module specification

The module prepares students to read critically and evaluate their research within their chosen field of study, design and defend a research proposal, and undertake an independent research project, in the form of a follow-up dissertation module (LT7P12).

This module is core for all students on the MSc International Events, Leisure and Tourism Management programme. It supports students’ understanding of research-informed practice and research design and methodology. It is designed to encourage a reflective approach to research methodology, techniques and approaches suitable to postgraduate study of Events, Leisure, Tourism and the Creative Industries related fields.

It enables students to critically evaluate and interpret published research papers in academic and professional literature. It equips them with the skills necessary to undertake their own independent research, including – but not limited to – academic research, professional consultancy related projects, fieldwork and so on, by developing their abilities to conceptualise, design, and conduct empirical studies using a variety of methodologies (e.g. quantitative and qualitative). The module is also designed to engage both, those who have experience as practitioners in their field and those from a more traditional background, in scholarly research at undergraduate level.
Prior to commencing data collection all students will need to secure ethics approval via a form/template in accordance with University regulations.

Aims of the module:
1. To introduce students to research philosophies, design, methodology and methods, and their application to researching issues in their applicable fields both in the UK and in an international context. Thus, to help students acquire the academic and practical skills necessary to undertake research at postgraduate level, and in particular a research dissertation or equivalent research project.
2. To foster a critical awareness and interest in research methodologies, techniques and approaches developed in management studies or social science, which can be applied to their particular field of study. Thus, by providing students with the practical skills necessary to design and undertake a postgraduate level research project in a subject of their own choosing.
3. To critically evaluate the use of a range of research design, methodologies, methods, techniques and approaches in the creative industries and related fields of studies, including critical analysis of published research papers. Thus, by fostering a critical awareness and an understanding of topics and issues associated with their subject specialist area and to combine knowledge and analysis acquired in core MSc modules to enable them to explore their chosen topic more fully.
4. To formulate and defend a coherent research proposal with sound aims and objectives, a realistic plan of execution, appropriately related to theory and practice through a preliminary review of the literature, with clear research questions that can be addressed through well justified methodologies, and a realistic plan forward for the empirical investigation.

1. Introduction to research and research philosophies. The nature and purpose of responsible contemporary research including ethics and ethics approval processes in accordance with University regulations. Bridging the theory-practice gap. The role of the researcher, research-informed practice, and decision making based on research evidence.LO1
2. The dissertation and applied research, structure and components. Identifying the nature of the research context; key influencing factors; identifying opportunities for development.LO1
3. Conceptual and theoretical frameworks, and their justification.LO1, LO2
4. Research Questions and Designs. Research methodologies and methods, and their justification.LO1, LO2
5. Primary and secondary research. Sampling techniques and issues.LO1
6. Validity, Reliability and other issues. Referencing, database research and bibliographical citations.LO1, LO2
7. Collecting qualitative data - interviews, focus groups, and so forth.LO1, LO2
8. Collecting quantitative data - survey and questionnaire design, and so forth.LO1, LO2
9. Analysing qualitative and quantitative data. Introduction to statistics, matching statistical models and research questions, and the like.LO1, LO2LO1
10. Analysing Qualitative and Quantitative Data. Content analysis, sampling and survey analysis; selecting, interpreting and presenting statistical data, and the like.
11. Writing and presentation of research results and analysis: writing research briefs, writing proposals, structuring research reports, communicating to diverse audiences, giving research presentations, academic referencing, and so forth.LO1, LO2
12. Subject-specific Colloquium event. Presentation of Proposals to an internal and external audience. Formative and summative feedback, which creates a bridge between this module and dissertation supervision module.LO2

The module will be delivered via a combination of workshops, seminars, tutorials, online activities, group work, peer learning and so on. Sessions will consist of a mixture of theoretical input and problem-based learning. The aim is to support learning activities with the use of modern technology, such as videos, discussion boards, in-class student-centred discussions, peer collaboration, and the like.

