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Level 7 Diploma in Accounting and Finance

Methodological Justification and Research Ethics

AF706 · Business Research Methods — Week 10 of 16

CourseAF706
Week10 of 16
SemesterII
TutorOnline in the course chat

This week’s topics

Methodological Justification and Research Ethics

  1. Justifying mono-method versus mixed-methods approaches
  2. Researcher positionality and bias mitigation
  3. Research ethics and data protection
  4. Acknowledging study limitations
  5. The Golden Thread, Methodological Fit and the Research Onion.
  6. Mixed Methods Research Designs and the Research Onion.
  7. What are qualitative research ethics? by Dr Rose Wiles

What you will be able to do

  • 3.1 Critically evaluate appropriate research methodologies in terms of research objectives.
  • 3.3 Justify a selected methodology in terms of research objectives.

Activity

Start with this week’s 3 videos, then: Seminar, guided reading and a short written task: critically evaluate appropriate research methodologies in terms of research objectives.

Study materials

Videos

  • The Golden Thread, Methodological Fit and the Research Onion. · YouTube · Mark Saunders on Research Methods · 13 min · for registered students
  • Mixed Methods Research Designs and the Research Onion. · YouTube · Mark Saunders on Research Methods · 14 min · for registered students
  • What are qualitative research ethics? by Dr Rose Wiles · YouTube · National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) · 28 min · for registered students
  • Challenging positionality and power relations in participatory and action research · YouTube · The Open University Business School · 20 min · for registered students
  • The Research Onion Made EASY! Simple Research Methods Template For Your Methodology Chapter · YouTube · Dr Hayley Stainton | Tourism Teacher · 8 min · for registered students

Further resources

  • ESRC research ethics guidance (UKRI) · Reading · Other, guidance · for registered students
  • Magenta Book Annex A: analytical methods for use within an evaluation (HM Treasury) · PDF · GOV.UK, guidance; 60 pages · for registered students
  • The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity – Revised Edition 2023 (ALLEA) · PDF · Allea, guidance; 24 pages · for registered students
Materials marked “for registered students” open in the student portal, which is set up as soon as you receive final acceptance.
Week 9Week 11
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Course plan
  • Week 1: Research Problem Formulation
  • Week 2: Research Aims and Questions
  • Week 3: Critical Literature Reviewing
  • Week 4: Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks
  • Week 5: Research Philosophies and Methodological Paradigms
  • Week 6: Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis
  • Week 7: Quantitative Survey Design and Sampling
  • Midterm: Midterm evaluation
  • Week 9: Quantitative Analysis with SPSS
  • Week 10: Methodological Justification and Research Ethics
  • Week 11: Integrated Research Proposal Development
  • Week 12: Applying Business Research Methods in practice: case studies
  • Week 13: Assignment workshop: research, planning and referencing
  • Week 14: Assignment workshop: drafting, feedback and improvement
  • Week 15: Review and coursework completion
  • Final: Final assessment and submission
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