quantitative and qualitative methodologies that are needed to undertake, evaluate
and present a small-scale research project.
Following an introduction to research, the module will move on to explore the major
paradigms and debates in business research. It will help students to build
appropriate strategies for reviewing literature and developing a coherent set of aims
and objectives for a research study.
The module will cover major research methods (observation, surveys, case studies,
interviews and action research), the implications of using them as well as the
analysis of qualitative and quantitative data and presentation of findings.
It identifies how to develop research questions/ hypotheses and how to produce
robust and realistic research, considering issues of data validation, triangulation and
reliability. Following satisfactory completion of this module, students will progress
to the dissertation.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module, students should be able to:
• Interpret existing research as a prelude to carrying out further investigation,
demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of a range of research designs
and their appropriate utilisation;
• Source, evaluate and appropriately reference information from a range of
sources;
• Integrate the findings of existing research to ask a new research question;
