Module Directory

This module introduces students to the process and methodology of research in the field of Management and Marketing. Students are acquainted with the nature of the philosophical assumptions that underpin the choice of research design and strategy to problematize and address a specific research issue. In particular, how to formulate suitable research question(s) and objective(s) and search for and evaluate the academic literature on the topic.

The module explores a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods, including proposed data collection and analysis techniques to illustrate the suitability of these methods for designing future research projects. The ethical, practical and legal questions raised by research are explored. Practical aspects of the research process are examined, including the skills required to evaluate published research, undertaking a critical review of the literature, planning and organizing a future research project within the body of relevant knowledge in order to make theoretical and practical recommendations.

The aims of this module are:

• To provide students with the necessary guidance to undertake advanced-level independent research in Management and Marketing.


• To focus on the nature of research in the discipline, and the social sciences in general, and
  examines the knowledge and skills necessary to plan and undertake an independent research
  project.


• To provide students with opportunities to familiarize themselves with important
  theoretical and empirical concepts related to the research process.


• To combine a critical understanding of the theoretical literature with the practical application of how to conduct a complex investigation of a real-world organizational or business issue within a specific context. This helps in contributing to existing knowledge in the discipline and making practical proposals for change. These skills are intended to provide a good foundation to students to successfully plan and undertake a Masters Level research project.

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Appreciate the ways in which management/ marketing research is located in the broader corpus of the social sciences in order to identify and problematise the research issue.


2. Search and review the relevant academic literature in order to establish a theoretical/conceptual understanding of the knowledge base that underpins the research question/objectives.


3. Understand the significance of, and the relationship between ontological & epistemological positions, research approach and methodological considerations.


4. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the principles and techniques of research design, strategy and methods.


5. Identify & evaluate a range of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and proposed analytical techniques and reflect on how they affect the quality of research.


6. Understand the ethical, legal and practical considerations in undertaking practical research in the real world.

Skills for your Professional Life (Transferable Skills

By the end of this module, students will be expected to develop a range of transferable skills:

1. Develop written communication skills through writing and receiving feedback on module assignments.


2. Enhance communication skills through interactive discussions on relevant topics related
   to the assessments.


3. Practice analytical skills through the application of secondary data analysis techniques for a
   specific research context.


4. Hone critical and analytical thinking by reviewing the relevant literature and evaluating different
   approaches and strategies for management and marketing research specific to the research
   problem.


5. Develop IT literacy through electronically accessing module materials, completing and
   submitting assignments and learning to use certain specialist software.


6. This module will thereby cover the following skills from the EBS skills map:
   - A1 Synthesis and bringing together concepts and ideas
   - A2 Critical thinking
   - A3 Evaluation of evidence
   - A4 Creative problem solving
   - A5 Recognize rival conceptual ideas
   - D1 Analyzing quantitative data
   - D2 Analyzing qualitative data
   - D4 Analyzing Academic literature
   - D5 Analysis of different business reports
   - D6 Desk research/netnographic skills
   - S2 Showing leadership
   - S3 Showing adaptability to changing circumstances
   - S4 Showing own initiative
   - C2 Expressing research findings in report or slide deck
   - C3 Expressing ideas for business purposes
   - C5 Argumentation / Essay writing skills
   - T1 Core IT skills (word, excel, PowerPoint, outlook)
   - R1 Identifying research needs and aims
   - R2 Identifying suitable frameworks and models to aid research aims
   - R3 Using different research methods appropriately
   - R4 Report research findings
   - R5 Identifying application of research
   - R6 Understanding plagiarism and referencing
   - BM3 Ability to develop greater sensitivity and awareness around implied and explicit ethical
   assumptions and beliefs
   - M3 Understand the similarities and differences between academic and commercial research
   - M4 Interpret and understand business-related information including visual and media analysis

This module will be delivered via:

• 10 x 3-hour lecture-seminars weekly