1 Assessment Brief Module Name- Module Code Level Credit Value M.docx
- 1. 1 Assessment Brief Module Name: Module Code Level Credit Value Module Leader STRM059 7 30 Assessment title: Research Project Report (7500 words) Weighting: 100% Submission dates: 7 Jan 2023 Feedback and Grades due: Please see NILE under Assessment Information Please read this assessment brief in its entirety before starting work on the Assessment Task. Purpose of Assessment The purpose of this assignment is to enable learners to develop advanced-level independent research and critical problem-solving skills within a business context. Learners will develop knowledge of, proficiency in, and application of a range of management research methodologies including qualitative and quantitative research methods resulting in proposals/ recommendations. The Assessment Task In the current international economic environment, entrepreneurs and managers are frequently required to undertake business planning, project and consultancy work in addition to their core responsibilities. Frequently, these projects are focused upon investigating new business opportunities or potential strategic changes in order to create, retain and extend
- 2. competitive position. The assessment task is to produce a 7500 words (±10%) research project report based on an independent research, which investigates a business/organisational or management problem, 2 issue or challenge, applies appropriate research techniques and analysis, and consequently informs the development of a business plan and/ or results in recommendations for change. Where the submission exceeds the stipulated word limit by more than 10%, the submission will only be marked up to and including the additional 10%. Anything over this will not be included in the final grade for the assessment item. Abstracts, bibliographies, reference lists, appendices and footnotes are excluded from any word limit requirements. Where a submission is notably under the word limit, the full submission will be marked on the extent to which the requirements of the assessment brief have been met. Additional Guidance Projects should be submitted with the UoN Faculty of Business & Law Ethics Form which has been signed by your project supervisor. The blank Ethics Form, sample Participant Information and Consent Forms/ Templates are available at the end of this assignment brief. Please see NILE for additional guidance about appendices. Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this assessment, you will be able to: Subject-Specific Knowledge, Understanding & Application a) Critically assess and apply theoretical concepts, constructs and models required to analyse business-related problems, plans and issues. b) Evaluate and implement appropriate research methodologies to examine management and
- 3. business-related issues. c) Enact appropriate ethical standards and use suitable tools to collect quantitative and qualitative data. d) Demonstrate the ability to link question formulation or research aim and objectives to data analyses, interpretations and implication of results. Employability & Changemaker Skills e) Define and express succinct and measurable targets, within business and organisational contexts. Your grade will depend on the extent to which you meet these learning outcomes in the way relevant for this assessment. Please see the grading rubric on NILE for further details of the criteria against which you will be assessed. Ethics Approval Your primary research should be undertaken under cover of an authorised Ethics Application that must include all supporting documentation (eg research instrument, participant information sheet, informed consent form). If you do not include your approved Ethics Form in your submission, 10% of your final grade will be deducted. If you do not have Ethics Approval for your research, your submission will be an automatic AG (fail). 3 SUGGESTED FORMAT FOR THE PROJECT REPORT TITLE/ COVER PAGE The following details should be stated on your title page: • The title of your project • Student name and number • Full Name & affiliation of Supervisor Your cover page should also include the University Logo and your Faculty of study ABSTRACT
- 4. This is a summary of your report and should not be more than one page. Essentially your Abstract is a summary (NOT an outline) of the different sections of the proposal or report – for example a summary of the research topic describing the project, in terms of some background information, your project aim, your methodology, main outcomes and recommendations from your research. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank any people that have assisted/contributed to your project. TABLE OF CONTENTS Provide a list of the sections of your project report with page numbers. Provide a list of the figures and tables presented in your project report, if applicable. CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION • What is the setting/ context for your research project? • What is your project about? • What are the aim and objectives of your research project? • What is/ are your research question(s) • Describe how your project will assist the organization that is under study, if relevant and applicable. • Describe the consultation process you have undertaken with the organization, if applicable. CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW What are the key concepts and theories that provide some background or platform for your research project? Discussing these entails a thorough review of relevant studies related to your research. Make sure you consult a wide range of relevant literature/ studies. Ensure this is a critical review – not just descriptive or an annotated bibliography. All sources should be correctly attributed using the Harvard Referencing format.
- 5. CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY • What methodology did you adopt and why? • What is the principle or philosophy that guides & shapes your research project and why (example Positivist, interpretivist; inductive/deductive, etc.)? 4 • Who is your target audience or your research sample and why? • What methods did you employ for collecting data and why? • How did you ensure adequate ethical procedure? • What are your hypotheses, if applicable? • How did you analyse your data (analytical and statistical procedures employed) and why? CHAPTER 4: RESULTS/ FINDINGS • Provide clear and logical presentation of the findings or results of your research, sighting corresponding examples/ instances from your collected/ generated data o These might include tables, graphs or other diagrams • Ensure your results correspond with your stated research objectives/ research questions, or hypotheses (if applicable) • You might want to consider integrating this section with Chapter 5 (below) or it can be a standalone Chapter. CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION AND EVALUATION • Provide an analytical/ critical discussion of your findings/ results aimed at addressing your research objectives or answering your stated research question(s)/ hypotheses. o Refer to any diagrams, questionnaire results, graphs, etc. discussed/ presented in the Results/ Findings Chapter • What are the implications of your findings? • How do your findings link with existing research?
