BUS707 – Applied Business Research
T2 2020
ASSESSMENT 4: Research Proposal – 50%
This assessment is designed to allow students to present and justify appropriate method(s) for a research project designed to address the research question posed. This assessment relates to Learning Outcomes a, b and d.
There are two components of the assessment:
• Written proposal: 40%
• Oral presentation: 10%
Based on the Research Question developed in Assessment 2, students should develop a research design aimed at providing insights and/or answers to the question. Students should make any recommended adjustments to the content of Assessment 2, based on feedback provided, prior to including it in Assessment 4.
This assessment requires students to choose and justify the most appropriate research design, clearly explaining WHY the chosen design will best answer the research question and is most appropriate in the specific circumstances. Students should clearly justify their recommended research and analysis methods.
Note: Other than in exceptional circumstances, Assessment 4 of this subject is intended to form the basis of the student’s Research Project in BUS710 Research Project, following appropriate adjustments recommended in feedback
Written Proposal : the proposal will contain the following information :
– Title page : including research title and student’s details
– Abtract : A brief summary of key information about the research (the research questions, the theory used and methodology plan).
– Research Background (revision version of Assessment 2)
– Research Questions and Research objectives (revision version of Assesment 2)
– Literature review minimum 20 peer-reviewd articles (including the four main articles used in Assessment 3)
– Research Design : describe type of research, research approach, type of data, data collection methods, data analysis methods and sampling plan.
– Ethical Consideration : address the five ethical consideration of human research
Marks out of 40 will be awarded based on how well the following criteria is addressed:
Criteria % Marks
Research Background, Research Questions and Research Objectives: adjustment to Assessment 2 and Assessment 3 elements based on feedback provided 10%
Addresses each of the elements of the proposal (refer to the proposal structure) 10%
Literature review: critically review the theoretical foundation of the research. 30%
Research Design: discuss and justify the choice of research methodology
30%
Ethical Consideration: discuss five ethical research principles 10%
References and referencing skills: Present the research plan in a professional manner with correct referencing
10%
Oral Presentation:
Students are to present their proposal to the class as if the audiences had the authority to grant approval for the research to ‘go ahead’. Oral presentation should be 5 minutes and supported using appropriate visual aid (template is provided, downloadable from Moodle). Presentation is scheduled at Week 11 and Week 12
The presentation should contain the following information:
– Reseach title
– Research Questions and Objectives
– Research Design
– Ethical consideration
Marks out of 10 will be awarded based on how well the following criteria is addressed:
Criteria % Marks
Presentation structure: good organisation of the presented information 20%
Accuracy of the information presented (should align with the information in the written report) 30%
Communication and Presentation skills 20%
Visual aids and presentation slides : use appropriate visual aids or other supporting tools 20%
Presentation duration: present all the required information within the prescribed time frame.
10%
Presentation Details
– Individual Assessment
– Oral Presentations should be 5 minutes
– The slides should be be supported using appropriate visual, Presentation power point template is provided (downloadable from Moddle).
– Students should not just read their proposal – students reading rather than presenting will find it difficult to pass this part of the assessment.
– Presentation schedule Week 11 and Week 12.
– Late penalties and extensions:
An important part of business life and key to achieving KOI’s graduate outcome of Professional Skills is the ability to manage workloads and meet deadlines. Consequently, any assessment items such as in- class quizzes and assignments missed or submitted after the due date/time will attract a penalty. However, for in-class assessment, no extensions permitted or granted – a make-up test may only be permitted under very special circumstances where acceptable supporting evidence is provided. Presentation is considered as in-class assessment, therefore no extensions permitted or granted – no presentation = 0 marks. The rules for make-up presentations are the same as for missing in-class tests
– Applying for extension:
For in-class assessment, a make-up presentation may only be permitted under very special circumstances where acceptable supporting evidence is provided. If students are unable to attend an assessment when due, and extensions are possible, they must apply by completing the appropriate Application for Extension form available from the Student Information Centre in Moodle, the KOI Website (Policies and Forms) and the Reception Desk (Market St and Kent St), as soon as possible but no later than three (3) working days of the assessment due date. The completed form must be emailed with supporting documentation to academic@koi.edu.au.Students and lecturers / tutors will be advised of the outcome of the extension request as soon as practicable. Appropriate documentary evidence to support the request for an extension must be supplied. Please remember there is no guarantee of an extension being granted, and poor organisation is not a satisfactory reason to be granted an extension.
Guideline and Checklist for Final Proposal (A4)
1. Title Page
Choose an interesting title for the report, the title should indicate the nature of problem/research being investigated. If client organisation is used, the name of the organisation should be part of the title.
2. Abstract/Executive Summary
Executive summary should provide key information of your research, 1 page is preferable. Provide summary of:
– The introduction of the research
– The matter being investigated
– The research design and methodology
3. Research Background
This section should give convincing background about the research and why the topic is worth to research, by providing evidences to support your arguments. Key points to be included in this section are:
– Introduce the topic of the research
– Overview of client organisation (if any)
– What real problem does the research seek to resolve and why is it important to research this topic
– Outline the structure of this proposal.
4. Research Question and Research Objectives
This section should be straightforward, state the overall research problem and research objectives based on your brief research plan (A1), revised A1 if necessary.
5. Theoretical Background/Literature review
This section is expected to be the extended version of your A3 (structure literature review), therefore, you should not copy paste your A3 into this section, instead you need to use your A3 is a basis to do a comprehensive literature review. Around 10 extra literatures are required (on top of the four articles you used in your A3). Link your literature review back to your research problem.
6. Research Design and Methodology
This section should provide detail plan of research design and research methodology. It should consist information:
– Inform and justify the type of research (exploratory, descriptive or causal)
– Inform and justify the research approach (quantitative, qualitative or mixed approach)
– Describe the type of data will be used (primary or secondary data)
– Describe how data will be collected: interview, focus group or observation for qualitative research, and/or survey and experiment for quantitative research
– Describe and justify the sample: sampling frame, sampling methods and technique, sampling characteristics and size.
– Inform how the data will be analysed : theme-based analysis for qualitative research and statistical analysis for quantitative research, or a combination of both for mixed approach)
– Explain how the methodology plan address all ethical concern.
Please note: only provide an overview of YOUR research design and methodology, do not discuss theory on research methodology.
7. Reference List: Formatted using Harvard (Anglia) style.
8. Appendix: include proposed ethical approval form and informed consent form if relevant
Application for Ethics Approval
Student Details
Name :
Student Number :
Email :
Subject (Code/Name) :
Supervisor Details
Name :
Email :
Proposed Research Details:
Topic:
Summary of the proposed research project, including brief description of methodology (bullet points where applicable)
Ethics Checlist (Participants)
How do you propose to select your participants?
Will your research involve adults who might be identified by you or anyone else reading the research? (Yes/No). If yes, how will you obtain their consent?
Does your research involve children under eighteen years old? (Yes/No)
Ethics Checlist (Participants)
Will your research take place in an institution? (Yes/No)
Are in a position of power over participants? (Yes/No), if yes, describe any ethical implication and how you deal with them
Describe any risk or harm to participants which might be associated with yoru research and how would you propose to minimise these risks
Privacy and Confidentiality
How will you protect the confidentiality and privacy of your participants?
Will it be possible to identify participants from published data? (Yes/No), if yes, is there any ethical issue which may arise from such identification.
Data Collection and Storage
Who will have access to the data?
How will you store the data in order to ensure its security
Note : Ethics Approval Form is not counted toward the word count of the assessment, only fill in this form if applicable. Include this form as appendices.
