Reference no: EM133969352 , Length: Word Count:1500

Academic and Employability Skills and Research Methods and Masters Dissertation

Dissertation Research Proposal

Instructions on Assessment:

General Information
General Information
Further information about The Assessment Regulations for Taught Awards ( ARTA), general assessment criteria, regulations, referencing and plagiarism can be found on the e-Learning Portal (Blackboard) site for the module. Students are advised to read and follow this information.

Learning Outcome 1: Demonstrate critical knowledge and understanding of choosing, justifying and implementing an appropriate & systematic research methodology and methods for the successful completion of a major research project in a given time and with appropriate resources.

Learning Outcome 2: Knowledge and understanding of a range of hard and soft skills and competencies required for research, employability, and entrepreneurship.

Learning Outcome 3: IPSA 1 Systematically identify your pathways-specific complex business problem, plan and execute a major research project on a contemporary business, and then present your report to the relevant stakeholders thus demonstrating skills to solve complex business problems.

IPSA 2 Be able to critically apply, analyse, synthesise and evaluate a range of discipline- specific concepts, theories and models, as well as demonstrate competency in choosing & implementing an appropriate research methodology, and collecting and analysing data for your chosen research topic.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
PVA 1 Demonstrate curiosity and critical awareness of professional, ethical, social, legal and sustainability issues in research and also about the processes involved in the research, including reflection upon your own ethical values, job relevant skills, meeting targets, self- direction, originality, independence and the contribution of the research to the topic area.

Instructions on Assessment

The module will be assessed by one summative assessment of 1,500 words research proposal report.

Research Topic Selection

The selection of a suitable dissertation topic rests with the student. The student cannot be required by a member of staff to undertake a topic that is not acceptable to the student. Ideas for topics can be gleaned from many sources. Work placement experiences, aspired career paths, course work and readings are just a few. Start thinking early about potential topics that interest you. Copies of previous Masters's dissertations are available for inspection via the eLP; consult these to see what previous students have done.

Your dissertation should describe an original piece of work undertaken by yourself. The topic needs to be related to business or management and to the specific named degree pathways the student is studying. You may have come across the phrase ‘addressing a gap in the literature' but this applies most strongly to doctoral-level research. At the Masters's level, your research may be investigating a business issue that has been studied by others, but you should still produce a critical literature review and obtain/analyse some data. It is the student's responsibility to verify that the title and the approach of the dissertation are original. However, a student may not claim exclusive rights to a topic area.

Students can assume that the topic as initially conceived may evolve as the dissertation progresses. By ‘evolve' it is meant that the particular aspect of the topic which becomes central to the dissertation may well change in one direction or another as the dissertation progresses. This evolution or "fine-tuning" of a topic is quite usual and should be expected. The goal is to find a topic that is general enough to be significant, but specific enough to become focused. A common problem is to have the scope of the work too wide so that the work is not sufficiently focussed to allow successful completion with the resources available Get dependable, budget-friendly assignment help-starting today!

This information tells you how to structure your research proposal using the sections below. You will also find some past example proposals. The word limit for the proposal is 1500 words. Here are the sections of the Proposal:

Section 1: Introduction to a Researchable Topic Area (Approx. 300 words)
You should include background and issue(s) underlying your research topic area. You should provide the rationale & significance of your research. You should state 3-4 maximum research objectives, relating to academic theories, your proposed investigations, your analysis and your conclusions.

Section 2: Literature Review (Approx. 600 words)
You should identify and discuss the academic theories and some current research relevant to your researchable topic area.

Section 3: Details of your research (Approx. 500 words)

You should identify who or what you will use to obtain your data or information; explain how you will collect this data/information and how you will get access; identify how you are going to analyse your data and information. Research methodology - POEMS ( Research philosophy, Ontology, epistemology, Approaches, methods and strategies).

Selection, justification and application of an appropriately rigorous research methodology and methodologies (quantitative, qualitative and systematic literature review, etc) to your chosen research. Research Ethics - briefly describe what you will consider in order to ensure that your research follows the University's Ethical Policies and Procedures.

Section 4: Conclusions (Approx. 100 words)
You should describe what your research will achieve by referring back to your objectives.

Section 5: Timetable for your research
Give a weekly indication of when you are going to work on various parts of your dissertation (e.g. your literature review; your collection of data / information; your analysis of data / information etc)

Section 6: References
List in sources you have used in the production of your proposal. This must be in the correct format (APA style).

Mapping to Programme Goals and Objectives

At the end of your programme of study you will have achieved the following goals:

Goal 1: To develop the skills necessary for employment and career progression.
Goal 2: Be culturally and ethically aware.
Goal 3: Have developed leadership and management capability.
Goal 4: Have developed and applied knowledge of international business and management theory.
Goal 5: Have developed a range of research skills and project capabilities.