SCQF LEVEL 8 ASSIGNMENT

SPECIFICATION

Programme: Diploma in Business Module Level SCQF Level 8

Administration

Module: Research Methodologies Module code:

Contribution to Overall
100% Assignment No(s): Assignment 1: 100%
Module Assessment (%):

Assignment Title(s): Business Research Proposal

Assessor: Zoeb Ur Rahman Internal Verifier: Farhana Hussain

Hand Out Date: 16/03/2020 Submission 23/04/2020

deadline:

Feedback deadline:

Referencing: In the main body of your submission you must give credit to authors on whose research your
work is based. Append to your submission a reference list that indicates the books, articles, etc.
that you have read or quoted in order to complete this assignment (e.g. for books: surname of
author and initials, year of publication, title of book, edition, publisher: place of publication).
Disclosure: Please include the following statement on the title page of the submitted assignment, followed
by your name:

I declare that this assignment is all my own work and that I have acknowledged all materials
used from the published or unpublished works of other people. All references have been duly
cited.

Turnitin: All assignments must be submitted to Turnitin unless otherwise instructed by the Lecturer. YES X
Note: the Turnitin version is the primary submission and acts as a receipt for the student.
Late submission of the electronic version of the assignment will result in a late penalty mark. NO
Penalties for late submission: Up to 3 days - maximum mark of 40%. Over 3 days later- Refer.
Only the LSC Extenuating Circumstances Panel may grant an extension.

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Learning Outcomes tested
(from module descriptor)
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
judgements and conclusions based on a body of defined
research.
Learning Outcomes tested
(from module syllabus)
1. Understand the scientific process, its application in
economics and business, and its utilisation in the
problem-solving approach to business and
management challenges.
2. Demonstrate the skills necessary to assess and
interpret existing research as a prelude to carrying out
further investigation.
3. Critically describe, comprehend and discuss the role,
principles, function and application of research design
within both academic and/or applied business contexts.
4. Understand, critically comprehend different research
strategies and be able to apply with insight appropriate
research methodologies to differing types of research
problems, hypotheses, or fields of investigation.
5. Conceptualise and formulate a research project,
including the formation of a hypothesis; the
identification of field and evidence; the identification of
research methodological approaches; the carrying out
of a sustained piece of research, and the forming of
conclusions while evaluating and applying the
outcomes of research to a context/problem or issue.
6. Demonstrate and apply the researching skills and
project management skills which are required and
which are necessary to carrying out a successful and
sustained piece of individual work which may be
applicable to academic and/or business contexts.
Assessment Criteria to achieve each outcome a student
must demonstrate the ability to:
Business Research Proposal 3000 +/- 10%
– weighted 100%
Assessment Criteria - To achieve each outcome a
student must demonstrate:
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
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 and future research.
Students are expected to demonstrate an ability to
select and justify both a methodology and methods
appropriate to their research question(s).
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.
Students are expected to communicate and present the
Research Design effectively; especially forming of
conclusions while evaluating and applying the
outcomes of research to a context/problem or issue.
Students are expected to communicate and present the
Research Design Proposal effectively and efficiently,
which is applicable to academic and/or business
contexts.
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 TASK DESCRIPTION

Assessment of this Module

Assignment 1 - 100% Business Research Proposal (3000 +/- 10%)

All forms of assessment must be submitted by the published deadline which is detailed above. It is your
responsibility to know when work is due to be submitted – ignorance of the deadline date will not be
accepted as a reason for late or non-submission.

You are requested to keep a copy of your work (excluding exams).

The Assignment

Overview of the assignment

You are required to design a Business Research Proposal aimed at a

business-related problem or opportunity.

The topic forming the basis of the research proposal needs to be established in the first three weeks dating
from the start of the teaching of the module. Permission to continue will be dependent upon lecturer
approval of that topic, shown by the signing of a proforma. Any subsequent changes to that must also be
approved by the lecturer.

The choice of topic and the proposal must be undertaken on an INDIVIDUAL basis.

This assignment addresses Learning Outcomes 1 to 6.

The research proposal should adhere to the structure shown below:

1. The research proposal must include a background which describes the basic situation underlying
your project. It must include a statement of the problem or opportunity that is the aim of your
project. It must describe the rationale for your project, why you wish to carry out this research and
the benefits that will accrue from its successful conclusion.

