Module Title

Research Methods and Project Introduction

Individual

Cohort JAN

Module Code

7095MAA 2223JANMAY

Coursework Title (e.g. CWK1)

Project Proposal

Hand out date:

Wc 16/1/2023

Lecturer

Dr Mark J. Hooper

Due date and time:

4/4/2023 at 18:00 UK time

Estimated Time (hrs):

Word Limit* guide 2500

Coursework type:

Project Proposal

Credit Value assessed

CW1 10

CW2 5

Submission arrangement online via Aula:

File types and method of recording: word only

Mark and Feedback date (DD/MM/YY):

Mark and Feedback method via Gradebook

Module Learning Outcomes Assessed:

Critically evaluate the key ethical, political, legal and social issues that need to be considered when carrying out research.

Demonstrate a critical understanding of the main philosophical and theoretical approaches to research methods.

Construct appropriate research questions or hypotheses.

Critically review literature appropriate to their discipline.

Critically appraise the main approaches to research design, sampling and analysis appropriate to their discipline.

Task and Mark distribution:

See Marking sheet incorporated within the Project proposal proforma (attached)

Notes:

You are expected to use the Coventry University Harvard Referencing Style. For support and advice on this students can contact Centre for Academic Writing (CAW).

Please notify your registry course support team and module leader for disability support.

Any student requiring an extension or deferral should follow the university process as outlined here.

The University cannot take responsibility for any coursework lost or corrupted on disks, laptops or personal computer. Students should therefore regularly back-up any work and are advised to save it on the University system.

If there are technical or performance issues that prevent students submitting coursework through the online coursework submission system on the day of a coursework deadline, an appropriate extension to the coursework submission deadline will be agreed. This extension will normally be 24 hours or the next working day if the deadline falls on a Friday or over the weekend period. This will be communicated via your Module Leader.

You are encouraged to check the originality of your work by using the draft Turnitin links on your Moodle Web.

Collusion between students (where sections of your work are similar to the work submitted by other students in this or previous module cohorts) is taken extremely seriously and will be reported to the academic conduct panel. This applies to both courseworks and exam answers.

A marked difference between your writing style, knowledge and skill level demonstrated in class discussion, any test conditions and that demonstrated in a coursework assignment may result in you having to undertake a Viva Voce in order to prove the coursework assignment is entirely your own work.

If you make use of the services of a proof reader in your work you must keep your original version and make it available as a demonstration of your written efforts.

You must not submit work for assessment that you have already submitted (partially or in full), either for your current course or for another qualification of this university, unless this is specifically provided for in your assignment brief or specific course or module information. Where earlier work by you is citable, ie. it has already been published/submitted, you must reference it clearly. Identical pieces of work submitted concurrently will also be considered to be self-plagiarism.

0-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70+

80+

Work mainly incomplete and /or weaknesses in most areas

Most elements completed; weaknesses outweigh strengths

Most elements are strong, minor weaknesses

Strengths in all elements

Most work exceeds the standard expected

All work substantially exceeds the standard expected

GRADE

ANSWER RELEVANCE

ARGUMENT & COHERENCE

EVIDENCE

SUMMARY

Distinction

≥70

Innovative response, answers the question fully, addressing the learning objectives of the assessment task. Evidence of critical analysis, synthesis and evaluation.

A clear, consistent in-depth critical and evaluative argument, displaying the ability to develop original ideas from a range of sources. Engagement with theoretical and conceptual analysis.

Wide range of appropriately supporting evidence provided, going beyond the recommended texts. Correctly referenced.

An outstanding, well-structured and appropriately referenced answer, demonstrating a high degree of understanding and critical analytic skills.

Merit

60-69

A very good attempt to address the objectives of the assessment task with an emphasis on those elements requiring critical review.

A generally clear line of critical and evaluative argument is presented. Relationships between statements and sections are easy to follow, and there is a sound, coherent structure.

A very good range of relevant sources is used in a largely consistent way as supporting evidence. There is use of some sources beyond recommended texts. Correctly referenced in the main.

The answer demonstrates a very good understanding of theories, concepts and issues, with evidence of reading beyond the recommended minimum. Well organised and clearly written.

High Pass

50-59

Competently addresses objectives but may contain errors or omissions and critical discussion of issues may be superficial or limited in places.

