LO1 Synthesise various sources of information to plan and complete a research project over an extended time period.

1. Module details and learning outcomes

Host faculty: Business  

Host school: Management and Marketing

Number of credits: 45

Term(s) of delivery: Cross-sectional Term 1, 2 and 3

Site(s) of delivery: Greenwich 

The dissertation is an independent, in-depth piece of work that demonstrates a high level of research competence. The student must plan and execute a significant piece of research that demonstrates knowledge, understanding and application of theories and concepts of business- related research methods. A dissertation should be your own work and offer either a record of original research or a critical review of existing knowledge, or a combination of both. This involves developing and applying research skills particularly in the areas of literature search, problem definition, data collection, analysis, and argument. The dissertation thus provides the opportunity to demonstrate qualities of scholarship, such as discriminating use of reading and the presentation of well researched, coherent, and well supported analysis. Students should develop effective working relationships with supervisors as early as possible, since they can be expected to provide broad advice on the overall viability and acceptability of dissertation designs in particular contexts. However, the supervisor’s role is not one of controlling or directing and overall responsibility for successful completion of the dissertation lies with the student. Your choice of topic is likely to be based on several issues. For example, a good topic may be one that fits in with your own research interest or your programme of study. The dissertation will normally be of no more than 12,000 words in length, plus appendices. It will clearly identify the background in terms of literature and previous analysis of the subject. The aims of the dissertation will be clearly indicated, as will the methodology which has been applied and the reasons for its selection. The dissertation will reach findings or recommendations which will be logically formulated, and the data will be clearly presented and coherently analysed. It will be professionally and appropriately researched, referenced, and presented. Please note that you have approximately four months from completion of the required taught courses to complete the dissertation. This is ample time to meet the required standard if you work systematically and with a proper plan.

Aim:

The dissertation is a key element of the MA degree. It is the point where knowledge and understanding acquired through the earlier taught courses is synthesised and applied to a substantial management problem. Students reaching this level of study will have successfully completed a range of taught courses, including research methods and design.

The aim of this module is to build on the knowledge and skills acquired during the taught modules of the programme to plan and execute a detailed research enquiry of the students’ own choosing that has relevance to both theory and practice.

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this course a student will be able to: 

1. Synthesise various sources of information to plan and complete a research project over an extended time period.

2. Critically review literature and formulate research questions or hypotheses.  

3. Critically appraise and design appropriate methods of data collection and gather relevant data.

4. Reflect on the diversity of research participants, their perspectives and inclusivity on research methods, and apply this knowledge to collecting data from a diverse audience.

5. Analyse, interpret, and propose recommendations for theory and world of practice.

6. Design the structure and communicate the research project effectively, demonstrating critical thought, and writing with accuracy and style.

Glossary:

• A learning outcome is a subject-specific statement that defines the learning to be achieved through completing this module.

2. Employability

Conducting independent research is a challenge that every business school graduate will face whilst preparing for the workplace. BUSI1440 provides practice on research planning, personal and time management, secondary and primary data collection and analysis, managing a long and complex process, reviewing the research design, using data analysis software such as SPSS, and writing up an extended piece of the research project. Further importance is given to professionalism and acknowledging the work of others therefore avoiding plagiarism; a practice that can be carried forward when employed.

4. Schedule of teaching and learning activities

Self-directed research on a topic agreed with and guided by a Supervisor.

You will be allocated an academic supervisor at the beginning of Term 2 to support you in your research process. Your supervisor is there to help you, especially in the early stages. However, it is important that you recognise that you have overall responsibility for producing a dissertation that satisfies the requirements for the master’s degree. Please also keep in mind that the supervisor is not there to determine what to do, but to offer guidance and advice. You should be communicating with your supervisor on a regular basis throughout the research and write-up of your dissertation. It is particularly important that you arrange suitable dates to meet during the summer period. In addition to face-to-face meetings, this contact may be by email, Microsoft Team, skype or telephone.

In addition to the teaching and learning activities within the module, additional study support can be seen at:  Academic Skills

5. Assessment

The overall pass mark for this module is 50%.  