The learning and teaching strategy for this module enables students to gain a critical understanding of the nature and purpose of research and research findings and gain theoretical and practical hands-on research experiences that take them through the process of problem identification, design, data collection, analysis, and the like. This will enable them to make informed, context-driven decisions when faced with complex practical and project management problems in the context of their research project.

Collaborative and active learning will be encouraged, with high levels of student involvement in group and other activities that foster research, social, learning and reflective skills. Critical evaluation of a wide range of research methods is fostered during the sessions, suggested reading, and follow-up activities. Moreover, students will be encouraged to participate in group and individual activities prior, during and after the sessions.

Students are also encouraged and guided, to seek help and support from university mechanisms and resources (e.g. the Academic Liaison Librarian, Library Services, Study Hub, etc.), which introduce them to additional study resources and information technology that may support data gathering, organisation and manipulation. Students will also be encouraged to actively participate in networking opportunities, by attending special guest-lectures, training and other events both within the university and in the wider business and research community.

These elements combined aim to underpin further research, reading and discussion, so to encourage students to develop their knowledge and conduct their own further research and reading, analysis and synthesis of research material, which will further enable them to write a research proposal in their specialist field.

Active student participation in the learning process is an integral part of the delivery of this module. To do this, students are expected to prepare for all sessions, which will entail a certain amount of guided and self-guided independent study at home/library, both including hard copy and online resources. Attendance is therefore required as the module is cumulative and progressive. Indicative key reading material and guidance will be provided to help students plan their studies, but students are also expected to conduct additional tailor-made research, to supplement their personalised reading with relevant topics and material or their choice.

Outside of class contact, students also learn through follow-up activities, assignment work, reading, private study, and so forth. Weekly teaching will be supported with the online intranet (WebLearn), not only in terms of sharing of relevant materials, but also in terms of incorporating different online activities that students are required to complete, either in preparation for or in follow-up of the sessions. This could include both individual and collaborative exercises.

Digital literacy development
The learning,  teaching and assessment strategy for this module will enable students to develop their capabilities in digital literacy and information handling appropriate to professional/master’s level study as outlined in the Open University Digital and Information Literacy Framework (DILF: available to view at https://www.open.ac.uk/libraryservices/pages/dilframework/)

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

LO1
Design and undertake substantial investigation to address significant areas of theory and practice.
This means that students will select appropriate advanced methodological approaches and critically evaluate their effectiveness; assimilate and analyse published information and statistical data to construct an academically robust research proposal; critically analyse a range of research paradigms and their relationship to a variety of research designs (e.g., experimental, quasi-experimental, non-experimental, qualitative, and mixed-method); critically evaluate a range of quantitative and qualitative techniques and approaches; formulate a sound research question informed by relevant literature; select and apply appropriate research techniques and approaches to address the ethical dimension to their research practice, and discuss the implications of ethical dilemmas while undertaking research. [Assessed in A1].

LO2
Devise and defend in front of a diverse audience a comprehensive, soundly based and justified research proposal in preparation for a Masters’ level research dissertation or equivalent. [Assessed in A2].
Ethical clearance is required prior to data collection, which means that the students must fill in and submit an ethics form that will not be assessed.

This module will be assessed through two complementary assessment components.

A 2,000 words research proposal [Assesses LO1].

An individual oral defence (presentation) of the research proposal to a critical audience, to be presented in allocated slots during weeks 13-14, submission of work for all students in week 13. [Assesses LO2].

Formative feedback will be given on a draft research proposal (submitted in week 6) which identifies issues from a critique of three articles and lays out the design components of the research proposal. Feedback will be provided by week 8, to feed forward learning and clarifying points where needed ahead of submitting the final research proposal in week 10.

The Colloquium event, which will facilitate the individual presentations, will be managed by the module and course team, with student input and contribution. The event will also be attended by all dissertation supervisors, other students, internal and external guests, and so forth. This activity will provide essential formative feedback and a bridge between this module and the dissertation supervision.

