This module aims to enable students to critically reflect upon and competently apply the research methods skills acquired in preceding modules of the MRes both with respect to their own self-directed project as well as already published data.

(LO1) Students will be able to undertake a significant research project into a question of their own design.

(LO2) Students will be able to pursue self-directed and independent research.

(LO3) Students will be able to review the literature, design a thought-through study, and collect, analyse and interpret their data.

(LO4) Students will be able to undertake the research required to begin a doctoral thesis.

(LO5) Students will be able to clearly structure and present data, construct and cogent argumentation and provide summaries of complex points.

(LO6) Students will be able to demonstrate an advanced and critical understanding of why business and management research matters and the ways it might contribute to human lives.

(LO7) Students will be able to conduct and disseminate research that is consistent with the principles of ethics, integrity, open science, and professional practice in business and management studies and their area of specialisation.

(S1) Lifelong Thinking Skills: critical thinking, problem-solving and decision making
In order to produce a strong dissertation, students will be expected to gather and synthesise complex information, analysing alternative perspectives and considering different options in a critical manner and presenting a considered opinion or course of action.

(S2) Numeracy (depending on the method used)
Where relevant, this will be assessed by the collection and analysis of quantitative data, presented in their dissertations.

(S3) Commercial awareness
Students will demonstrate a current, up-to-date understanding of the real-world business context and issues related to their chosen research focus as part of their dissertation.

(S4) Organisation skills
This will be evident in students' management of their research project in a way the enables them to meet the dissertation submission deadline.

(S5) Communication skills
This will be assessed by the production of a dissertation.

(S6) Digital skills
This will be evident by the production of an effectively word processed dissertation, alongside the demonstration of the use of other software (as relevant) for the analysis and effective presentation of their research data, findings, and analysis (e.g. SPSS, NVIVO, EXCEL).

(S7) International awareness
Students will demonstrate a critical understanding and awareness of international research in their chosen discipline as part of their dissertation. Where relevant, they will also demonstrate an understanding of the international contexts in which their research (and the research of those that make up part of their literature review) was conducted.

(S8) Ethical awareness
Ethical awareness is focused upon in the taught component of this module, with a particular emphasis on discussions around the completion of the online ethics training and the subsequent completion of an ethics application for research projects. This will be assessed by the completion of a successful dissertation which adheres to ethical principles of research.

Lectures x 4 hours

The Dissertation is a self-directed and independent research project.

Students will receive an initial overview in terms of what is required, and related research project guidance, from the module leader within one scheduled session. This will be followed by the opportunity for a one-to-one virtual drop-in session for each student to discuss, and receive individualised support for, their research projects.

Further guidance and formative feedback throughout the module will be received from individual Dissertation supervisors.

Supervision x 4 hours

Self-directed learning x 592 hours

Students are expected to use the self-directed learning hours to review the literature pertinent to their chosen research focus, develop and refine research questions as a result of this, review the methodological literature to prepare a suitable methodological approach to answer their research questions, to complete the online ethics training (followi ng guidance provided in the initial taught component of the module) and complete their ethics application form (where relevant). Following this, students should use this time to virtually collect and analyse data according to their suggested and approved research design.

Dissertation structure, content and timeframe

Ethical consideration and applying for Ethical Approval

One to one feedback and support