Module Description:

The Business Research Project is a capstone module designed to provide pupils opportunity to use sophisticated research approaches in a real business environment. Worth 24 ECTS credits, this course asks thorough, independent research on a business-related issue, obstacle, or opportunity. Students will select a research topic, write a literature review, design a methodology, gather and analyse data, and formally submit their findings in a paper. Emphasised are critical thinking, academic discipline, and practical application of theory to business practice. A faculty mentor helps students all throughout the project and encourages them to engage with corporate stakeholders, therefore fostering both academic and professional development. The final product reveals how effectively the student can apply expertise, solve challenging corporate issues, and present research findings clearly (600 Hours).

Learning Outcomes:

  1. Competences:

    At the end of the module/unit the learner will have acquired the responsibility and autonomy to: 

    • Research depth, including data gathering, evaluation, and interpretation.
    • Evaluation of research techniques and their implementation in a practical business context.
    • Evaluation and logic as applied to the available scholarly and business materials.
    • The ability to lead and adequately purpose, structure, and implement a research endeavour.
    • Moral considerations regarding the conduct and the presentation of research.
    • The ability to convey and comprehend written and oral communication including sophisticated research results, and to present relayed information.
    • Use of information and technology, particularly research information systems and software such as SPSS, NVivo, and Excel, in the analysis of data, is skillful.
    • Active participation in collaborative processes and/or peer reviews during the research phase of a study.
  2. Knowledge:

    At the end of the module/unit the learner will have been exposed to the following: 

    • Critically reflect on the importance of sourcing correct information using secondary sources of data.
    • Have knowledge of various research methodologies and methods and how to implement them.
    • Have knowledge of how to justify the research method which suits a particular research question best.
    • Critically assess various techniques of data analysis and their implementation.
    • Have knowledge on how to draw proper, clear, and understandable conclusions to posed arguments in the dissertation.
    • Critically discuss the need to reference used work correctly.
  3. Skills:

    At the end of the module/unit the learner will have acquired the following skills: 

    • Implement research autonomously and independently.
    • Use effective critical analysis and constructive criticism to assess the viability of various literature sourced through various means.
    • Source information from viable and reliable sources, both from primary and secondary sources of data and information.
    • Apply various research methods according to the requirements of the research questions.
    • Effectively integrate learnt knowledge and skills throughout the duration of the programme in practice.
    • Write detailed analysis using the correct structure for a business dissertation.
    • Reference appropriately other people’s work in one’s own research project.

Core Topics and Subtopics :

1.Research Principles

  • Comprehending the objectives and characteristics of business research
  • Investigating research philosophies and taking ethics into account when conducting research

2. Literature Review

  • Determining and evaluating relevant academic sources
  • Integrating critical insights and constructing a theoretical or conceptual framework

3. Research Design

  • Choosing between Quantitative and Qualitative Methods
  • Explanatory, Descriptive, and Exploratory types of research designs
  • Case studies and surveys

4. Data Collection

  • Using questionnaires, focus groups, and interviews
  • Applying observation methods to gain knowledge

5. Data Analysis

  • Using themes and coding to interpret qualitative data
  • Utilising statistical instruments for quantitative evaluation
  • Using analytical programmes such as SPSS and NVivo

6. Project Management

  • Scope definition, progress evaluation, planning, risk management, and quality control
  • Maintaining project ethics and ensuring protocol compliance

7. Composing the Report

  • Arranging and structuring the finished product
  • Following academic writing guidelines and clearly outlining main conclusions and suggestions

8. Presenting the Research

  • Skillfully communicating findings to an audience
  • Producing captivating visuals and confidently answering audience questions

Weekly Breakdown / Session Plan

Week 1: Overview of Business Research

  • Objectives: Comprehend the foundations of research, Recognise research ethics, Attend an introductory lecture
  • Activities & Key Readings: Generate ideas for possible topics, Saunders et al. (Ch. 1)