2. You must create research objectives that, when successfully completed, will have the information
that enables you to solve the problem or capitalise on the opportunity that is the aim of your
research.

3. 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.

4. You must evaluate and fully describe the research methods that will be necessary to successfully
complete the research. Data collection methods must be selected and described which are
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 consistent with the research philosophy necessary for its completion: these can include secondary
and/or primary data sources. The methods by which the data you collect will be analysed and need
to be justified.

5. Finally, ethical, validity and reliability issues relevant to the research must be discussed and a time
plan for its completion must be calculated and displayed as a Gantt chart (or another suitable
format).

Further points:

 You must ensure that the research title and research objectives/questions are included in the
assignment.
 There must be sufficient linkage between theory and practice.
 Harvard style of references should be used.

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 TASK DESCRIPTION: Assignment 1: Research Design Proposal 100%

TASKS

 Research Title

 Research Question

 Research Objectives

 A Background to the Research Proposal:

 Is the overall context for the research well established?
 Is the research topic interesting from an academic and practical perspective?
 Is there a statement of the problem?
 Is there a rationale for the topic?
 Is it clear what aspects of the chosen topic will be researched?
 Do the boundaries of the research make sense?
 Is there a clear statement of the aim of the research?
 Are research objectives included which are specific?
 Are research questions matched to the research objectives?

 Research Methodology – Philosophy, Reasoning, Design

 Is there a logical and cohesive structure to the proposal?
 Are all the relevant sections included?
 Is the approach adequately explained?
 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?
 Are the proposed research methods appropriate to the research task?
 Have the data types been defined and classified?
 Have target populations and samples been defined and justified?

 Data Analysis
 Is the proposal for analysis linked back to the literature and the research questions?
 Have analysis methods been specified?
 Is there an adequate time plan for the research?

 Ethics, Validity and Reliability

 Are validity and reliability issues discussed?
 Are the ethical issues in the project understood and dealt with?
 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)

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LENGTH REQUIRED

3000 words +/- 10%.

FORMATTING AND LAYOUT

Please note the following when completing your written assignment:

1. Writing: Written in English in an appropriate business/academic style

2. Focus: Focus only on the tasks set in the assignment.
3. Length: 3000 words
4. Formatting: Typed in Times New Roman or Arial font 12 with at least 2.5 centimetre space at each
edge, double spaced and pages numbered.
5. Document format: Research Proposal
6. Ensure a clear title, course, and name or ID number is on a cover sheet.
7. Provide a list of references and a list of bibliography using Harvard referencing throughout.
8. 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.

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.

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 MARKING CRITERIA AND STUDENT FEEDBACK: Assignment 1
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.

AwardedMarks
available
Marks
Common Assessment Criteria Applied

1. Research-informed Literature
Extent of research and/or own reading, selection of credible sources, application of appropriate
referencing conventions.
Students are expected to demonstrate that their Research Design proposals have sound 10
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.

2. Knowledge and Understanding of Subject

Extent of knowledge and understanding of concepts and underlying principles associated with
the discipline.
Students are expected to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of both the 25
principal methodologies associated with research, and the main methods used in
Business Research.
3. Analysis
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 30
methodology and methods appropriate to their research question(s).
4. Practical Application and Deployment
Deployment of methods, materials, tools and techniques; application of concepts; formulation of
innovative and creative solutions to solve problems.
Students are expected to produce a research design which is appropriate to the topic, 25
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.

5. Skills for Professional Practice

Attributes in professional practice: individual and collaborative working; deployment of
appropriate media; presentation and organisation.
Students are expected to communicate and present the Research Design effectively. 10

TOTAL 10
0
Assignment Mark (Assessment marks are subject to ratification at the
Exam Board. These comments and marks are to give feedback on module work Late Submission Penalties (tick if %
and are for guidance only until they are confirmed. ) appropriate)

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 GUIDANCE FOR STUDENTS IN THE COMPLETION OF TASKS
NOTE: The guidance offered below is linked to the five common assessment criteria above.

1. Research-informed Literature
Your work must be informed and supported by scholarly material that is relevant to and focused on the task(s) set.
You should provide evidence that you have accessed a wide range of sources, which may be academic,
governmental and industrial; these sources may include academic journal articles, textbooks, current news articles,
organisational documents, and websites. You should consider the credibility of your sources; academic journals are
normally highly credible sources while websites require careful consideration/selection and should be used
sparingly. Any sources you use should be current and up-to-date, mostly published within the last five years or so,
though seminal/important works in the field may be older. You must provide evidence of your research/own reading
throughout your work, using in-text citations in the main body of your work and a reference list that is alphabetical
at the end of your work. Please use the Harvard referencing system.

