BE218-5-SP-SO:
Business Research Methods
2025/26
Essex Business School
Southend Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Monday 12 January 2026
Friday 20 March 2026
15
25 June 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BE932, BE933, BE934, BE941
BBA N100 Business Administration,
BBA N103 Business Administration (Including Placement Year),
BBA N104 Business Administration (Including Foundation Year),
BBA N104CO Business Administration (Including Foundation Year),
BBA N110 Business Administration (Including Year Abroad),
BSC N120 International Business and Entrepreneurship,
BSC N121 International Business and Entrepreneurship (Including Year Abroad),
BSC N123 International Business and Entrepreneurship (Including Placement Year),
BSC N124 International Business and Entrepreneurship (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N124CO International Business and Entrepreneurship (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N501 Marketing,
BSC N502 Marketing (Including Year Abroad),
BSC N504 Marketing (Including Placement Year),
BSC N505 Marketing (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N505CO Marketing (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N355 International Business and Finance,
BSC N356 International Business and Finance (Including Placement Year),
BSC N357 International Business and Finance (Including Year Abroad),
BSC N358 International Business and Finance (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N358CO International Business and Finance (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N111 Business Administration and Supply Chain Management,
BSC N112 Business Administration and Supply Chain Management (Including Placement Year),
BSC N113 Business Administration and Supply Chain Management (Including Year Abroad),
BSC N114 Business Administration and Supply Chain Management (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N114CO Business Administration and Supply Chain Management (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N130 Business and Analytics,
BSC N131 Business and Analytics (including Placement Year),
BSC N132 Business and Analytics (including Year Abroad),
BSC N133 Business and Analytics (including Foundation Year),
BSC N133CO Business and Analytics (including Foundation Year)
This module is designed to introduce students to the concepts of business research methods. The module focuses on the research process in business and management in general, and entrepreneurship and small businesses in particular. The module addresses philosophical issues underlying management research. It focuses on the important issues of selecting appropriate research methods and judging the quality and value of research outcomes.
The module is concerned with the development of an in-depth understanding and application of the variety of research methods, both in the quantitative and qualitative research designs. The module is structured to cover five broad and interrelated issues: a) nature of research, research design and planning; b) quantitative research design and data collection; c) qualitative research design and data collection; d) data interpretation and analysis; and e) writing up research proposal and presentation of results.
The module helps the student to critically examine issues of the selection of an appropriate research method and statistical packages to apply for a study of a range of entrepreneurship and business courses.
The aims of this module are:
- To enable students to acquire a critical understanding of the research methods that are used to study different aspects of business environment.
- To equip students with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to carry out a sound academic research project supported by critical understanding of the use value of research methods and techniques.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Develop critical understanding of the nature of scientific inquiry in the context of the business environment.
- Demonstrate appropriate skills in research techniques for effective problem solving, in-depth investigation of key issues, and use of relevant learning materials.
- Become aware of research methods for producing empirical data analysis, quantitative and qualitative research outputs.
- Develop critical understanding of research methods, research design and instruments and their application in various business contexts.
The lectures will be developed around the key concepts of the research methods in business environment as mentioned in the indicative course content.
Seminars will explore understanding of theory and research scenarios. Steering group members will also be involved in supporting these workshops/seminars. The seminars will use a range of the live examples of research instruments such as questionnaire and case studies.
Group-based workshops will be led by students to obtain better value through peer group networking, and also to learn from each other about concepts, issues, problems and their application and resolution.
This module is part of the Q-Step pathway. Q-Step is an award which you can gain simply by enrolling on specific modules and will signal to employers your capability in quantitative research. Learn more about the Q-Step pathway and enhance your degree now.
This module will be delivered via:
- Lectures; seminars; group work; directed reading; signposting to other resources and support.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Wali Rehman, email: w.rehman@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Wali Rehman
w.rehman@essex.ac.uk
enich@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
Dr Vikrant Shirodkar
University of Sussex
Senior Lecturer In International Business
Available via Moodle
Of 27 hours, 27 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
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