BTM6RME Research Methods 2 Assignment 2 Brief | CCCU

BTM6RME Module Learning Outcomes:

• Module Learning Outcome 1: Identify research goals, set objectives and design research methodology
• Module Learning Outcome 2: Demonstrate an understanding of the key purposes of a literature review, how to read research papers and how to write a literature review
• Module Learning Outcome 3: Demonstrate an understanding of how to analyse and interpret research findings and report them in the context of existing research.
• Module Learning Outcome 4: Demonstrate appropriate academic writing skills, referencing and good academic
  practice and make decisions on organising material in a logical and coherent way with an audience in mind.

BTM6RME Assignment Requirements

Overview

Research is an essential element of the skillset of a modern professional and key to developing sustainable business and sustainable tourism. As the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (2021) argue, research is vital for innovation in the national economy.

Working on this task will equip students with skills of identifying the research problem in tourism and developing the research proposal which will reflect the research design, methods and instruments to resolve it.

Students are encouraged to investigate needs in the jobs they occupy if they are related to tourism or examine the contemporary need for research in the sector in the UK and develop the research proposal according to the identified research question.

In both cases, students will need to explore the theoretical background of the research problem, review research literature, and verify if the research question they ask is responded to in the previous research. Or, alternatively, there is a gap in the research and no solution has been found yet. In the latter case, students will set the research aim, objectives, and develop research methodology, including research design, research methods, and research instruments.

This implies that learning about research methodology and applying this information to develop one’s own research proposal will help students to get prepared to their degree research paper in Level 6 and develop mandatory research skills to find informed solutions for the tourism business under changing circumstances. This is a core employability skill.

Consequently, this assignment allows students to demonstrate the ability to understand
and interpret information relevant to the research methodology and present it to an audience in written form as a 3000-word research proposal.

Assignment task/s to be completed

The research proposal will substantially develop the following parts:

• Rationale for the research, stating and justifying the research problem, aim, objectives and research approach.
• Theoretical framework as the basis for the literature review.
• Literature review, illustrating previous research, gap in the research, or evidence of the research necessity, e.g. from reports.
• Research methodology.

Proposed outcomes of the research and personal contribution.

Additional Information required to support completing the tasks above

This Assignment Guide should be used with the Assignment Brief and the Research Proposal Template. Its purpose is to provide guidance on the best way to meet the task requirements in the assignment brief. It also indicates what the marker will be looking for in the case study.

You must use the Research Proposal Template to type in your information as required.

Start your research proposal with a strong title, which includes relevant key words, indicates your research approach and contains a research question.

The word count in the following guidelines is given approximately to help students keep the proportions withing the research proposal volume. Each section divided into subsections might require a different word count, however, generally the biggest sections – Literature Review and Research Methodology, will require elaborated approach and more specific details.

Follow the structure and suggestions in the Research Proposal Template:

1.  Introduction (500 words)

The introduction should draw from either industry or business reports or academic sources and include the following:

1.1.  Background and Context.

Lead the reader into the topic and scope of your research, explain why this research has value and why it will be original, and why the research is required.

1.2.  Problem Statement.

Describe the theoretical or practical research problem that you want to address. What is already known about the problem? What is missing from current knowledge?

Briefly refer to 2-3 main policies/reports/frameworks that introduce the reader into the context and specify the contradiction/problem that still exists and needs solution. Here you will use relevant terminology: relate to the key concepts, theories and empirics (reports/statistics which reveal the problem)

1.3. Research Aim.

Make it clear what new insights you will contribute.
Formulate a clear research aim in one line, e.g.

• The aim of this study is to determine…
• This research aims to explore…
• This research aims to investigate…

1.4. Research Question.

State the specific question that you aim to answer.
One research question is enough for the undergraduate degree. However, these may be two or more related questions. The more specific questions you ask, the wider the scope of the research will be, usually at higher levels of scientific research.

1.5.Research Objectives.
Define research objectives (at least three). Justify a major approach you will take (general methodology to achieve these aims) Start using active verbs, e.g.

• To discover current research surrounding the topic of dark tourism.
• To evaluate the motivations of travellers’ visiting destinations associated with dark tourism.
• To use focus groups to examine whether tourist perspectives are influenced by dark tourism.
  OR include specific details of HOW you will achieve these objectives, e.g.
• To measure …… using quantitative methods.
• To analyse … by means of …. analysis.
• To test (e.g.. customer brand awareness).
  DO NOT REPEAT THE VERBS!

2.Literature Review (1800 words)

The literature review summarises, compares and critiques the most relevant scholarly sources on the topic. There are many different ways to structure a literature review, but it should explore:

There will be three main subtopics mentioned in the Literature Review, usually in the synthesised ways:

• Key Concepts, Theories and Studies (and include three topics there under headings).
• Key Debates and Controversies (optional for undergraduate research)
• Gap(s) in Existing Knowledge

Important: Students are free to organise their Literature review in one of two ways:

Students either divide the Literature review as suggested into subsections:

2.1.Key Concepts, Theories and Studies.

Compare, contrast, and establish the theories and concepts that will be most important for your project. These should be divided into topics.
2.1.1.Topic 1.
2.1.2.Topic 2.
2.1.3.Topic 3.

2.2.Key Debates and Controversies (optional for undergraduate research)

Identify points of conflict and situate your own position as for any controversies or conflict research/academic opinions you might find in the literature related to the research topic.

