Assessment Information
Subject Code: BUS 604
Subject Name: Business Research Methods
Assessment Title: Assessment 3 – Report on Research design and Strategy
Weighting: 35 %
Total Marks: Length: 35
2500 (+- 10%)
Due Date: Submission due Week 12 – Sunday at 11.59 pm
COURSE: Master of Business (Research)
Unit: Business Research Methods
Unit Code: BUS 604
Type of
Assessment: Assessment 3 – Research design and Strategy
Unit Learning Outcomes addressed: (a) Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the major steps involved in conducting research.
(b) Demonstrate an extended understanding of various business research designs and methods, and be able
to evaluate and explain their strengths and weaknesses in research designs for particular projects.
(c) Demonstrate a critical appreciation of ethical issues in research and an advanced understanding of appropriate procedures and protocols applicable to these issues.
(d) Critically review and evaluate research literature.
(e) Design research for a particular project, explaining the limitations, advantages, and technical and ethical implications of the techniques employed.
(f) Select, justify and design questions suitable for a survey instrument and be able to analyse survey data in relation to a particular research question.
(g) Prepare a formal research proposal investigating an innovative and/or unresolved research question.
Criteria for Assessment: • Knowledge and Understanding
• Content and exploration of theories and ideas
• Analysis, synthesis and critical engagement
• Technical skills and referencing
Assessment Task: Based on your chosen research topic, research problem and questions, develop a research design and strategy that you will use to address the research questions. You must use relevant scholarly literature to develop your arguments.
You may follow the outline below;
Introduction
Provide a summary of your research problem and state your research objectives and questions
Research design
Identify and describe a research design (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods research) appropriate for your study. Provide justifications for your decisions
Research strategy
Based on your chosen research design, select a research strategy that you will use to address your research questions. Provide justifications for your decisions
Submission Date: Week 12
Total Mark & Weighting: 35 marks | 35%
Students are advised that any submissions past the due date without an approved extension or approved extenuating circumstances incur a 5% penalty per calendar day,
calculated from the total mark e.g. a task marked out of 15 will incur a 1.75 mark penalty per calendar day.
Marking rubrics
Criteria HD (High Distinction) 85%-100% DN (Distinction)
75%-84% CR (Credit) 74%-65% P (Pass)
50%-64% F (Fail)
0%-49%
Knowledge and understanding
5 marks Command of the topic, unusual creativity, perception and insight, all suggesting that work should be published in an academic forum. Demonstrates command of the topic by showing creativity, perception and insight — a serious contribution to the academic debate. Demonstrates a well- informed understanding of the topic by showing
creativity and insight — a serious contribution to the academic debate. Understanding of contemporary academic debate, with some
creative input and insight, with a tendency toward description. Limited/poor understanding demonstrated. Any creative input is somewhat off the point.
Content and exploration of theories and ideas 10 marks Outstanding selection that makes a substantial contribution to academic debate. Outstanding selection from a wide relevant and innovative range of perspectives and sources. Selection from a wide and relevant range of perspectives and sources that draws upon contemporary academic debate. Relevant selection from a range of perspectives and sources. Sources are mostly integrated into the overall argument. Narrow selection, minimal use of sources, to support the argument.
Analysis, synthesis and critical engagement
15 marks Outstanding use of source material.
Excellent argument that is of the highest academic quality. Sources very well integrated into the overall argument. Clear well structured argument that is well crafted and Sources wellintegrated into the overall argument. Clear, cogent and wellstructured Mostly clear, cogent and wellstructured argument. Demonstrates criticality and Sources are not properly integrated into the argument. Absence of clear and cogent argument.
Incomplete analysis
Critical distance and outstanding analysis of the question, to a high degree of excellence. cogent. Critical distance and outstanding analysis of the question. argument.
Critical
distance and sound analysis of the question. generally good analysis. with a tendency to accept the source material at face value.
Technical skills and referencing
5marks Referencing impeccable using appropriate conventions.
No errors in grammar or spelling. Referencing clear and accurate using appropriate conventions.
Virtually no errors in grammar or spelling. Referencing clear and accurate using appropriate conventions. Good grammar and spelling. Referencing sufficiently clear and using an appropriate convention. Adequate grammar and spelling. References limited/inappropriate. Many errors in grammar and
spelling, making it difficult or impossible to read.