PE6009 - Business Research Methods

You will learn through a range of interactive on-line learning materials, scheduled on-line workshops at key points in the module, tutor guidance, feedback, and independent directed and self-directed learning. Importantly, you will also learn at work, through reflecting on your experiences and applying your knowledge from the module to your practice in the workplace. The workshops will introduce you to module, assessment and key theories and concepts.

Your learning is supported by a Teaching and Learning Plan, offering guidance on what you should be doing on a week by week basis. This will include engaging with the online learning materials, reading, workplace reflection and preparing for the scheduled online interactive workshops. These are designed to help with the completion of the assessment. Within this plan there are also suggested learning activities, which guide you in your independent learning. These activities allow you to reflect and evaluate your knowledge and skills in this area.

The Teaching and Learning plan will provide several prompts and guidance to support you academically. Support will also include opportunities to gain feedback from workshop tutors and peers through the online discussion board and Blackboard Collaborate.

Your module is supported by an e-learning portal, which houses all the module learning materials, workshop resources, interactive activities, assessment details and various other support facilities which are provided by the University.
In addition, to assist you in developing knowledge, you will have access to the University's library facilities, including extensive electronic resources, eBooks and electronic academic journal articles.

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:
1) Your critical appreciation of methods of enquiry into business-related issues/projects

2) Your critical awareness of the limitations of your knowledge of organisational issues/practices and how this may influence your research proposal

Intellectual/Professional skills and abilities:
3) Your critical ability to produce a research proposal into an organisational issue, informed by your knowledge of methods of enquiry

Personal Values attributes:
4) Your critical appreciation of how ethical issues may impact on enquiry-based research studies

Formative feedback will be provided in relation to a range of online activities throughout the module.

Your summative assessment will take the form of a 2,000-word Research Proposal assignment which will address all module learning outcomes. (MLO 1-4)

Criteria will be provided to enable you to understand what is expected in the assignment and how you will be assessed on your performance.

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“Research Methods” is designed to provide you with an introduction to research methods, to begin to develop your research skills and to consider yourself in the role of researcher. The module enables direct application of theory to your organisational context, as you begin to consider the potential issues for investigation and develop your understandings of their significance as well as the most suitable ways to approach them. Through completing the module you will develop your awareness of organisational issues as well as your analytical skills. Furthermore, the assessment will develop your awareness of the research process in preparation of completing your study in the final year of your programme. The module will also support the enhancement of your future employability prospects through developing your capability to conduct business research and therefore contribute more effectively in the workplace.