RMDA Assignment 3 – The Final Research Proposal

The Task

Your task is to prepare a research proposal for your MSc Dissertation that will outline the research question, objectives, proposed methodological position, and a research design that will include a work timetable.

What you need to do

1. Write an introduction that includes an explanation of the context of your proposed research, its strategic significance, outlines your theoretical perspective and states your research question and objectives.

2. Write a literature review that outlines your argument showing a strong theoretical base upon which you propose to base your research, and how the question has been derived from a critical review of the literature.

3. Write a clear explanation of your methodological position and chosen methods, supporting this argument with evidence from the methodological and subject specific literature dealt with in Assignment 2.

4. Outline the research design that you propose to adopt for the dissertation research, including key milestones and dates.

What to give in

* Your research proposal should be approximately 3,000 words in length.

* The layout should follow the following format:

Introduction – why is the research being carried out?

Research Question – What is the research trying to find out?

Literature Review – What is known about the area already?

Research Design – How is the research to be carried out?

Boundaries & Limitations of the proposed research.

Timetable – What stages will be completed by what dates?

* You should make use of the Harvard Referencing convention.[1]

* Your assignment should include a copy of the three part Business & Management Department assessment Front Sheet. Your pages should be enclosed in a single bag/folder. Please do not put each page in a separate bag. (Students studying at a distance and not normally attending the Crewe campus do not need to submit paper copies).

* You should, in addition, submit an electronic copy of your assignment via the RMDA web site (See the Assignments button). This is a two stage process. Firstly you need to upload the name of your file to the site, then the second stage is the submission. If you enter you e-mail address the site will send you an acknowledgement of successful submission.

Due Date

The assignment should be handed in on your normal hand in day in the week commencing 17th April 2006.

The RMDA Team,

January 2006

RMDA Assignment 3 – Assessment Criteria

Element

Guidance

Assessment Criteria

Introduction

This section introduces the nature or character of the proposed research and why it is being carried out.

Explains importance of the research, its strategic relevance, subject area and the nature of research

(10 marks)

Research Question and Objectives

This brief section explains the purpose of research, summarised in a short question format (The RQ). The specific objectives (usually between 2 and 5) that the research will try to achieve in order to answer the question will be listed.

Research question in one clear sentence. Research is feasible as MSc dissertation. The Objectives flow from question and are clear and concise.

(10 marks)

Literature review

This identifies the relevant concepts, theories and models from the literature – the academic foundation on which your research will be built. You need to explain and critique (evaluate) these in your own words. The structure will show a movement from the general to the specific. (e.g. Marketing => Customer Service Issue => CRM theory) This will be written in the form of an argument that shows the importance of the concepts/ theories/models for your research question.

Theory, concepts, models chosen are shown to be relevant to the precise research question and are explained clearly. Interprets literature rather than just describing it. Has a critical approach. This section should be in the form of an argument which supports the importance of the research. Diagrams may be appropriate. Use of Harvard referencing style.

(30 marks)

Research design

Explains the philosophical (methodological) approach that is to be adopted and the methods to be used and the way they will be used. This too will be an argument in your own words of why your research needs this approach to be used. You will justify the approach and methods chosen using the literature as evidence to support your argument. This will not be an essay on alternative philosophical positions.

Methodological approach is explained, justified and is appropriate to research question. Methods fit with methodological approach. The way that methods will be used is explained (including order). Methods are justified for research question and context. Use of methodological and appropriate subject specific literature. Use of Harvard referencing style.

(25 marks)

Boundaries and limitations

This short section will outline the ‘boundaries’ and limitations of the project. This will include both the research question and the way the research will be carried out. Remember you are proposing an MSc dissertation project, not a multi-million £ research project so what you can realistically do in the time available is limited.

Clear definition of what comes within the scope of the research and what does not.

(15 marks)

Timescale

Practical action plan for each stage of the research project. This is a list of all the stages/ activities that you have identified that need to be carried out to complete the research and writing of the dissertation. A table, a list or a Gantt chart are all possible methods of presentation.

Includes all aspects of the project including fieldwork and writing up. Plan is realistic and feasible within the timescale.

(10 marks)

Grand Total 100 Marks

Weighting – 50% of unit assessment.

January 2006

[1] Please make sure that you understand the rules relating to academic misconduct outlined on the reverse of the Front Sheet. If you are unsure about the whole issue of Intellectual Property Rights please ask one of the tutors. The Department makes use of electronic plagiarism detection software.

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