Week 2: Review of Literature and Research Questions

  • Objectives: Develop your ability to conduct literature reviews, Create precise research questions
  • Activities & Key Readings: Attend a library workshop, Create preliminary research questions, Reading Webster & Watson (2002)

Week 3: Research Design & Methodology I

  • Objectives: Evaluate qualitative and quantitative approaches, Select suitable methodologies
  • Activities & Key Readings: Create mini-studies, Readings Creswell (Ch. 2–3)

Week 4: Research Design & Methodology II

  • Objectives: Draft sampling plan, Refine approach
  • Activities & Key Readings: Feedback circles, Plan sampling and instrumentation, Reading Bryman (Ch. 5)

Week 5: Data Collection Techniques I

  • Objectives: Conduct mock interviews and surveys, Comprehend questionnaire ethics
  • Activities & Key Readings: Participate in peer review sessions, Reading Dillman (methods of survey)

Week 6: Data Collection Techniques II

  • Objectives: Use archival and observational techniques, Evaluate the validity of the data
  • Activities & Key Readings: Field observations, Data evaluation workshop, Reading Yin (case study methods)

Week 7: Data Cleaning & Management

  • Objectives: Discover best practices for data organisation, Clean and encode the data
  • Activities & Key Readings: Workshop on datasets in SPSS/R, Practice cleaning tasks

Week 8: Data Analysis I – Quantitative

  • Objectives: Perform statistical analyses, Analyse the results
  • Activities & Key Readings: Examine a sample dataset, Reading Field (Ch. 7–8)

Week 9: Data Analysis II – Qualitative

  • Objectives: Use programmes like NVivo and learn thematic coding
  • Activities & Key Readings: Transcripts of coded interviews, Thematic mapping exercise

Week 10: Presenting Research Findings I

  • Objectives: Create compelling images and a well-organised findings chapter
  • Activities & Key Readings: Graphs and charts workshop, Preliminary findings presentation

Week 11: Presenting Research Findings II

  • Objectives: Connect findings to theory, Emphasise contributions and constraints
  • Activities & Key Readings: Participate in a peer review session, Reading APA writing guidelines

Week 12: Dissertation Writing & Structure

  • Objectives: Complete the dissertation structure, Improve the literature review and introduction
  • Activities & Key Readings: Outline drafting session, Individual consultation

Week 13: Impact, Ethics, and Dissemination

  • Objectives: Examine ethical precautions and make a dissemination plan
  • Activities & Key Readings: Ethics case studies, Develop a briefing or conference schedule

Week 14: Peer Review and Revision

  • Objectives: Evaluate peers' drafts critically and include helpful criticism
  • Activities & Key Readings: Workshop for peer review, Planning for revision

Week 15: Final Presentation and Conclusion

  • Objectives: Give presentations with excellent execution, Think about what you've discovered and what comes next
  • Activities & Key Readings: Presentations should be well done, Consider your next course of action in light of what you've learned

Reading Materials

Type: Primary Textbooks

  • Title and Authors: “Research Methods for Business Students” by Saunders, Lewis & Thornhill (Saunders)
  • Details: A popular foundational text for business research.

  • Title and Authors: Business Research Methods by Bryman & Bell (Bell)
  • Details: A thorough manual on qualitative and quantitative techniques.

Type: Supplementary

  • Title and Authors: Doing Your Research Project by Judith Bell (Bell J.)
  • Details: A useful manual for organising and overseeing research projects.

  • Title and Authors: The Craft of Research by Booth, Colomb & Williams (Booth)
  • Details: Concentrate on research writing and argumentation.

Type: Journal Articles

  • Title and Authors: Selection from Journal of Business Research, Harvard Business Review by Various (Various)
  • Details: Instructor-curated according to subject.

Type: Methodology Guide

  • Title and Authors: Case Study Research: Design and Methods by Robert K. Yin (Yin)
  • Details: Essential for case study methodology.