OPEN UNIVERSITY of MAURITIUS
INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS for assignments:
Read properly the mode of submission
Please note that any assignment submitted after the deadline, marks will be deducted as per assignment submission procedure document.
Format: Please follow the guidelines in the document “Guide to writing assignments” available on Moodle.
You are required to conform to Harvard referencing style.
Please include a bibliography at the end of your document.
Plagiarism/collusion will be heavily penalised and may result in non-award of marks.
POINTS TO REMEMBER WHEN SUBMITTING YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
MODE OF SUBMISSION: Please submit a soft copy only by emailing your lecturer brmaug2020@gmail.com and copy the assignment to assign@open.ac.mu by or before due date.
The current penalty is 2% per day (weekends and public holidays included) for any assignment received after the due date which the tutor will deduct from the final mark.
The Open University of Mauritius will not hold itself responsible or liable for the non-award of marks if you fail to submit the assignment as per the required mode of submission.
Module Name: Business Research Methods
Lecturer’s Name: Mr S. Jharee
Date of Submission: 10 October 2020
Total Marks: 30 marks
Word limit: 1500-2000
Assignment question-Answer all questions
The purpose of this assignment is to provide you experience with designing a research study, and writing a research proposal. The aim of the research proposal is to organise and convey your ideas and thoughts.
The content of the research proposal should be organised as follows:
(a) “Identifying the research problem is the first major step when conducting research.”
(i) There are some factors a researcher needs to consider when selecting a research area ( refer to insert no.1). Taking into consideration the factors described in the insert select a research problem that you intend to investigate
(ii) Carry out a literature survey. ( You can use the resources from open university Emerald e-library available on the Elearn platform, google scholar or any other search engine)
• Select three journals in your chosen field. Examine the three journals for the past five years for research articles relevant to your area selected.
• Search and Shortlist around ten research papers or articles most relevant to your topic
(iii) Read the articles selected and write down a possible title of your topic of research. [1]
(iv) Formulate a Problem Statement for your chosen topic. Ensure that the key characteristics of a statement of problem are included in your statement. [5]
(v) Develop and articulate 3 research questions that are related to the purpose of the study [3]
(b) Select one research paper which is most relevant to your chosen topic and write a summary using your own words (be guided by insert 4) based on a critical analysis. Your report must include the following; [16]
•
sn Parts Total marks
1 Topic of
research 1
2 Problem statement 1
3 Research questions 1
4 Methods
used to
answer research questions 1
5 Critical analysis of methods 9
6 Results achieved 1
7 Gaps
identified 2
(c) Based on the critical analysis of methods select the methods you will employ to answer your research questions. Justify your choice of methods. [5] Note:
1.You are strongly advised to make reference to all relevant resources available on the E-learn Platform as well as the Open University’s website.
2. Submit a Turnitin report ( Acceptance level is a similarity of less than 20 %)
Insert
1.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329179630_Identifying_and_Formulating_the_Researc h_Problem
2.https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Parlindungan_Pardede/publication/330127215_ELT_Resear ch_Proposal_Writing_Guidelines/links/5c40c4ee92851c22a37c4abb/ELT-Research-Proposal-WritingGuidelines.pdf
3.https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/1235/1/012115/pdf
4.https://www.monash.edu/rlo/research-writing-assignments/referencing-and-academicintegrity/academic-integrity/putting-academic-integrity-into-practice