2.3.Gap(s) in Existing Knowledge

Show what is missing and how your project will fit in.
Alternatively, students may have three subsections, Topic 1; Topic 2; Topic 3, and include in each of them Key Concepts, Theories and Studies; Key Debates and Controversies (optional for undergraduate research) and Gap(s) in Existing Knowledge.

2.1.Topic 1 (including Key concepts, theories, debates, and a gap).

2.2.Topic 2 (including Key concepts, theories, debates, and a gap).

2.3.Topic 3 (including Key concepts, theories, debates, and a gap).

There must be at least three topics with 4-5 resources minimum for each of topic. The resources must be synthesised. Topics present key theories and concepts definitions, reflect previous research and analysis.
Generally, in your Literature Review you will:

• Compare and contrast the main theories, methods, and analyse the debates and controversies.
• Critically analyse the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches.
• Show how your research fits in the previous research and/or the issues of the economic activities of the tourism enterprise, destination, etc. How will you build on, challenge or synthesise the work of others?
• Fill a gap in the existing body of research and explain why you consider your research idea innovative.

3.Research Methodology (500 words)

This section should explain your approach to the research and describe exactly what steps you will take to answer your questions:

3.1.Research Design.

Explain how you will design the research: qualitative/quantitative/mixed data research. Determine what kind of data you need to analyse, and which resources you will use, primary or secondary. Decide and justify if this will be exploratory, explanatory, or experimental research.

3.2.Research Methods and Sources.

Describe the tools, procedures, participants and sources of the research. Specify when, where and how you will collect and select data. Justify chosen methods. State exactly what or who you will study and if you will collect data personally or use the databases. If the databases will be used, which ones and what data will be taken from there. State clearly how you will access the databases or the resources of information.

Include data analysis methods and justify them.

3.3.Sampling Design.

Describe the procedure and the sample of the participants of your research.

Outline the proposed sample group, including any specific criteria, e.g. for a consumer behaviour analysis you might need data on the age, sex, marital status/family size, income level, frequency of travel, travel length, occupation, etc.
In case you collect primary data via the interview or questionnaire survey, explain this and refer to Appendices where the Questionnaire must be enclosed.

3.4.Research Procedure and Ethical Considerations.

Indicate clearly what the sample group's involvement will be in the research process. Address any ethical issues which might arise during the research, e.g. data protection, ownership of the research materials, etc. How will you plan for and deal with problems? Specify how the consent of subjects will be obtained. Refer to Appendices where the Consent Form must be enclosed. Please include a description of any information you intend to provide the subject with. Indicate any potential risks to subjects and how you propose to minimise these. Mention policies and guidelines regulating data collection and data protection in the university and in the UK (there will be at least two documents).
Include them in the reference list.

3.5.Practical considerations.

Give a balanced view of the chosen research methodology based on the literature (Pros and Cons of this approach). Address any potential obstacles, limitations or practical issues. Clarify how you plan to deal with problems?

4.Conclusion (200 words)

Implications and contributions to knowledge
This section should emphasise why your proposed project is important and how it will contribute to practice or theory.
Practical Implications.

4.2.Explain if your research findings will help to improve a process, inform policy, or make a case for concrete change. State in one sentence who will benefit from your research findings /solution of the problem (the audience).

4.3.Theoretical Implications.

Explain if your research findings will help to strengthen a theory or model, challenge current assumptions, or create a basis for further research. How?

References.

Include at least 15 references here (These sources are highlighted in green throughout the template).
Please, include only the resources that you used for:

• contextualising your research topic,
• analysing the previous research in the Literature Review
• regulating your research procedures, especially Ethical Considerations.
  Do NOT use bullet points or numbering!

Appendices are mandatory, though not included in the word count. The content of the appendices impacts the mark and is reflected in the grading rubrics. There are three appendices as specified in the Research Proposal Template:

Appendix A. Ethics Consent 

You will complete the appropriate (red or green) consent forms.

Mandatory Referencing and Research Requirements

Format of your submission and how your assignment will be assessed

This assignment should be submitted electronically via Moodle (module tutors will discuss this process with you during class time).

Please ensure your work has been saved in an appropriate file format (Microsoft Word).

You can submit your work as many times as you like before the submission date. If you do submit your work more than once, your earlier submission will be replaced by the most recent version.

Once you have submitted your work, you will receive a digital receipt as proof of submission, which will be sent to your forwarded e-mail address (provided you have set this up). Please keep this receipt for future reference, along with the original electronic copy of your assignment.

You are reminded of the University’s regulations on academic misconduct, which can be viewed on the University website: Academic Misconduct Policy. In submitting your assignment, you are acknowledging that you have read and understood these regulations.

Assessment Requirements:

You will submit your research proposal individually:

• Demonstrate why you are personally interested in this topic? Reflect on what drew you to this research.
• Explain your research aim, and objectives.
• Explain some of the key studies in the field, found from your literature review.
• Illustrate the theory or theories you will adopt to analyse your research topic.
• Explain the methodology (primary/ secondary, quantitative/qualitative) you will likely undertake.

BTM6RME Assessment Criteria:

Your work will be assessed to the extent it demonstrates your achievement of the stated learning outcomes for this assignment (see above) and against other key criteria, as defined in the University’s institutional grading descriptors. If it is appropriate to the format of your assignment and your subject area, a proportion of your marks will also depend on your use of academic referencing conventions.

This assignment will be marked according to the grading descriptors for Level 6; also see Table of Penalties enclosed to the Assignment Brief and Assessment Guide.