis or evidence. The presentation and referencing is extremely poor.

G

No research aim and research question(s) are presented.

 

Significant inadequacies in research design or analysis, indicating limited understanding and/or ability to deal with complex issues or make sound judgements. The proposed research has not been built on appropriate literature.

Evidence of critical and practical understanding of techniques of enquiry for area of study is significantly lacking. It is not clear as to how the proposed research methods will achieve the research aims.

 

Possible limitations and ethical issues have not been discussed.

No literature search, no legitimate academic sources were consulted. Significantly inadequate evidence of independent engagement with advanced research and study

No evidence of an independently constructed argument with appropriate supporting analysis or evidence. The presentation and referencing is non-existent.

 

H / NS