AF7014 - Research Methods and Analytics for Business Practice

You will learn through a combination of formal sessions, tutor-directed study and independent reading. The sessions will be highly interactive and will draw upon the directed learning undertaken and your own experiences. Throughout, the emphasis will be on high levels of participation, both individually and within small groups or teams. Most classes will be workshop or seminar based facilitating practice and experimentation with the methods and techniques covered. This will allow you to learn in an extremely hands-on way whether you are working with a set of quantitative data and using statistical techniques and software such as SPSS to analyse it, or conducting interviews and considering how to analyse qualitative data that results from them. A smaller number of lecture sessions will be used to communicate vital areas for Masters’ researchers at Northumbria University such as the University Ethics policy, and also to provide some subject-specific input which may be helpful in providing guidance on possible areas for your choice of topic in the Master’s Dissertation, Consultancy Project or Management Enquiry. Directed learning will centre upon a range of activities including pre-reading and preparation for interactive activities. Independent learning will centre upon you identifying and pursuing areas of interest in relation to your subject area, since by the end of this module you will be able to write your research proposal for the dissertation, identifying consultancy opportunities or, management enquiry. Critical reflection on knowledge, experience and practice underpins the learning and teaching philosophy along with the explicit development of competence

You will be supported by the module tutor in addition to various subject experts. These staff will deliver lectures, workshops and seminars relevant to their areas of expertise. Workshops and seminars will be in small groups so that there is ample opportunity for exploring the issues raised in detail. A comprehensive eLP site will store all the appropriate materials needed for the lectures, workshops and seminars. As part of the module you will also make use of statistical analysis software (SPSS) for processing quantitative data, and there is an electronic reading list indicating which texts, academic reports, conference papers and journal articles should be consulted as the module progresses. Formative feedback will be provided throughout the module, particularly in relation to seminar tasks where the practical nature of the work will naturally lead to several opportunities to give and receive feedback from your tutors and from peers. In addition, there will be several opportunities for you to discuss your potential research ideas with staff who have expertise in your chosen subject area. This will provide you with formative feedback on your proposed dissertation or management enquiry research or possible consultancy interests and will help you to put together your report.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
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Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• Develop a working proposal and project plan to lead to a Masters Dissertation, Masters Consultancy Project or Masters Management Enquiry [MLO1]
• Propose and justify data collection and analysis relevant to your chosen research topic. [MLO2]
• Present your research proposal to an audience of Masters’ students and academics using an appropriate poster display. [ML03]

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• Reflect on your own ethical values. [MLO4]

This is zero credit module. As such students are not required to formally submit the assessment. However students are strongly encouraged to attend the taught sessions of the module and write a research proposal for dissertation or Management Enquiry or Consultancy Project.

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This module will provide you with essential knowledge and analytics skills needed for you to complete a high quality Masters’ Dissertation, Consultancy Project or Management Enquiry. By undertaking and reflecting on practical research-based activities you will understand the process of designing and carrying out a research study, also you will engage in activities that involve understanding of data and analysis of data. This will place you in a strong position to undertake your own Masters’ level research, Consultancy Project or Management Enquiry. At the end of the module you will learn how to write a research proposal.. In the dissertation you will work under the supervision of a member of academic staff and your proposal will also help to ensure you get the most from this relationship. Some students may opt for the Masters’ Consultancy Project or Management Enquiry instead of the Dissertation, but irrespective of choice the research methods skills developed in this module will be critical in developing your ability to collect, analyse and interpret data.