The above is intended, primarily, to support the learning and teaching activities throughout the module, enabling students to demonstrate an in-depth reading, understanding and critical reflection on the major approaches to research matters, informed by knowledge related with issues of business and management research, the broader creative industries and social sciences, and their application within the wider context of the Creative Industries sector. Ultimately this is to help prepare, support and enable students to successfully undertake their dissertation or similar research project.

Textbooks:

Core Textbooks:
Brunt, P., Horner, S. and Semley, N. (2017) Research Methods in Tourism, Hospitality and Events Management, Sage: London

Kolb, B. (2018) Marketing Research, For The Tourism Hospitality and Events Industries, Routledge: Abingdon

Sirakaya-Turk, E., Uysal, M.S., Hammitt, W.E. and Vaske. J.J. (Eds) (2017) Research Methods for Leisure, Recreation and Tourism, 2nd Edition, Wallingford: CABI Tourism Texts.

Other Literature:
Altinay, L., Paraskevas, A. and Jang, S.S. (2016) Planning Research in Hospitality and Tourism, Routledge: London.

Baaij, M.G. (2014) An introduction to management consultancy, London: Sage Publications Ltd.

Brandon-Jones, A., Lewis, M., Verma, R., and Walsman, M. C. (2016) Examining the characteristics and managerial challenges of professional services: An empirical study of management consultancy in the travel, tourism, and hospitality sector, Journal of Operations Management, 42, pp. 9-24.

Feighery, W. and William, G. (2011) Consulting ethics,   Annals of Tourism Research,  38 (3), pp. 1031-1050. 

Field, A. (2017) Discovering Statistics Using SPSS, 5th Edition, London: Sage.

Fox, D., Gouthro, M. B., Morakabati, Y. and Brackstone, J. (2014) Doing Events Research: From Theory to Practice, Routhledge: Abingdon

Nelson, B., Economy, P. and Albon, P. (2009) Consulting for dummies, Chichester: Wiley.

Newton, R. (2010) The management consultant: Mastering the art of consultancy, Harlow: Financial Times Prentice Hall.

Sampson, J. (2017) A Guide to Quantitative and Qualitative Dissertation Research, 2nd Edition, Free Download: https://diginole.lib.fsu.edu/islandora/object/fsu:207241/datastream/PDF/

Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2016) Research Methods for Business Students, 7th Edition, Pearson: Harlow

Thomas, G. (2013) How to Do Your Research Project: A Guide for Students in Education and Applied Social Sciences, 2nd Edition, London: Sage.

Thomas. G. (2016) How to Do Your Case Study, 2nd Edition, London: Sage.

Veal, A.J. (2018) Research Methods for Leisure and Tourism, Pearson: Harlow.

Wickham, L. and Wickham, J. (2016) Management consulting: Delivering an effective project, 5th Edition, Harlow: Pearson.

Wilson, J. (2014) Essentials of Business Research: A Guide to Doing Your Research Project, 2nd Edition, Sage: London

Journals:
Event Management
International Journal of Event and Festival Management
International Journal of Hospitality and Event Management
International Journal of Event Management Research
Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing
Journal of Convention and Event Tourism
Journal of the Academy of Marketing Research
European Journal of Marketing
Journal of Business Research
Journal of Marketing Management
Journal of Strategic Marketing
Journal of Marketing
Marketing Intelligence and Planning
Academy of Marketing Science Review
Industrial Marketing Management
Academy of Management Journal
British Journal of Management
Harvard Business Review
Management Today
MIT Sloan Management Review

Websites:
The Knowledge Base: www.socialresearchmethods.net
Discovering Statistics: website with psychology related examples http://www.statisticshell.com/
Project Management Today: http://www.pmtoday.co.uk
Project Management Institute: http://www.pmi.org
Association of Event Organisers: http://www.aeo.org.uk
Eventia: http://www.eventia.org.uk
Financial Times: http://www.ft.com
The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk
The Association for Events Management Education (AEME): http://www.aeme.org

Other resources:
As available via university Library Services and SCONUL Access Scheme