2. Knowledge and Understanding of Subject

Your work must demonstrate the growing extent of your knowledge and understanding of concepts and underlying
principles associated with the subject area. Knowledge relates to the facts, information and skills you have acquired
through your learning. You demonstrate your understanding by interpreting the meaning of the facts and
information (knowledge). This means that you need to select and include in your work the concepts, techniques,
models, theories, etc. appropriate to the task(s) set. You should be able to explain the theories, concepts, etc.
meaningfully to show your understanding. Your mark/grade will also depend upon the extent to which you
demonstrate your knowledge and understanding; ideally each should be complete and detailed, with comprehensive
coverage.

3. Analysis
Your work must contain evidence of logical, analytical thinking, evaluation and synthesis. For example, to examine
and break information down into parts, make inferences, compile, compare and contrast information. This means
not just describing What! but also justifying: Why? How? When? Who? Where? At all times, you must provide
justification for your arguments and judgements. Evidence that you have reflected upon the ideas of others within
the subject area is crucial to you providing a reasoned and informed debate within your work. Furthermore, you
should provide evidence that you are able to make sound judgements and convincing arguments using data and
concepts. Sound, valid conclusions are necessary and must be derived from the content of your work. There should
be no new information presented within your conclusion. Where relevant, alternative solutions and
recommendations may be proposed.

4. Practical Application and Deployment

You should be able to demonstrate how the subject-related concepts and ideas relate to real world situations or a
particular context. How do they work in practice? You will deploy models, methods, techniques, and/or theories, in
that context, to assess current situations, perhaps to formulate plans or solutions to solve problems, some of which
may be innovative and creative. This is likely to involve, for instance, the use of real world examples and cases, the
application of a model within an organisation and/or benchmarking one organisation against others based on stated
criteria. You should show awareness of the limitations of concepts and theories when applied in particular contexts.

5. Skills for Professional Practice

Your work must provide evidence of the attributes expected in professional practice. This includes demonstrating
your individual initiative and/or collaborative working. You must communicate effectively in a suitable format, which
may be written and/or oral, for example, essay, management report, presentation. Work should be coherent and
well-structured in presentation and organisation.

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UNDERGRADUATE - COMMON ASSESSMENT AND MARKING CRITERIA
OUTRIGHT FAIL UNSATISFACTORY Marginal Pass GOOD VERY GOOD EXCELLENT EXCEPTIONAL

0-29% 30-39%* 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-79% 80-100%

Assessment Criteria
1. Research-informed Little or no evidence Poor evidence of References to a Inclusion of a range Inclusion of a wide A comprehensive Outstanding
of reading. reading and/or of limited range of of research- range of research- range of research knowledge of
Literature Views and findings reliance on mostly relevant informed literature, informed literature, informed literature research-informed
Extent of research unsupported and inappropriate sources. Some including sources including sources embedded in the literature
and/or own reading, non-authoritative. sources, and/or omissions and retrieved retrieved work. Excellent embedded in the
Referencing indiscriminate use minor errors. independently. independently. selection of relevant work. Outstanding
selection of credible conventions largely of sources. Referencing Referencing Selection of relevant and credible selection of
sources, application of ignored. Referencing conventions evident conventions mostly and credible sources. High-level relevant and
appropriate referencing conventions used though not always consistently applied. sources. Very good referencing skills, credible sources.
inconsistently. applied consistently. use of referencing consistently applied. High-level
conventions conventions, referencing skills
consistently applied. consistently and
professionally
applied.

2. Knowledge and Major gaps in Gaps in knowledge, Evidence of basic Knowledge is Knowledge is Excellent knowledge Highly detailed
knowledge and with only superficial knowledge and accurate with a extensive. Exhibits and understanding knowledge and
Understanding of understanding of understanding. understanding of good understanding understanding of of the main understanding of
Subject material at this Some significant the relevant of the field of study. the breadth and concepts and key the main
Extent of knowledge and level. Substantial inaccuracies. concepts and depth of established theories. Clear theories/concepts,
inaccuracies. underlying views. awareness of and a critical
understanding of principles. challenges to awareness of the
concepts and underlying established views ambiguities and
principles associated and the limitations limitations of
of the knowledge knowledge.
with the discipline. base.

