This module aims to enable students to:

Consolidate their knowledge of research in leadership and management;

Consider the nature of research for academic and more applied contexts;

Develop skills in the acquisition, analysis and management of qualitative and quantitative data sets;

Enhance their general research and study skills;

Critically analyse, evaluate and review current research and scholarship;

Evaluate, select, and justify appropriate research methods in a chosen area of study to ensure that the evidence generated, its analysis and conclusion are appropriate and robust.

Appreciate the importance of ethical conduct in research.

(LO1) Students will demonstrate enhanced understanding of the most effective research methods applicable to leadership and management.

(LO2) Students will demonstrate knowledge of the methodological steps involved in producing and implementing a research process appropriate to the specific demands of a research project with a leadership and management focus.

(LO3) Students will demonstrate their capacity to distinguish between primary and secondary modes of data, and their critical awareness of research methods and techniques available when collecting and analysing both qualitative and quantitative data.

(LO4) Students will be able to understand how to progress an outline research project idea into a practicable research proposal.

(LO5) Students will be able to critically analyse, evaluate and review current research and scholarship.

(LO6) Students will be able to evaluate, select, and justify appropriate research methods in a chosen area of study to ensure that the evidence generated, its analysis and conclusion are appropriate and robust.

(LO7) Students will be able to understand the importance of ethical conduct in research and be able to apply established ethical standards to research projects.

(LRE1) An excellent verbal and written communicator.
Students will have opportunities to develop written communication skills through group discussions and coursework.

(LRE2) A problem solver.
Students will be challenged to think critically about organisational issues and dilemmas. They will do this by gathering and synthesising information, analysing alternative perspectives and options and presenting a considered research proposal in their assessment.

(LRE3) Numerate.
Students will learn financial and statistical techniques as part of the quantitative part of this Research Methods module. This skill will be assessed where students adopt quantitative methods for their research proposal.

(LRE4) IT literate.
Students will have opportunities to improve their IT skills. Students will demonstrate skills in the use of software applications including word processing, databases, spreadsheets and using the internet for information searches in the course of researching and presenting coursework.

(LRE5) Organised and able to work under pressure.
Students will be required to schedule work and meet assessment deadlines.

The module will primarily be delivered through a series of e-lectures, delivered through 30-60-minute sessions covering key topics. These will be supported by individual online tasks and discussion boards, including opportunity for reflection, which will be used to help students develop and apply learning. These will be moderated by the module instructor. Students will also be directed to key readings to further develop their learning.

Unscheduled Directed Student Hours: 8 hours
Description: The e-Lecture format will be varied but will equate to 1 hour/week over 8 weeks, undertaken asynchronously.
Attendance Recorded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.

Students will also participate in tutorials, which will enable peer discussion and individual reflection. This will be facilitated by the module instructor.

Unscheduled Directed Student Hours: 4 hours
Description: The tutorials will equate to 1 hour/fortnight over 8 weeks undertaken asynchro nously.
Attendance Recorded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.

Self-Directed Learning Hours: 138 hours

Description: This will involve directed and independent reading, independent research, and assessment preparation.

Research in management and leadership: constraints, benefits and limitations.

Types of research data and data collection strategies.

Qualitative research: design, data collection, analysis and presentation.

Quantitative research: statistical techniques and data presentation.

The nature of academic and applied research, desk-based research.

The research process, finding a suitable research area, framing a question, developing a research proposal, and planning a research schedule.

Ethics in research: between theory and practice.