Level 7 - common assessment and marking criteria

Contribution to Overall

Programme:	PGDip leading to MBA	Module Level:	7
Module:	Research Methodologies	Module code:	APO011-6
Contribution to Overall	100%	Assignment Title:
Lecturer:	Dr. Lester Massingham	Internal Verifier:	Dr. Agnes Taylor
Hand Out Date:	18/09/2020	Feedback deadline:	29/10/2020

Secondly, you are required to design a Business Research Proposal aimed at a business-related problem or opportunity.

As explained above there are two integrated parts to this assessment:

It must also include a literature review that evaluates the context for your research, and sources academic research and models that are relevant to the project. It should include a critical evaluation of relevant theoretical and practical references and include breadth of understanding and depth of critical evaluation. Reviews will require analysis and evaluation of evidence and sources and be informed by theory and appropriate practice.

You must evaluate and fully describe the research methods that will be necessary to successfully complete the research.

There must be sufficient linkage between theory and practice.
Harvard style of references should be used.

TASK DESCRIPTION – LITERATURE EVIDENCE REVIEW (40%)

Introduction

Is the domain explained?

Does the review flow into a logical progression?
Does the review convey the thinking of the writer?

Is there a clear concluding statement?
Is there a clear implication for further research?

LENGTH REQUIRED

1600 words maximum.

Please note the following when completing your written assignment:

The use of a range of information sources is expected – academic books, peer reviewed journal articles, professional articles, press releases and newspaper articles, reliable statistics, company annual reports and other company information. All referencing should be in Harvard style.

marking criteria: ASSESSMENT 1: Literature Evidence Review

This section details the assessment criteria. The extent to which these are demonstrated by you determines your mark. The marks available for each criterion are shown. Lecturers use a similar format to comment on the achievement of the task(s), including those areas in which you have performed well and areas that would benefit from development/improvement.

Assignment Mark (Assessment marks are subject to ratification at the Exam Board. These comments and marks are to give feedback on module work and are for guidance only until they are confirmed. )

Late Submission Penalties (tick if appropriate)

TASKS

Is the research topic interesting from an academic and practical perspective?
Is there a statement of the problem?
Are research objectives included which are specific?
Are research questions matched to the research objectives?

Is the scope of Literature outlined relevant to the research objectives to address the research questions?
Is the relevance of the literature, models, theories and frameworks for thinking justified?

Is the proposal for analysis linked back to the literature and the research questions?
Have analysis methods been specified?

Are the intended outcomes for the research made known and is there a clear understanding of the value added?

Gantt Chart (or other suitable format)

DOCUMENT FORMAT REQUIRED

Ensure a clear title, course, and name or ID number is on a cover sheet and a bibliography using Harvard referencing throughout, is also provided.
Research: Research should use reliable and relevant sources of information e.g. academic books and journals that have been peer reviewed. The research should be extensive.

Common Assessment Criteria Applied		Awarded
1. Research-informed Literature
Students are expected to demonstrate that their Research Design Proposals have sound academic groundings – both in the Introduction (for the selected topic) and their Research Design (for their selected methodology and method(s). Harvard Referencing conventions are expected to be followed.	10

Students are expected to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of both the principal methodologies associated with research, and the main methods used in Business Research.	25
Analysis, evaluation and synthesis; logic, argument and judgement; analytical reflection; organisation of ideas and evidence
Students are expected to demonstrate an ability to select and justify both a methodology and methods appropriate to their research question(s).	30
4. Practical Application and Deployment
Students are expected to produce a research design which is appropriate to the topic, question(s) and context of the proposed research. As such an analysis of the data collection and data analysis methods are paramount. Aspects such as ethics, validity and reliability, and resource issues will also need to be considered.	25

Students are expected to communicate and present the Research Design effectively.	10
TOTAL	100

Assignment Mark (Assessment marks are subject to ratification at the Exam Board. These comments and marks are to give feedback on module work and are for guidance only until they are confirmed. )

Late Submission Penalties (tick if appropriate)

Research-informed Literature

Your work must embed and be informed and supported by relevant and credible scholarly material that is accessible in the learned journals listed on the module schedule. You should refer to at least 25 such sources. Additionally, you should refer to text books, current news items and benchmark your organisation against other organisations to ensure your assignment is current and up-to-date. High-level referencing skills using the Harvard Method must be demonstrated throughout your work and all sources listed alphabetically within your bibliography.

Practical Application and Deployment

It is essential that you rationalise how you decided upon certain methods, materials, tools and techniques to inform and complete your work. You must demonstrate what informed your decision(s) to apply certain concepts that enabled you to formulate innovative and creative solutions to the challenges presented to you or that you identified for yourself. Plausible, costed and justifiable recommendations are demanded and where these are absent, your work is undermined. Your work should provide evidence that you are growing in mastery in developing cutting edge processes and techniques within the subject area.

Only the LSC Extenuating Circumstances Panel may grant an extension.

Learning Outcomes tested

Assessment Criteria

Of the process by which appropriate theories, applications, methodologies and evidence can be prepared to complete a self-initiated, autonomous and critically comprehensive body of structured research activity which leads to an analysis, synthesis and evaluation of evidence which is sufficient to propose and design a comprehensive Major Project proposal.

Demonstrate the following skills and abilities.

To Critically use research methodologies and conventions; formulate research questions, and propose, plan and complete research projects and communicate their findings to a variety of audiences using appropriate theory, media, and approaches towards analysis, syntheses, evaluation, and the formulation of judgments and conclusions based on a body of defined research.