- 6. CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS • What do your findings show? • What were the limitations of your project? • What recommendations would you make on the basis of your findings/ results? • Do you think your recommendations are innovative or entrepreneurial? Present your arguments such that they demonstrate how and why you think your recommendations are innovative or entrepreneurial. CHAPTER 7: REFERENCES • Full details of all the sources cited in your report. These should be formatted based on the recommended Harvard Referencing System GUIDANCE ON APPENDICES • These should include any material which is of interest, but which is peripheral to the project, e.g. approved ethics form, sample participant information sheet & consent form, tables of results, graphs, photos, raw data from surveys and interviews, etc. • You should try and keep any such appendices to a minimum. 5 Assessment Support Specific support sessions for this assessment will be provided by the module team and notified through NILE. You can also access individual support and guidance for your assessments from Library and Learning Services. Visit the Skills Hub to access this support and to discover the online support also available for assessments and academic skills. Academic Integrity and Misconduct Unless this is a group assessment, the work you produce must be your own, with work taken from any other source properly referenced and attributed. For the avoidance of doubt this means that it is an infringement of academic integrity and, therefore, academic misconduct to
- 7. ask someone else to carry out all or some of the work for you, whether paid or unpaid, or to use the work of another student whether current or previously submitted. For further guidance on what constitutes plagiarism, contract cheating or collusion, or any other infringement of academic integrity, please read the University’s Academic Integrity and Misconduct Policy. Also useful resources to help with understanding academic integrity are available from UNPAC . N.B. The penalties for academic misconduct are severe and can include failing the assessment, failing the module and expulsion from the university. Assessment Submission To submit your work, please go to the ‘Submit your work’ area on the NILE site and use the relevant submission point to upload your report. The deadline for this is 11.59pm (UK local time) on the date of submission. Please note that essays and text based reports should be submitted as word documents and not PDFs or Mac files. Written work submitted to TURNITIN will be subject to anti-plagiarism detection software. Turnitin checks student work for possible textual matches against internet available resources and its own proprietary database. Work When you upload your work correctly to TURNITIN you will receive a receipt which is your record and proof of submission. If your assessment is not submitted to TURNITIN, rather than a receipt, you will see a green banner at the top of the screen that denotes successful submission. N.B Work emailed directly to your tutor will not be marked. Late submission of work For first sits, if an item of assessment is submitted late and an extension has not been
- 8. granted, the following will apply: • Within one week of the original deadline – work will be marked and returned with full feedback, and awarded a maximum bare pass grade. • More than one week from original deadline – grade achievable LG (L indicating late). https://skillshub.northampton.ac.uk/ https://searchtundra.northampton.ac.uk/?tag=6b623fba-68f4-4e99-915e-34128c51b1c6 https://searchtundra.northampton.ac.uk/?tag=6b623fba-68f4-4e99-915e-34128c51b1c6 https://mypad.northampton.ac.uk/academicintegrity/courses/ 6 For resits there are no allowances for work submitted late and it will be treated as a non- submission. Please see the Assessment and Feedback Policy for full information on the processes related to assessment, grading and feedback, including anonymous grading. You will also find the generic grading criteria for achievement at University Grading Criteria. Also explained there are the meanings of the various G grades at the bottom of the grading scale including LG mentioned above. Extensions The University of Northampton’s general policy with regard to extensions is to be supportive of students who have genuine difficulties, but not against pressures of work that could have reasonably been anticipated. For full details please refer to the Extensions Policy. Extensions are only available for first sits – they are not available for resits. Mitigating Circumstances For guidance on Mitigating circumstances please go to Mitigating Circumstances where you will find detailed guidance on the policy as well as guidance and the form for making an
- 9. application. Please note, however, that an application to defer an assessment on the grounds of mitigating circumstances should normally be made in advance of the submission deadline or examination date. Feedback and Grades These can be accessed through clicking on the Feedback and Grades tab on NILE. Feedback will be provided by a rubric with summary comments. https://searchtundra.northampton.ac.uk/?tag=4ff5d81d-f7cc-446d-ba9f-444410ae2630 https://searchtundra.northampton.ac.uk/?tag=e911094f-c9d2-45e8-8f14-c9ab1b8e40df https://searchtundra.northampton.ac.uk/?tag=b589ce9e-7b59-406a-952e-6a0b4ca74dc5 https://searchtundra.northampton.ac.uk/?tag=78bf2c82-8da2-458c-947f-88f07a218bc9