BS4S41 - Research Methods 01 Sep 2024 - 31 Aug 2030 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: BS4S41
Module Title: Research Methods
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Operations Management
Faculty Sub Group: Management
Module Leader: Gabor Horvath
Module Team: Simon Thomas, Gail Evans, Antara Arif, Omoboyede Alalabiaye, Katie Jones, Sriram Chinnadurai, Gwyn Mapp, Marilia Angove, Catherine McCluskey
First Intended Intake: SEP 2024 Final Year of Intake: 2029
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100078 - business and management 100088 - leadership 100338 - philosophy of science
HECOS Code Weighting: 65 25 10

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2024
Valid To 31 Aug 2030

Module Aims

Develop the students understanding and skills of research in a management subject discipline. 

Critically review a range of research methodologies and select one most appropriate to address a research need. 

Critically review a range of research methods and select the one(s) most appropriate to address the research design. 

Equip students with the skills required for the practical aspects of planning, conducting and producing a Masters level work. 

Content Summary

Conceptualisation and Operationalisation: theories, models and perspectives, constructs, concepts and variables, aim and objectives setting. 

Literature Review: conducting literature review, identifying relevant theories, models and perspectives. 

Data Collection : observation, questionnaires, interviews, content analysis. 

Research Quality: Various reliability and validity types. 

Quantitative Research Methods: surveys, experiments, quasi-experiments. 

Qualitative Research Methods: case studies, focus groups, in-depth interviews. 

Research Philosophy: Constituents (Epistemology, Ontology, axiology, logic, causality), schools (positivism, post-positivism, realism, pragmatism and constructivism.) 

Practical issues: Ethics in business research, access to data, time management, writing, relationship with supervisor. Data Analysis and Interpretation: principles, reporting and presenting results, use of DA software (Analytics and QDAS.) 

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 10
Workshops 20
Independent Study 125
Directed Study (Including online independent learning) 40
Formative Assessment - scheduled 5
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate a critical appreciation of research methodologies.
LO2 Selectively adopt appropriate analytical techniques to address management research questions.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Research Plan / Proposal / Project/ Log 2 Produce a dissertation or applied management project proposal form detailing how you intend to ethically collect quantitative or qualitative data relating to a business topic, how you intend to analyse the collected data and how you intend to present the findings. 0 4000 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Research Plan / Proposal / Project/ Log 2

Reading List

Alvesson, M. and Deetz, S.A. (2021) Doing critical research. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. Available at: https://methods.sagepub.com/book/doing-critical-research.   

Association for Project Management (2019) APM body of knowledge. Seventh edition. Princes Risborough: Association for Project Management. Available at: https://eu.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/view/action/uresolver.do?operation=resolveService&package_service_id=8844124690002424&institutionId=2424&customerId=2415

Bell, E., Harley, B. and Bryman, A. (2022) Business research methods. Sixth edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at: https://findit.southwales.ac.uk/permalink/44WHELF_USW/1df4iq7/alma99100559088102424.  

Bell, J. (2018) Doing your research project: a guide for first-time researchers. Seventh edition. London, England: McGraw-Hill Education. Available at: https://findit.southwales.ac.uk/permalink/44WHELF_USW/1df4iq7/alma99100423717002424.   

Blaxter, L., Hughes, C. and Tight, M. (2010) How to research. 4th ed. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill/Open University Press. Available at: http://www.vlebooks.com/vleweb/product/openreader?id=UniSWales&isbn=9780335238699.  

Clark, T. et al. (2021) Bryman’s social research methods. Sixth edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at: https://findit.southwales.ac.uk/permalink/44WHELF_USW/g0kpe7/alma99100587564102424.   

Collis, J. and Hussey, R. (2021) Business research: a practical guide for students / Jill Collis & Roger Hussey. Fifth edition. London: Red Globe Press. Available at: https://findit.southwales.ac.uk/permalink/44WHELF_USW/g0kpe7/alma99100517091802424.  

Creswell, J.W. and Creswell, J.D. (2023) Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sixth edition. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE. Available at: https://findit.southwales.ac.uk/permalink/44WHELF_USW/1df4iq7/alma99100619989202424.  

Denscombe, M. (2021) The good research guide: research methods for small-scale social research. Seventh edition. Maidenhead: Open University Press. Available at: 

https://findit.southwales.ac.uk/permalink/44WHELF_USW/g0kpe7/alma99100515389602424.  

Djebarni, R. et al. (2014) Research methods for business students, managers and entrepreneurs. Pontypridd: University of South Wales. Available at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/research-methods-for-business/id862468951

Easterby-Smith, M. et al. (2021) Management and business research. Seventh edition. Los Angeles: SAGE. Available at: https://findit.southwales.ac.uk/permalink/44WHELF_USW/1df4iq7/alma99100553458602424.  

Eriksson, P. and Kovalainen, A. (2016) Qualitative methods in business research. 2nd edition. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications. Available at: https://findit.southwales.ac.uk/permalink/44WHELF_USW/1df4iq7/alma99100553463602424.  

Gallagher, K. (2022) Essential study and employment skills for business and management students. Fourth edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.  

Gill, J., Johnson, P. and Clark, M. (2010) Research methods for managers. 4th ed. Los Angeles: SAGE.  

Hart, C. (2018) Doing a literature review: releasing the research imagination. 2nd edition. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE Publications. Available at: https://findit.southwales.ac.uk/permalink/44WHELF_USW/g0kpe7/alma99100553455802424.   

Kumar, R. (2019) Research methodology: a step-by-step guide for beginners. Fifth edition. London: SAGE. Available at: https://findit.southwales.ac.uk/permalink/44WHELF_USW/1df4iq7/alma99100553441402424

Library updates (no date). University of South Wales. Available at: https://library.southwales.ac.uk/libraryupdates/.  

May, T. and Perry, B. (2022) Social research: issues, methods and process. Fifth edition. London: Open University Press. Available at: https://eu.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/view/action/uresolver.do?operation=resolveService&package_service_id=8996742920002424&institutionId=2424&customerId=2415.   

McGivern, Y. (2022) The practice of market research: from data to insight. Fifth edition. Harlow, England: Pearson. Available at: https://eu.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/view/action/uresolver.do?operation=resolveService&package_service_id=9039649920002424&institutionId=2424&customerId=2415.   

Robson, C. (2024) Real world research: a resource for users of social research methods in applied settings. Fifth edition. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.  

Saunders, M.N.K., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2023) Research methods for business students. Ninth edition. Harlow: Pearson. Available at: https://findit.southwales.ac.uk/permalink/44WHELF_USW/1df4iq7/alma99100635789502424

Sekaran, U. (2020) Research methods for business? : A skill-building approach. New York: John Wiley & Sons Inc.  

Silverman, D. (2024) Interpreting qualitative data. 7E. London: Sage.  

Zikmund, W.G. et al. (2013) Business research methods. Ninth edition, International edition. Australia: South-Western