Advanced Business Research Methods

Unit Aims

The aim of this unit is to develop learners’ ability to prepare for various types of academically based management research through the development and design of a research proposal. Learners will develop a critical understanding of the philosophical, practical and ethical concepts of research within the context of the business environment.

Learning Outcomes

1. Be able to develop research approaches in a business and economics context.

1.1 Appraise business research problems.

1.2 Develop and justify appropriate research aims and objectives within a defined scope and timeframe.

1.3 Critically explore, select and justify research approaches.

2. Be able to critically review literature on a business research topic.

2.1 Critically analyse different theoretical approaches to a research problem.

2.2 Create a structured and thorough critical literature review.

3. Be able to design business research methodologies.

3.1 Critically evaluate relevant research methodologies to reflect the research objectives.

3.2 Design an appropriate methodology in terms of the research objectives for a defined population.

3.3 Justify the methodology selected in terms of the research objectives within agreed ethical guidelines.

4. Be able to develop and present a research proposal.

4.1 Create a research question, literature review and methodology.

4.2 Propose techniques for use with quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.

4.3 Present the proposal using suitable methods