This module aims to introduce students to research in business and management research. The module provides a broad grounding in social science, but remains targeted on the concerns of business and management. Students will be encouraged to reflect on the purpose of knowledge creation including their own motivations for engaging with business and management research leading to the development of the first part of their research proposal (literature review, problem identification, hypotheses and/or research questions). Students will also acquire bibliographic research skills including the responsible use of AI.

(LO1) Students will be able to demonstrate an advanced and critical understanding of what social science is and why social science matters, the historical developments and key debates in social science, and the relationship and tensions between social science practice and business and management research.

(LO2) Students will be able to demonstrate critical awareness of a range of different approaches to what constitutes ‘good’ research in business and management, the debates about the purpose and relevance of management research, and the processes of knowledge creation and dissemination into managerial practice.

(LO3) Students will be able to demonstrate an advanced understanding of the key concepts in business and management research including polarities of approaches found in objectivism -v- constructionism; modernism -v- postmodernism; quantitative -v- qualitative distinctions, etc., and apply them critically.

(LO4) Students will be able to demonstrate a critical awareness of the influence of politics and ethics on business and management research.

(LO5) Students will be able to demonstrate advanced and critical understanding of the idea and process of theory building.

(LO6) Students will be able to demonstrate practical research skills in carrying out a literature review, identifying a research problem and formulating hypotheses and/or research questions, and writing a research proposal.

(S1) Communication skills
Students will develop written and oral communication skills via group discussions, in-class presentations and coursework. This will be assessed by written assignment and in the presentation.

(S2) Problem solving and decision making skills
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 opinion or course of action in their course assessment.

(S3) Digital skills
Students will have opportunities to improve their digital skills in the use of software applications including word processing, visual presentations, databases, spreadsheets and using the internet for information searches in the course of researching and presenting coursework.

(S4) Organisation skills
This applies to all modules of the programme and is relevant for planning scheduled work and meeting assessment deadlines. This will be evident in the students' independent management of their assignments and coursework and by meeting coursework deadlines.

(S5) Leadership and teamworking skills
Some in class work for students will require them to work in groups and manage the interaction and relationships with other group members. In doing so, they will gain experience in negotiation, persuasion, influencing and managing conflict.

(S6) Ethical awareness
Students will enhance their ethical awareness by reflecting how research including their own is consistent with the principles of research ethics, integrity and open science and learning how to resolve issues and navigate challenges through in class work.

(S7) International awareness
International issues will be covered in class work.

3 hour lectures per week x 7 weeks (21 hours)
2 x 1 hr drop-in sessions (2 hours)
Self-directed learning 177 hours

Session 1: The nature of knowledge in social science: explanation and understanding;

Session 2: Building theory in business and management studies;

Session 3: Critical approaches to knowledge and method in business and management studies.

Session 4: Literature review, bibliographic research skills, responsible AI research practices;

Session 5: Identifying research problems and developing hypotheses and research questions;

Session 6: Presentations;

Session 7: Research Proposal Part 1 (literature review, problem identification, hypotheses and/or research questions).

Examples will be drawn from Accounting & Finance, Economics, and areas of Management including Marketing, Operations & Supply Chain Management, Strategy, International Business and Entrepreneurship, and Work, Organisation and Management.