MAN-40276 - Module Specification
Keele Business School
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

The research methods module will develop your analytical and research skills to develop competencies for future work based research and consultancy work. The module provides the essential guidance in conducting the research and problem solving activities that you will undertake as part of your summative dissertation/work based project/work placement or entrepreneurship project. The module includes how to scope a research or problem solving project, exploring underlying assumptions, designing an appropriate methodological approach and examining the ethical concerns of any research or problem solving project. The module will enable you to examine and apply appropriate paradigms for your sector and context, develop knowledge of the various research styles available to researchers, and explore epistemological rationales and ethical implications. In so doing you will develop an understanding of the potential strengths and weaknesses of each research style so as to enable the critical selection and use of the most appropriate research style, in the light of your chosen dissertation/consultancy project/work placement.

This module aims to prepare students for the summative element of their Full Time MBA programme. The summative element may be a dissertation, consultancy project, or a work based placement. The specific aims of the module are to:
- provide an understanding of the theory and practice of research in business and management subjects;
- raise awareness of ethical conduct in research and practical problem solving;
- develop an understanding of the wide range of research methodologies and methods used in the business and management discipline;
- evaluate different methodological approaches to business and management research;
- develop an awareness of the theoretical and practical issues associated with research and problem solving and the presentation of findings.

Intended Learning Outcomes

relate research literature and research methods to a research topic or practical problem solving: 1,2
appreciate the importance of an ethical approach to research or practical problem solving and be able to identify issues of validity and reliability: 1,2
evaluate the different methodological approaches used in business and management research: 1,2
differentiate between research methods, be able to critically assess the strengths and weakness of each method and be able to select an appropriate method or methods to be used in given context: 1,2

Study hours

A minimum of 14 hours face to face or synchronous online lectures. The synchronous online lectures will be recorded so can also be accessed asynchronously
Tutorial sessions as required and dependent on the specific programme of study
14 * 6 hours guided reading (84 hours in total)
10 hours summative assessment preparation for assessment 1
42 hours summative assessment preparation for assessment 2

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment