This is a group project in which the students must develop a
Proposal for a Business Research Project. The topic should be selected by the student and approved by the professor. This individual project requires you to develop a proposal for a business research project. Your proposal should identify a significant problem or opportunity facing businesses today and outline a plan for researching it.
Table of Contents:
1.Research Design: develop the overall strategy or plan that you choose to integrate the different components of the study in coherent and logical way, thereby, ensuring you will effectively address the research problem. Research design must outline how the study will be conducted to effectively address the research problem, research question and hypothesis. It encompasses various components such as the research methodology, data collection methods, sampling techniques, and data analysis procedures. The specific research design chose depends on the nature of the research question, the available resources, and the objectives of the study (e.g., experimental design, descriptive design, longitudinal design, cross-sectional design, mixed-methods design, etc.).
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Participants or sample: clearly define and justify the participants involved in your study, such as demographic information, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the sampling method used (e.g., random sampling, convenience sampling, etc.). Sample size determination and justification may also be included.
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Methods: explain and justify the approach and the type of methodology you will employ for the research proposal (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods), as well as primary and secondary research.
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Data collection methods: clearly outline how data will be collected. It may include details about surveys, interviews, observations, experiments, questionnaires, etc. You should describe the instruments or tools used for data collection and explain their validity and reliability.
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Ethical considerations: explain any ethical considerations or possible ethical conflicts such as personal bias, assumptions and influences that will impact your research study. This part may include ethical approvals, data protection (GDPR), informed consent, confidentiality, privacy, protection of participant’s rights, and artificial intelligence tools.
6.Expected outcomes & conclusions: explain the anticipated results or findings that you predict will emerge from the study. These outcomes are based on the research questions, objectives, and hypothesis outlined in the proposal. Expected outcomes can include specific statistical findings, trends, patterns, or insights gained from the data analysis. As per the conclusion, summarize the key points discussed in the proposal and highlight the potential significance of the proposed study. It may reiterate the research questions, objectives, and hypothesis, as well as briefly outline the methodology to be employed. Additionally, the conclusion may emphasize the expected outcomes, potential implications of the research findings as well as suggestions for future research.
7.Appendix – Reflective Analysis: Reflect on your learning experience throughout the course. Discuss how in-class activities helped you develop research skills and critical thinking abilities (250-300 words). Briefly connect your learning to the research project and your future career aspirations.
Formalities:
· Wordcount: 1.700-2.300 words
· Font: Arial 11 pts.
· Text alignment: Justified.
· The in-text References and the Bibliography must be in Harvard’s citation style.
Learning outcomes: It assesses the following learning outcomes:
· LO1: Appreciate the relevance of business research in managerial decision making.
· LO2: Demonstrate the ability to choose research methods appropriate to the research aims and research questions/hypothesis based upon appropriate philosophies of research.
· LO3: Apply research-based theories and specific communication skills to construct a research-based project that fulfils specific requirements.
· LO4. Critically analyze qualitative and quantitative data to showcase past and current research outcomes.
