BUSINESS 710 : Conducting Research

Business and Economics

2022 Semester One (1223) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

The pursuit of new knowledge requires the ability to recognise and design appropriate and robust research studies. Students explore the principles and practices of research design, including the fundamentals of where knowledge comes from; if and to what degree we can be certain about our findings; the ethics of research activities; and how a topic might be investigated from multiple approaches and philosophical perspectives.

Course Overview

Focuses on the principles and practices of scholarly work and what it means to conduct research. Themes that will be discussed address, among others, identifying and engaging in scholarly conversations, identifying topics and transiting from topics to research questions, conducting literature reviews, selecting and applying theories and methods, distinguishing core principles of qualitative and quantitative research,  writing up research and the ethics of research activities.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Examine debates related to the processes of conducting research (Capability 1 and 2)
  2. Synthesise existing knowledge to examine particular themes regarding research processes (Capability 1, 2 and 4.1)
  3. Apply the necessary principles and analytical tools to undertake independent and rigorous research (Capability 3, 4.2 and 5.1)
  4. Combine knowledge and propose solutions to conduct further research when engaging with a scholarly field (Capability 4.3, 5.1 and 5.2)
  5. Critically examine and assess issues related to theory, methods and ethics in research (Capability 1 and 5.2)
  6. Explain and communicate the process of conducting research as a web of interrelated choices and decisions (Capability 2, 3 and 4.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 65% Individual Coursework
Test 35% Individual Test
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Assignments
Test

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course run over six weeks, and students are expected to spend 150 hours in total for a 15 point course; i.e., 25 hours per week for six weeks. For this course, you can expect 6 hours of lectures, and 19 hours of reading and preparation for work on assignments and/or tests per week.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is strongly expected at scheduled activities, including lectures. The course will not include live online events.  The activities for the course are scheduled as a six-week block delivery.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Book chapters and articles from academic journals comprise assigned readings for this course. The list of prescribed readings will be available on Canvas. In addition, students are expected to engage with further learning resources on Canvas.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 10/11/2021 09:35 p.m.