Note: Dissertation/final year project cannot be compensated.

If you don’t pass a module on the first attempt, you may be eligible for a Re-sit opportunity – this will be confirmed after the Progression and Award Board (PAB) at the end of the term in which the module was completed. Note that marks on re-sit assessments are capped at the pass mark unless extenuation has been applied for and granted. – please see your programme Moodle page for more details.

*The weighting refers to the proportion of the overall module result that each assessment task accounts for.

Marking, feedback and next steps

To pass this module, you must achieve an overall mark of 50+.

For coursework, the marks and feedback will normally be provided to students within fifteen working days of the submission deadline. In exceptional circumstances, where there is a delay in providing feedback, you will be informed by the module leader.  

If you do not pass a module at the first attempt, you will likely be eligible for a resit opportunity on the failed assessments. The Progression and Award Board (PAB) will decide whether you will be offered an opportunity to resit. Note that marks on resit assessments are capped at 40% unless extenuation has been applied for and granted.

For further details on resit assessments, please see section on Resit assessments below.  

The assessment and feedback policy can be accessed at Assessment and Feedback Policy.

Academic skills support

In addition to the teaching and learning activities within the module, additional academic skills support, guidance, and resources are available at the following links:

Academic and Digital Skills support - https://www.gre.ac.uk/academicskills

Academic Integrity - https://libguides.gre.ac.uk/courses/integrity

Guidance on use of AI - https://docs.gre.ac.uk/rep/information-and-library-services/ai-guidance 
The IT handbook for new students - https://docs.gre.ac.uk/rep/information-and-library-services/student-booklet

Strong academic skills will help you to act with academic integrity, honesty, and trust. These are the values on which academic achievement at the University of Greenwich is based. As a student, you are expected to take responsibility for the integrity of your own work, including asking for clarification where necessary. Any improper activity or behaviour which may give you an academic advantage in assessment is considered to be assessment misconduct. Allegations of assessment misconduct will be considered under the University’s Assessment Misconduct Procedure and may result in a penalty being imposed. More information about this procedure can be found at Assessment Misconduct Procedure.

Extenuating circumstances

The University recognises there are times when matters that are unexpected and beyond a student’s control will impact on their performance and ability to complete assessments within the specified timeframe. Examples include unforeseen illness, a death in the family, or injury. Guidance on submitting an extenuation claim can be found at: Extenuating circumstances.

If you have a disability, specific learning difficulty, for example dyslexia, a long-term medical condition or a mental health condition which might affect your studies and assessments, and you have not already done so, then we advise that you seek support from the Student Wellbeing Service by contacting wellbeing@gre.ac.uk in the first instance

6. Resit assessments

Assessment schedule:

Students should refer to the original assignment instructions outlined in Section 8 of this the module guide. Consider any feedback you may have received and submit your revised assignment. In addition, include a new section at the beginning of the assignment (up to a maximum of 200 words) in which you comment on what you changed in your assignment in response to any feedback received or your reflection on the task. If this is your first submission due to an initial non-submission you should instead clearly state this is your first attempt and you have no changes that can be applied. The module leader will provide support during the resit period.

7. Resource recommendations

The following are suggested readings for the module. Additional, more detailed reading recommendations will be provided for the module topics.

You can check availability of the resources by using the search tool LibrarySearch at https://librarysearch.gre.ac.uk.

8. Ethical Compliance for Research on Taught Courses  

University policy requires any research which might involve human participants to use set procedures for informing participants, obtaining their informed consent to provide data, collecting, and storing data. This includes the collection of data for formative or extra-curricular activities.  

Normally this requirement will impact upon approval of topics for undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations, but may also impact upon individual assignments where a student or group of students will undertake primary research.  

