module specification

This module provides students with the opportunity to undertake a research investigation into a specific business or hospitality management challenge, issue or problem culminating in a formal management report with detailed findings and recommendations. The module will not only offer potential links with employers, but will also demonstrate the application of research principles to real-world situations. The module will provide students with an integrative bridge between the theoretical areas of their study and the determination of applied solutions and/or evidence-based conclusions.

To provide students with an opportunity to:
• Investigate a topical challenge, issue or problem in order to produce an in-depth research report.
• Apply theoretical concepts and business principles to real-world situations.
• Develop originality of thought and skills in independent research, critical analysis, argumentation and expression.

• Proposal Formulation and Feasibility Analysis
• Information Gathering and Data Sources
• Critical Literature Review
• Referencing, Attribution and Plagiarism Avoidance
• Project Planning and Management
• Research Methodology
• Research Ethics
• Data Analysis, Interpretation and Presentation
• Drawing Inferences and Conclusions
• Report Structure and Effective Proofreading.

Students will attend a series of Research Methods workshops that will develop on the knowledge, skills and understanding learnt in earlier taught modules to produce a Project Proposal.
An individual project supervisor will be allocated to each student based on their Project Proposal and areas of interest, who will help guide the student to appropriate bodies of knowledge and literature. Supervisors may be involved in reading draft chapters and offering appropriate guidance. There will be a documented record of each supervisory intervention on a standard monitoring form.
Online research methods sources and web-based learning materials will be used wherever possible. Students will then complete a Critical Literature Review and present the essence of this alongside their proposed Methodology at a formal Presentation that will be assessed, and finally undertake the research to submit a final Project Report in an area of business or hospitality management.
The exact nature of each project will depend on the student’s interests, under the guidance of the staff member who is supervising the student.
Students will also be required to reflect on their progress and overall development as part of a Personal Development Review that will be a component part of the Project Report.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1) Demonstrate comprehension and a thorough awareness of current thinking within an area specific to their research.
2) Engage in critical analysis of literature and interpret information to enable the successful completion of a relevant project.
3) Evaluate and select appropriate methods for collecting, analysing and presenting business information.
4) Develop and present in written form appropriately reasoned and supported arguments to assess contrasting theories or explanations.
5) Reflect on their own performance in undertaking the research process and the achievement of research objectives in line with personal, professional or career interests.

There is one assessment for this module with two component parts:

The Project Proposal (30%) will outline the area of interest to the student, and the aims and objectives of the proposed research project including background, rationale, timescales, risks and the research question(s) to be addressed. This will help in the allocation of a project supervisor, and in ensuring the feasibility of the proposed research project.

The Project Report (70%) will present the findings, conclusions, limitations and potential future work arising from the research as well as the refined context, aims and objectives, critical literature review and methodology. The submission should also include the project management documentation and supervisory records, and the Personal Development Review.

Supervisors will guide students as to what is expected in the final submission tailored to each student and his/her project expectations.

Core Textbooks
• Cottrell, S., (2014) Dissertations and Project Reports: A Step By Step Guide. UK: Palgrave Macmillan
Recommended Textbooks
• Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A., (2012) Research Methods for Business Students. 6th Edition. London: FT Prentice Hall
• Bryman, A. and Bell, E., (2011) Business Research Methods. 3rd edition. UK: Oxford University Press
• Collis, J., and Hussey, R., (2009) Business Research: A Practical Guide for Undergraduate and Post graduate Students, Houndsmill: Palgrave Macmillan
Other Resources
These will depend on the nature and area of each student’s research interests.