3. Analysis Unsubstantiated Some evidence of Evidence of some Evidence of some Sound, logical, Thoroughly logical Exceptional work;
generalisations, analytical logical, analytical logical, analytical analytical thinking; work, supported by judiciously
Analysis, evaluation and made without use intellectual skills, thinking and some thinking and synthesis and evaluated evidence. selected and
synthesis; logic, of any credible but for the most attempts to synthesis. Can evaluation. Ability High quality evaluated
argument and evidence. Lack of part descriptive. synthesise, albeit analyse new and/or to devise and analysis, developed evidence. Very
logic, leading to Ideas/findings with some abstract data and sustain persuasive independently or high quality
judgement; analytical unsupportable/ sometimes illogical weaknesses. situations without arguments, and to through effective analysis,
reflection; organisation missing conclusions. and contradictory. Some evidence to guidance. review the collaboration. developed
of ideas and evidence Lack of any attempt Generalised support findings/ An emerging reliability, validity & Ability to investigate independently or
to analyse, statements made views, but evidence awareness of significance of contradictory through effective
synthesise or with scant evidence. not consistently different stances evidence. Ability to information and collaboration.
evaluate. Conclusions lack interpreted. and ability to use communicate ideas identify reasons for Ability to
relevance. Some relevant evidence to support and evidence contradictions. investigate
conclusions and the argument. accurately and Strong, persuasive, contradictory
recommendations, Valid conclusions convincingly. conclusions, information and
where relevant and Sound, convincing justifiable identify reasons
recommendations, conclusions / recommendations. for contradictions.
where relevant recommendations. Highly persuasive
conclusions
4. Practical Application Limited or no use of Rudimentary An adequate A good and A very good An advanced Outstanding levels
methods, materials, application of awareness and appropriate application of a application of a of application and
and Deployment tools and/or methods, materials, mostly appropriate application of range of methods, range of methods, deployment skills.
Effective deployment of techniques. tools and/or application of well standard methods, materials, tools materials, tools Assimilation and
appropriate methods, Little or no techniques but established materials, tools and/or techniques. and/or techniques. development of
appreciation of the without methods, materials, and/or techniques. Very good The context of the cutting edge
materials, tools and context of the consideration and tools and/or Good appreciation consideration of the application is well processes and
techniques; extent of application. competence. techniques. of the context of the context of the considered, with techniques.
skill demonstrated in the Flawed appreciation Basic appreciation application, with application, with extensive use of
of the context of the of the context of the some use of perceptive use of relevant examples.
application of concepts application. application. examples, where examples, where Application and
to a variety of processes relevant. relevant. deployment extend
and/or contexts; Evidence of some beyond established
innovation and conventions.
formulation of innovative creativity. Innovation and
and creative solutions to creativity evident
solve problems. throughout.

5. Skills for Professional Communication Media is poorly Can communicate in Can communicate Can communicate Can communicate Can communicate
media is designed and/or not a suitable format effectively in a well, confidently professionally and, with an
Practice inappropriate or suitable for the but with some room suitable format, but and consistently in a confidently in a exceptionally high
Demonstrates attributes misapplied. audience. for improvement. may have minor suitable format. suitable format. level of
expected in professional Little or no evidence Poor independent Can work as part of errors. Can work very well Can work professionalism.
of autonomy in the or collaborative a team, but with Can work effectively as part of a team, professionally Can work
practice including: completion of tasks. initiative. limited involvement as part of a team, with very good within a team, exceptionally well
individual initiative and Work is poorly Work lacks in group activities. with clear contribution to showing leadership and professionally
collaborative working; structured and/or structure, Work lacks contribution to group activities. skills as appropriate, within a team,
largely incoherent. organisation, and/or coherence in places group activities. Work is coherent managing conflict showing advanced
deployment of coherence and could be better Mostly coherent and fluent and is and meeting leadership skills.
appropriate media to structured. work and is in a well structured and obligations. Work is
communicate (including suitable structure. organised. Work is coherent, exceptionally
very fluent and is coherent, very
written and oral); clarity presented fluent and is
and effectiveness in professionally. presented
presentation and professionally.
organisation.

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