Research Methods for Managers (N1504)

15 credits, Level 6

Autumn teaching

This course introduces you to the nature of business and management research and the tools often used by managers.

The course prepares you for applying your dissertation in an organisational or industry context and for undertaking management interventions in the workplace.

Topic areas include: 

• nature of business and management research, what is it and who cares?
• formulating research aim(s) and objectives to solve business and managerial problems
• overview of the philosophy of thinking and claims which can be made
• research designs and methodologies (case study, survey, etc.): paying particular attention to the interplay between research questions, analytical approaches and methods of data collection
• sampling strategies and their implications for design choices contextualised for students studying business and management
• data collection and analysis: sources of information, questionnaires, interviews, literature reviews, policy documents, observations, measurement, statistical techniques; qualitative data analysis, sources of bias and error, reporting research, contextualised for business and management problem solving
• research ethics and project planning for business professionals.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 33 hours of contact time and about 117 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2021/22. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.