BUSI4H530: Research Design, Process and Philosophy

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• To ensure that students are familiar with the range of debates surrounding research philosophy (ontology and epistemology) relevant to doctoral level study.
• To develop students ability to develop a robust philosophical position and understand the implications this has for research design and research strategy.
• To ensure that students are aware of all forms of research design and the implications these hold for formulating research strategy.
• To develop students ability to identify suitable research designs, and argue rigorously and scientifically for their appropriateness to study their research questions.
• To develop students ability to appreciate ethical issues in research.
• To develop students skills around thinking and writing about research.

• Research philosophies
• Research designs
• Research process and writing 1: research ethics; the literature review and setting research questions; the review process
• Qualitative research strategies: designing qualitative research projects and making appropriate methodological choices about fieldwork, interviewing, and implementation of qualitative methods
• Quantitative research strategies: designing quantitative research projects and making appropriate methodological choices about data collection, measurement and method implementation
• Experimental designs and simulations
• Understanding the academic review process and learning to think like a reviewer
• Research process and writing

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Have an understanding of different research philosophies
• Have an advanced understanding of research design issues
• Have an advanced understanding of ethical challenges in carrying out particular research designs and qualitative and quantitative forms of research, and appropriate responses to these challenges
• Understand issues concerning research access and confidentiality and execution of supporting strategies
• Have an advanced understanding of research design, sampling and research strategy issues relevant to collecting or generating valid and reliable data with reduced risk of errors and biases
• Have an advanced understanding of the process of writing about research

Subject-specific Skills:

• Ability to skilfully design and frame research
• Ability to critically assess existing research
• Ability to frame interesting research questions drawn from the construction and writing of a critical review of literature
• Ability to apply robust research designs and strategies to inform data collection or generation
• Ability to defend chosen research philosophical position, research design and research strategy

Key Skills:

• Ability to form a coherent philosophical position for research
• Ability to design the research to answer a particular research question
• Ability to design and formulate strategies for data collection (or generation)
• Ability to dissect and resolve ethical issues and challenges facing the researcher
• Ability to frame appropriate research questions
• Advanced critical thinking and writing skills

• The module will be delivered in a series of 10 lectures and 8 seminars over term one.
• By commenting on each others suggestions students will acquire both the capability and the attitude to critically evaluate and improve their research philosophy, design and strategy.
• Learning will also occur through tutor-supported, as well as self-support learning groups thus enabling students to develop their own effective research designs and strategies.
• There are two parts of assessment of the module: the first is a 4,000 word written assignment based on developing a coherent specification of a philosophical position, research design and elements of research strategy relevant to a study in their chosen subject area, and the second is a 2,000 word written learning log to discuss their learning on relevant aspects of research philosophy, design, process and strategy throughout the whole module.

Students will be required to submit a 1,000 word planning document outlining decisions about research design relevant to their research area.

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