Business Research Methods

Course Description

The aim of this unit is to develop learners’ understanding of research principles including the formulation of research proposals, literature reviews, referencing, data collection using interviews and surveys, questionnaire design, statistical analysing using SPSS, qualitative data, and methods for drawing conclusions from the analysed data.

Course Objectives

The aim of this unit is to develop learners’ understanding of research principles including the formulation of research proposals, literature reviews, referencing, data collection using interviews and surveys, questionnaire design, statistical analysing using SPSS, qualitative data, and methods for drawing conclusions from the analysed data.

Key Topics

1. LO1: Be able to identify research problems and formulate research objectives.
2. LO2: Understand how to review the literature on a research topic.
3. LO3: Be able to design appropriate business research methodologies.
4. LO4: Be able to develop a research proposal.

Course Outline

Learning Outcomes

1. LO1 Be able to identify research problems and formulate research objectives.
2. 1.1 Appraise research problems.
3. 1.2 Develop appropriate research objectives and justify their choice.
4. LO2 Understand how to review the literature on a research topic.
5. 2.1 Evaluate literature relevant to a research problem.
6. 2.2 Critically analyse different theoretical approaches to a research problem.
7. LO3 Be able to design appropriate business research methodologies.
8. 3.1 Critically evaluate appropriate research methodologies in terms of research objectives.
9. 3.2 Design an appropriate methodology in terms of research objectives.
10. 3.3 Justify a selected methodology in terms of research objectives.
11. LO4 Be able to develop a research proposal.
12. 4.1 Propose techniques for use with quantitative and qualitative data.
13. 4.2 Create a research question, literature review and methodology.