Some critical discussion, but the argument is not always convincing, and the work is descriptive in places, with over-reliance on the work of others.

A range of relevant sources is used, but the critical evaluation aspect is not fully presented. There is limited use of sources beyond the standard recommended materials. Referencing is not always correctly presented.

The answer demonstrates a good understanding of some relevant theories, concepts and issues, but there are some errors and irrelevant material included. The structure lacks clarity.

Pass

40-49

Addresses most objectives of the assessment task, with some notable omissions. The structure is unclear in parts, and there is limited analysis.

The work is descriptive with minimal critical discussion and limited theoretical engagement.

A limited range of relevant sources used without appropriate presentation as supporting or conflicting evidence coupled with very limited critical analysis. Referencing has some errors.

Some understanding is demonstrated but is incomplete, and there is evidence of limited research on the topic. Poor structure and presentation, with few and/or poorly presented references.

Fail

<40

Some deviation from the objectives of the assessment task. May not consistently address the assignment brief. At the lower end fails to answer the question set or address the learning outcomes. There is minimal evidence of analysis or evaluation.

Descriptive with no evidence of theoretical engagement, critical discussion or theoretical engagement. At the lower end displays a minimal level of understanding.

Very limited use and application of relevant sources as supporting evidence. At the lower end demonstrates a lack of real understanding. Poor presentation of references.

Whilst some relevant material is present, the level of understanding is poor with limited evidence of wider reading. Poor structure and poor presentation, including referencing. At the lower end there is evidence of a lack of comprehension, resulting in an assignment that is well below the required standard.

Late submission

0

0

0

0

Title and Introduction

What is the title for your research?

Why are you undertaking the research?

What will be the gain in knowledge?

In your research proposal, have you provided evidence that you have thought about the area you wish to investigate?

As mentioned above, the title and topic area should be relevant to your

Master’s degree programme; moreover, it is important that your topic is something that interests you, since you will have to concentrate on it for many weeks. You must choose a subject on which you can easily acquire primary or secondary information (documents, interviews, questionnaires, data) and for which there is a body of related academic literature to investigate and synthesise when identifying research questions.

Guide 100 words

Supervisor Comments

Mark out of /10

Literature Scope

What theoretical issues will you examine?

Based on the above, which are your research questions? Be as clear about these as possible.

You should discuss major authors, key debates in the literature and relevant frameworks. List the reading you have already done and identify the research questions within your chosen topic as best you can. Also, consider how you will decide between different perspectives or bridge the gap between them.

Guide 1500 words

(This forms coursework 2 for this module)

Supervisor Comments

Mark out of /100 (Noted that this section is worth 5 module credits and needs entering as separate mark.)

Methodology

How are you going to address the research questions?

How are you going to acquire and analyse the identified data?

Are the methods suited to the data?

Is the approach realistic and achievable?

Are you comfortable using this research approach?

What are the limitations of the methodology you use?

What sources of bias could occur?

What are the ethical dimensions you need to consider?

Guide 300 words

Supervisor Comments

Mark out of /15

Data

Which organisations, individuals or sources will provide the necessary data?

Will the data be available in the depth required?

Are there ethical or confidentiality issues? How are these to be addressed? Complete CUethics form to its fullest extent.

Guide 200 words

Supervisor Comments

Mark out of /20 (5 Marks are associated with CUethics engagement)

Discussion

What is your hypothesis or research question?

How will this guide the research? State your Objectives.

How will you make adjustments following any changes in the hypothesis or research question?

Have you thought in depth about the key research question you will address?

It is likely that you will choose a current, real business problem as the focus of your Individual Project. This may be undertaken using an internal or external perspective, with or without access to a company, group of companies or industry.

It is important that you have gone further than just picking a generic topic area to be researched, and that you have decided which aspect of the topic you might investigate in detail. It is important to try to make this process as specific as possible. Narrow questions are easier to investigate successfully; a broad topic may evoke so many conflicting issues that giving an adequate amount of attention to all of them in the time available might be impossible. However, please note that too narrow a topic may mean that the individual project will lack empirical breadth or analytical depth.

Guide 200 words

Supervisor Comments

Mark out of /10

References and Bibliography

Have you fully and clearly identified the major references? Have you fully and clearly identified the major book references? These should be listed using APA (7^th edition) System.

Supervisor Comments

Mark out of /5