Where a module includes an assessment item involving student collection of data, whether from human participants or not, before any data is collected each student on such a module must:  

1. Undertake and pass the Epigeum Research Ethics online course available at the Business School Research Ethics - Approval for Coursework Moodle site, if they have not already done so; 
2. Register the details of the project by completing the online form linked on the same Moodle site;  

All data collected in the course of the project must be:  

• stored on the student’s University Home (G:) or OneDrive only. Data may not be stored on other online file storage depositories such as DropBox or Google Docs, nor on personal laptops, mobile devices or memory sticks. Where interviews are recorded on a mobile device, the device must be password protected and the recordings transferred to the G: or OneDrive and the earliest opportunity and the copy on the mobile device destroyed. Hand-written notes from interviews should be scanned and stored on the G: or OneDrive with the originals destroyed;   
• destroyed following the confirmation of results at the PAB or resit PAB. 

In addition, any student collecting data from human participants must:   

• not collect data that is sensitive in nature or is collected from University of Greenwich staff, nor from vulnerable populations such as children;  
• provide all participants with an offline or online participant information sheet and consent form, using the authorised template;  
• include the participant information sheet consent form template as appendices to the submitted assignment;  
• include any questionnaire or interview guide as appendices to the submitted assignment;  
• if collecting data online, utilise the University’s subscriptions to Qualtrics, JISC Online Surveys, Mentimeter, Microsoft Forms, Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business;   
• not collect data using other tools not approved by the University (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Google Docs, Google Chat, WeChat) which might store data outside of EU regulations.  

If – and only if - any variation from the set procedure detailed above is sought:  

• an individual application must be made to the Business Faculty Research Ethics Committee (FRECBUS) using a UREB form.    
• The response of the committee will be emailed to the student’s University email address. The email confirming ethics approval has been granted must be kept and included as an appendix to the assignment submission it has been granted for.   
• Where an application is not approved, the Committee will provide contact details for the person the student should approach to negotiate the next steps. 

Tutor responsibilities 

The tutor must: 

• ensure that students do not commence data collection without meeting the conditions of this policy; 
• check that participant information forms, consent forms and data collection instruments comply with this policy, before they are employed; 
• check that consent forms have been collected from all participants; 
• advise students wishing to undertake activities in variance from the set procedure to submit a full UREC form to the FRECBUS for approval before data collection commences; 
• Refer any student who collects data outside the conditions of this policy to an academic offences panel. 
• When marking the submitted assignment, assess the extent to which the ethical requirements specified above have been met. 

Module Leader responsibilities 

The Module Leader must: 

• include an ethics requirements component in relevant marking rubrics; 
• include a review of ethics compliance in moderation of partner samples; 
• notify FRECBUS of any students who have: 
  • collected data without the required approval; 
  • submitted assignments without any required appendices; 
  • otherwise not met the ethics requirements. 

Failing to comply with the conditions of this policy is an academic offence.  

For further details, see FREC process - June 2023 version.docx 

9. Additional module information

N/A

10. Digital Student Centre (non-academic queries)

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For academic queries, always contact the staff who work with you on your academic programme - your programme leader, module leader or personal tutor.

11. Changes to the module

At the University of Greenwich, we value feedback from students as well as External Examiners and other stakeholders and we use this information to help us improve our provision.

For example, in this module we have introduced more campaign options for students to choose from, following student and EE feedback that this would make the module more inclusive.

Important note: The University of Greenwich will do all that it reasonably can to deliver the module and support your learning as specified in our handbooks and other information provided. However, under some circumstances, changes may have to be made. This may include modifications to the:

• content and syllabus of modules, including in relation to placements
• timetable, location and number of classes
• content or method of delivery of your module
• timing and method of assessments.

This might be because of, for example:

• academic changes within subject areas
• the unanticipated departure or absence of members of university staff
• where the numbers expected on a module are so low that it is not possible to deliver an appropriate quality of education for students enrolled on it
• industrial action by university staff or third parties
• the acts of any government or local authority
• acts of terrorism.

In these circumstances, the university will take all reasonable steps to minimise disruption by making reasonable modifications. However, to the full extent that it is possible under the general law, the university excludes liability for any loss and/or damage suffered by any applicant or student due to these circumstances.