BE969-7-SP-CO:
Research Methods in Management

The details
2023/24
Essex Business School
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
20
15 August 2023

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

BE972

Key module for

MRESN21012 Management Research,
MRESN21024 Management Research,
MSC N30212 Finance and Management,
MSC N30224 Finance and Management,
MSC N1E212 Management (Social Economy),
MSC N20012 Management,
MSC N20024 Management,
MSC N200MO Management,
MSC N2E112 Management (International),
MSC N2E124 Management (International),
MSC N2E212 Management (Marketing),
MSC N2E224 Management (Marketing),
MPHDN20048 Management,
PHD N20048 Management

Module description

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.

Module aims

This module is designed to provide students with the necessary guidance to undertake advanced
level independent research in Management and Marketing. The module has two aspects. First, it
focuses 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. Second, it provides students with opportunities to familiarize themselves with important
theoretical and empirical concepts related to the research process. It combines 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.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will 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.

Module information

Skills for Your Professional Life (Transferable Skills)
The module will also enable you 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.
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

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered over ten weeks in the Spring term. There will be 10 x 2 hour lectures that will step-wise explain the key stages involved in designing research projects and will describe the fundamental concepts to encourage and facilitate your independent thinking and skills. There will also be 10 x 1 hour seminars to provide opportunities to actively discuss ideas in relation to planning a research project (please note that the seminar sessions may be combined with the lectures as a 3 hour teaching block). The seminars will enable students to exchange ideas and participate in discussions, drawing on the topics and theories taught in the lectures. In these sessions, students can present their ideas and receive informal feedback for the development of their coursework. Information on each seminar will be posted on Moodle before the scheduled seminar and will include details on what you should prepare prior to the session. Each of the lecturers has academic support hours every week which you can find on the Moodle page. During these academic support hours, you are welcome to discuss various aspects of the module or your assessment. Whilst we endeavour to provide you with any advice we can, it should be clear that we are unable to tell you what the ‘answers’ are regarding the assessments. For this reason, it is extremely important that you start thinking about your assignments in good time. The more work you have done before you come and see us, the more fruitful the discussion will be.

Bibliography

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
Coursework   Qualitative Research Assignment (1500 words)    50% 
Coursework   Quantitative Research Assignment (1500 words)    50% 

Additional coursework information

2 pieces of coursework, 50% each.

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

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Yingqin Zheng, email: y.zheng@essex.ac.uk.
Dr. Yingqin Zheng, Dr. Juneho Um and Dr. Hamid Foroughi
ebspgtad@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
No
No
Yes

External examiner

Dr Fabian Frenzel
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 31 hours, 31 (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), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Essex Business School

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