Research Design and Methodology
LMC604
Overview
Level of study: What does Postgraduate mean?
Postgraduate
EFTSL: What does EFTSL mean?
0.125
Delivery Method: What does delivery method mean?
Fully Online
Prerequisites: What are the prerequisites?
No
Duration:
13 weeks
Government loans available:
FEE-HELP FEE-HELP
Domestic student fee:
$2,000.00 (AUD)
International student fee:
$2,225.00 (AUD)
Description
This unit aims to help participants understand the nature, scope, complexities and process of defining a business research question. Participants bring together their theoretical and practical understanding of a problem, issue or business opportunity in the context of a specific workplace. The unit guides participants through stages of research which enable identification of the answer to the questions: what is the business dilemma; how to define the business question; how to define the research question; and how to refine the research question. As the research aim is unpacked, the student are introduced to a range of relevant quantitative and qualitative business research methods and will select from these in determining a project design. The learning focus for this subject is on developing business research skills to underpin the approach taken to a work integrated project. Learning is demonstrated by applying these skills to a selected project preliminary design which highlights fitness for purpose in answering the defined research question.
Please note: Assessment values are indicative only; details will be advised at the start of the unit.
Learning Outcomes
At the completion of this unit students will be able to:
- recognise the importance of defining the research question prior to undertaking research
- understand the processes required in defining research questions
- demonstrate ability in identifying background issues of specific research context
- apply 'fitness for purpose' theory to research content and context
- review the major program themes as relevant dimensions of your research problem
- define research management issues including determining research criteria for decision making of research alternatives
- identify major stakeholders in the research context and identify the impact their objectives and expectations could have on the design of the research project
- discuss overt and covert purposes of both business and academic research
- identify and select appropriate research methodologies
- identify ethical issues and prepare Ethics Application papers
- identify, scope and specify a business or academic problem or issue requiring a research-based approach
- build a research base to inform the focus, conceptual framework, design and implementation of a work integrated project
- develop a project proposal, including a project management plan.
Topics
This unit addresses the following topics.
| Number | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Problem identification |
| 2 | Research definition |
| 3 | Project Scoping |
| 4 | Overt and covert research purposes |
| 5 | Research Ethics |
| 6 | Research objectives, management and design methodology |
| 7 | Preliminary conceptual frameworks, luiterature search and review and intelligence gathering |
| 8 | Preliminary research methodologies |
| 9 | Research project management |
Study Resources
This unit is delivered using the following methods and materials:
Print based materials
- Welcome Letter
Online materials
- Printable format materials
Textbook information for this unit is currently being updated and will be available soon. Please check back regularly for updates. Alternatively, visit the Unibooks website and enter the unit details to search for available textbooks.
Relevant Courses
This unit is not currently a requirement for any courses, but may be eligible for credit.
- Many undergraduate courses on offer through OUA include 'open elective' where any OUA unit can be credited to the course. You need to check the Award Requirements on the course page for the number of allowed open electives and any level limitations.
- In other cases, the content of this unit might be relevant to a course on offer through OUA or elsewhere. In order to receive credit for this unit in the course you will need to supply the provider institution with a copy of the Unit Profile in the approved format, which you can download here. Note that the Unit Profile is set at the start of the year, and if textbooks change this may not match the Unibooks textbook list.
