LT5085 - Skills, Methods and Analysis (2021/22)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2021/22 | ||||||||
| Module status | DELETED (This module is no longer running) | ||||||||
| Module title | Skills, Methods and Analysis | ||||||||
| Module level | Intermediate (05) | ||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||
| School | Guildhall School of Business and Law | ||||||||
| Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||
|
|||||||||
| Assessment components |
|
||||||||
| Running in 2021/22(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) | No instances running in the year |
Module summary
‘Skills, Methods and Analysis’ aims to equip students with knowledge and elementary skills of data collection, presentation and analysis utilised in management research. The module will be divided into three short parts focusing on skills (writing, referencing and research ethics), methods (sampling, qualitative and quantitative research methods) and analysis (coding and data presentation).
Through the series of practical exercises students will become familiar with the concept and variety of research methods available in the business and social research area. The module serves as an underpinning for the dissertation or consultancy projects in level 6. Additionally, on successful completion of the module, students who would like to try using research methods in practical setting, can choose an optional and self-funded ‘Applied Research with Field Course’ module in the Spring semester.
Syllabus
The module starts with discussion on the meaning and role of instruction words used in academic writing and approaches necessary to fulfil writing tasks. Session dedicated to referencing will ask students to act as peer assessors and will indirectly transfer attention the ethics of research. Research methods section will start with sampling strategies and moves onto quantitative research methods (survey, audit and content analysis). Among qualitative research methods observation, interviews and focus groups will be discussed and practiced. Finally, analysis of data will present the concept of qualitative data coding and data presentation. LO1
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
A third of the module is delivered in class setting, using workshop (synergy rooms) to facilitate students discussion and small research tasks practice. In the first part of the module, students will be able to reflect on their work in level 4 and self-assess gaps in academic skills.
Students will be required to work independently, practising small tasks that match group activities undertaken in workshop setting. Tasks will be spread throughout the semester allowing for development of time management and project management skills. Workshops will be facilitated by subject-specific tutors.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate awareness of the range of quantitative and qualitative business and social sciences research methodologies, data analysis and presentation methods, and the underlying philosophical and ethical principles of research in the context of creative industries.
Assessment strategy
Module is assessed by a portfolio of small research tasks correlated with the content of workshops. Students will be required to set up an online portfolio via Weblearn tool, where they will deliver a set of short tasks such as: an analysis of assignment task components; feedback on incorrectly referenced essay; critique of sampling strategy; questionnaire design; coding plan for social media content analysis; observation plan and review of data presentation options.
Students will be guided in preparation of individual portfolio tasks via similar activities undertaken in class during workshops. All tasks will be utilising data and content that is subject-specific for each module cohort.
Assessment tariff alignment: L5 (15 credits) max. 5000 words
• Portfolio of small research tasks (4000 words)
Total word count: 4000 words
Bibliography
Core Texts:
• Brace, I. (2015) Questionnaire design, 3rd ed., Kogan Page.
• Bryman, A. (2012) Social Research Methods, 4th ed., Oxford University Press.
Websites:
• Study Hub: https://learning.londonmet.ac.uk/studyhub/