Rubrics
|
Category |
Exceptional (90-100) |
Good (80-89) |
Fair (70-79) |
Marginal Fail (60-69) |
|
Research Design (10%) |
Very well-structured and logically organized research plan; appropriately selected research design to address research problem; clear and concise research objectives/hypothesis stated, well-defined research questions that align with the objectives, robust methodology and data collection methods, ethical considerations thoroughly addressed. |
Well-structured and organized research plan with minor issues in structure and organization; reasonable selected research design to address research problem; plan for data analysis is provided, adequate sampling techniques employed, and ethical considerations addressed adequately. |
Limited structured and organized research plan with important issues in structure and organization; research objectives and hypothesis stated but lack clarity, research questions somewhat relevant but not fully aligned with objectives; research design/methodology chosen but with some weaknesses, data collection methods chosen but not fully justified. |
Research plan lacks structure, coherence, and organization. Unclear or absent research objectives and hypothesis, research questions poorly formulated, weak or inappropriate research design and methodology, poorly justified or inappropriate data collection methods, flawed sampling techniques or lack of consideration, ethical considerations ignored or not addressed adequately. |
|
Methodology (20%) |
Excellent description of the research methodology, justification for the chosen methodology provided, demonstrating a strong understanding of research principles. Demonstrates awareness of real-world implications. |
Clear description of the research methodology, adequate justification for the chosen methodology, showing an understanding of research principles. |
Description of the research methodology provided but lacks clarity or detail. Limited justification for the chosen methodology, with some gaps in understanding research principles. |
Methodology described is unclear or incomplete. Lack of justification for the chosen methodology, indicating a poor understanding of research principles. |
|
Participants or sample (20%) |
Clear and comprehensive description of the participants, including demographic details relevant to the research objectives. Well-justified selection criteria for participants, ensuring they are appropriate for the research aim. Rigorous sampling techniques employed, ensuring representatives and generalizability of findings. |
Description of participants provided, including relevant demographic information. Sampling techniques employed are appropriate for the research context, though may have some limitations in representatives. |
Description of participants provided but lacks some relevant demographic details. Sampling techniques mentioned but with some weaknesses or limitations. |
Description of participants is incomplete or unclear. Weak or inappropriate sampling techniques employed, compromising the reliability of findings. |
|
Data collection methods (15%) |
Conducts a comprehensive and critical explanation of data collection methods, including instruments used, procedures followed, and any necessary validations. Demonstrates strong understanding of existing knowledge on the topic. Integrates references seamlessly and accurately. |
Presents a good explanation of data collection methods, including instruments and procedures. References are mostly integrated well. |
Basic explanation of data collection methods, lacking detail or precision. References are not integrated well. |
Plan for data analysis lacking or not outlined at all. Lack of references integrated in the project. |
|
Ethical considerations (10%) |
Ethical considerations thoroughly addressed, including consent procedures and measures to protect participants’ confidentiality and privacy. |
Ethical considerations addressed, including consent procedures and confidentiality measures. |
Ethical considerations mentioned but not fully addressed or lacking in detail. |
Ethical considerations ignored or not addressed adequately. |
|
Expected outcomes & conclusions (10%) |
Expected outcomes are clearly defined, specific, and directly related to the research objectives. Anticipated results are realistic and achievable based on the proposed methodology. Conclusions drawn from the expected outcomes are logical and supported by evidence. Implications of the findings are thoroughly discussed, and suggestions for future research are insightful and build upon the proposed study. |
Expected outcomes are well-defined and mostly relevant to the research objectives. Anticipated results are realistic, with some justification provided on the proposed methodology. Conclusions drawn from the expected outcomes are generally logical, though may lack depth or thoroughness. Implications of the findings are discussed, though may lack full exploration of their significance or applications. |
Expected outcomes are mentioned but lack specificity or may not be fully aligned with the research objectives. Anticipated results are mentioned but lack justification or connection to the proposed methodology. Conclusions drawn from the expected outcomes may be somewhat vague or unsupported by evidence. Limited discussion of the implications of the findings, with some gaps in understanding their significance. Suggestions for future research are present but lack depth or originality. |
Expected outcomes are unclear or not mentioned. Anticipated results are unrealistic or not provided. Conclusions drawn from the expected outcomes are missing or illogical. Implications of the findings are not discussed or mentioned without substance. Suggestions for future research are absent or irrelevant. |
|
Appendix – Reflective Analysis (15%) |
Well-organized and insightful reflection (250-300 words) demonstrating strong connections between course activities, personal learning, research project, and future career aspirations. Clearly shows development of research and critical thinking skills. |
Reflective analysis demonstrates some connections between course activities, learning, and future aspirations. May lack depth or clarity in showcasing skill development. |
Reflective analysis contains minimal connections between course and project or lacks evidence of skill development. Organization and coherence may. |
Reflective analysis contains no connections between course and project or lacks evidence of skill development. Organization and coherence may be absent. |
