Run by Bangor Business School

20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 1

Organiser: Prof Doris Merkl-Davies

The aim of this module is provide students with an understanding of the principles and practice of research design and methods. Students will learn how to formulate appropriate research questions and how to develop an approach to finding answers. The module provides an understanding of a variety of research philosophies, principles of research design, methods of data collection and analysis, and approaches to theory construction and advancement. Students will gain key insights and skills for doing academic research and successfully completing a research project at a doctoral level.

This module will outline alternative methodological positions (and their relations to ontological and epistemological positions) that can be taken by researchers and cover their impact on the research process. The research process will be covered in detail and includes a focus on developing research aims, objectives, and questions that that underpin a research problem. The use of theory in the research process, including ways of making a theoretical contribution will be introduced in addition to developing conceptual models. Methods and skills for data collection and analysis will also be covered, including qualitative and quantitative approaches, such as case study design, survey research design, grounded theory analysis, and critical discourse analysis.

excellent

Excellent standard (A- to A*): An outstanding performance, exceptionally able. The relevant information accurately deployed. Excellent grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practice elements. Good integration of theory/practice/information in pursuit of the assessed work's objectives. Strong evidence of the use of creative and reflective skills.

threshold

Satisfactory standard (C- to C+): No major omissions or inaccuracies in the deployment of information/skills. Some grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements. Integration of theory/practice/information present intermittently in pursuit of the assessed work’s objectives.

good

Average Standard (B- to B+): Much of the relevant information and skills mostly accurately deployed. Adequate grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements. Fair integration of theory/practice/information in the pursuit of the assessed work's objectives. Some evidence of the use of creative and reflective skills.

High Standard (65-69%): Very good performance Most of the relevant information accurately deployed. Good grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements. Good integration of theory/practice/information in pursuit of the assessed work's objectives. Evidence of the use of creative and reflective skills.

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of the scientific method.

2. Develop an understanding of the rationale in choosing particular methods and analysis techniques and critically analyse how such choices influence theory generation and testing.

3. Understand the basic principles of research design and strategy.

4. Develop a critical understanding of the formulation of the research problem. Including demonstrating the ability to clearly detail and critically evaluate research aims, objectives, questions, and hypotheses.

5. Critically analyse alternative epistemological positions that provide the context for theory construction, research design, and the selection of appropriate analytical techniques.

Type	Name	Description	Weight
	Report on initial research ideas		30.00
	Methods report		50.00
	Research philosophy essay		20.00

		Hours
Lecture	Weekly lectures (3 hours per week for 10 weeks in semester one) that encompass presentations, videos, and class discussions	30
Private study		170

• Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
• Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
• Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
• Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
• Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
• Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
• Management - Able to utilise, coordinate and control resources (human, physical and/or financial)
• Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting

• Problem solving and critical analysis: analysing facts and circumstances to determine the cause of a problem and identifying and selecting appropriate solutions.
• Research: the ability to analyse and evaluate a range of business data, sources of information and appropriate methodologies, which includes the need for strong digital literacy, and to use that research for evidence-based decision-making.
• Conceptual and critical thinking, analysis, synthesis and evaluation.

Compulsory in courses:

• N1BR: PG Cert Research Methodology year 1 (CERT/RM)
• N1BP: MSc Research Methodology year 1 (MSC/RM)