Dissertation & Research Methodology

• Research Methodology (2nd year option) Course Coordinator: Dr Christine McLean

• UG Dissertation (3rd year option) Course Coordinator: Dr Faith Hatani

Dissertation - independent and original piece of research work

Supervisor - advice and guidance. Word limit: approx. 15,000 to 18,000 words.

• Final-year option (Full Year - 30 credits)• No timetabled lecture/seminar (one library

session & meetings with your supervisor)• Assessment: Dissertation (100%)

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What is a dissertation?

Secure a supervisor to register for UG Dissertation (before the summer)

Dissertation proposal submitted to UG office in October (during your final year).

Progress report to your supervisor before Christmas. (1000-1500 words; not graded, but the submission is compulsory)

Full Dissertation - Week 11 of sem-2 in the final year.

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What is required?

BMAN31500 UG Dissertation (Final year)

Full detail of the dissertation course can be found in the page ‘Dissertations’ of the online UG handbook at;

https://ughandbook.portals.mbs.ac.uk/Myprogramme/Dissertations.aspx

• Access to the Blackboard page once registered

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Please also read attachments on each page.

More details are provided in sub-sections.

This is the Dissertation page

(BMAN 31500)

Research Methodology• Prerequisite (Second Year, Semester 1)Focuses on:• Developing Research Questions• How to conduct your Research & write a

Dissertation• Linking RQs/Concepts/Literature/Assumptions• Selecting Research Methods• How to Plan & Organize Research Process• Writing a Research Proposal

Lectures/ Seminars/ Feedback Surgeries

Course Outcomes• Undergraduate Dissertations – overall

process – proposals, researching planning, supervision, writing a dissertation...

• Postgraduate Research • Coursework – presenting different arguments,

examining literature & evidence, writing critical & coherent examinations of issues & debates, reviewing papers & understanding different perspectives & assumptions

Coursework

• Research Questions & Assumptions – Discuss different methodological approaches & assumptions - Select a research area/topic & develop research questions. 1000 words – 30%

• Research Proposal – research questions, conceptual & literature review (view of issues & concepts; links to other studies), research methods (data collection, presentation & ethics) & plan. 2200 – 70%

Research Proposals: Examples• Social Networking (Facebook, Twitter, Google +)• Uprising in North Africa – Arab Springs• Mobile Phone Technology (Android vs Apple)• Banking Crisis – Regulation, Impacts, Housing Mkt• Consumer Behr & Marketing – Nike, Obesity, Image…• Environmental Mgt & Sustainability – alternative energy

(petrol/electric/nuclear), solar/wind farms, plastic bags….• Music Piracy & revenue streams – CD vs MP3• Banking & M-Commerce • Management Accounting & Control in Orgns• Operations & Quality Mgt – TQM & Lean• Psychometric Testing in Orgn’s – Selection/Promotion• Stress & Motivation • Genetically Modified (GM) Foods