School of Business and Economics
MPhil/PhD STUDENT HANDBOOK Academic Year 2013/2014
CONTENTS
WELCOME
1-2
Letter from the Dean Mission Statement University Access Statement STAFF
3
Dean Associate Dean (Research) Academic Directors Administrators Communication RESEARCH STUDENT STUDY AREAS
4
SEMESTER DATES AND ATTENDANCE
4-5
Leave of Absence / Withdrawal STUDENT ADVICE AND SUPPORT
5-6
The Medical Centre RESEARCH STUDENT REGULATIONS AND CODE OF PRACTICE
6
MONITORING AND PROGRESS
6
PHD TRAINING AND TRANSFERABLE SKILLS 7 PHD SUPPORT FUND
9
PLAGIARISM
12
FEEDBACK
13
PhD Programme Committee Grievance Procedures CODE OF GOOD BEHAVIOUR
14
Academic Misconduct APPENDIX 1: PHD TRAINING PROGRAMME
15
APPENDIX 2: PHD SUPPORT FUND
27
We have tried to ensure that the details in this handbook were correct at the time of going to press. We recommend that you check the University’s web pages for the latest information where appropriate. We welcome your feedback about the contents and presentation of this publication.
WELCOME FROM PROFESSOR ANGUS LAING Welcome to the School of Business and Economics at Loughborough University. We hope you have a rewarding and engaging time studying in Loughborough. Research degrees represent the pinnacle of academic qualifications. Congratulations on having been accepted onto the Postgraduate Research Programme (PGRP) here at the Business School, Loughborough University, located within the newly formed School of Business and Economics. The PGRP is designed to prepare you for a stimulating career in academic or business research and teaching. The environment of the School of Business and Economics facilitates close interaction with our academic staff—individuals who are highly regarded within their respective fields and active in research, publishing and professional organisations. You will join a lively community of research students and staff, and become an integral part of the School’s research culture. You will be encouraged to attend conferences to present your work and develop joint publications with your Supervisors. Your study at Loughborough University School of Business and Economics is an opportunity for you to make an original contribution to the field of business and management, economics and information science. In order to foster and promote your research skills, we deliver, in the first year of full-time PhD study, Successful completion of your degree will also require you to position, design, and conduct a scholarly study in the business discipline of your choice. Your supervisor(s), an independent reviewer, and the School’s research management and administration team in general will assist you in this effort. The aim of this handbook is to provide you with essential information about the university, the School, and the administration of the degree for which you are registered. We hope you will find this handbook useful, and look forward to working with you Professor Angus Laing Dean School of Business and Economics
1
THE SCHOOL’S MISSION STATEMENT “To develop elite performers capable of creating and leading high performing businesses and delivering value to society globally, through providing world-class research and education in business and economics, within an environment where the contributions of all members of the School are valued.”
UNIVERSITY ACCESS STATEMENT The University aims to provide all students with clear and accurate information about their programmes of study and the services and facilities available. There are many sources for this information, including this School Handbook and your Programme Handbook. Important information is also available in the University Student Handbook. By registering as a student of Loughborough University you undertook to read and understand the contents of the University Student Handbook and to abide by the regulations, ordinances, codes and policies it contains. The University Student Handbook is published on the web at: http://www.lboro.ac/students/welcome/handbook/ The Loughborough Student Charter can be found at: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/students/charter/
2
STAFF DEAN Professor Angus Laing, the Dean of the School of Business and Economics, is responsible to the University for all aspects of the School’s operation. You would normally need to see the Dean only as a ‘last resort’ having exhausted all other channels. ASSOCIATE DEAN (RESEARCH) Professor Stewart Robinson, Associate Dean (Research) of the School of Business and Economics, is responsible for all aspects of the School’s research activities. You would normally only need to see the AD(R) if the option of seeing one of the programme directors had been exhausted. ACADEMIC DIRECTORS Business
Dr Ali Ataullah
[email protected]
Economics
Professor Arijit Mukherjee
[email protected]
Information Science
Dr Mark Hepworth
[email protected]
ADMINISTRATORS Tracey Preston
Research Administration Officer Overseas all programmes, main contact for Business and Economics PhD programmes
Lynda Langton
PhD Administrator/Financial Resources Assistant Main contact for Information Science PhD programmes
Tracey is located in BE1.72 and Lynda is located in BE1.75 in the School of Business and Economics. Office hours are 09:00 – 12:00 and again from 14:00 – 17:00 (16:30 on Fridays). Please note that Tracey works flexi time so on occasion she might not be in the office after 4.00 pm. Lynda works part time and is not in the office on Tuesdays. Information, guidance and support are provided throughout the year.
COMMUNICATION Email is the main method of contact with students. All Email contact from administrative staff will be via your Loughborough University Email address. Please use this address in any correspondence except in an emergency, as the University internet firewall may block messages from other sources. It is your responsibility to check your email daily. If you do not check your email you may miss urgent messages, with very serious consequences. This will be your responsibility.
3
RESEARCH STUDENT STUDY AREA The School’s research students are currently based in two locations, information science students are based in Facilities Management building (building 60 on the campus map) and business and economics students are based on the second floor of Admin 1 (building number 63 on the campus map). All desks are hot desks. Lockable storage facilities are available, there is a £5 deposit for a key (see Tracey/Lynda for details). In the unlikely event that students are unable to find a desk to work at, please advise Tracey/Lynda.
SEMESTER DATES AND ATTENDANCE It is important to note that you should be in attendance throughout the whole of each semester unless you are out collecting data (normally done in the second year). If you need a visa to study in the UK, then the University will also have to report periods of absence or unsatisfactory attendance to the UK Border Agency. Please note that no authorisations for absence during term time (including the semester 3 teaching period) will be issued by the school, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Term Dates Autumn Term: 30 September 2013 - 13 December 2013 Spring Term: 6 January 2014 - 28 March 2014 Summer Term: 28 April 2014 - 18 June 2014
The University will be closed on the following dates: Christmas/New Year 2013-2014: Tuesday 24th December 2013 to Wednesday 1 January 2014 inclusive Easter 2014: Friday 18 April 2014 to Tuesday 22 April 2014 inclusive May Bank Holiday: Monday 5 May 2014 Spring Bank Holiday: Monday 26 May 2014 Late Summer Bank Holiday: Monday 25 August and Tuesday 26 August 2014 inclusive.
4
LEAVE OF ABSENCE/WITHDRAWAL In exceptional circumstances you may need to request a leave of absence or to withdraw from the programme. Please discuss your options with your supervisor. Should you wish to proceed with a leave of absence the relevant form can be found at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/templateshop/index.htm (select item 4.6). If you wish to withdraw you must inform your supervisor in the first instance and then email Tracey/Lynda and the Research Student Office accordingly. It is imperative that your absence or withdrawal is authorised or you will remain liable for tuition fees. STUDENT ADVICE AND SUPPORT The University has a wide range of services and sources of information that are freely available to all students. These can be found at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/students/. We recommend that you visit this site and familiarise yourself with the support services available, a few key services are displayed below.
Please also familiarise yourself with The University Student Handbook which gives full details of the services available and can be found at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/students/welcome/#handbook
Ursula Ott (
[email protected]) is the Disability Co-ordinator for the School of Business and Economics. 5
THE MEDICAL CENTRE All new students are given a registration form / health questionnaire in their University joining pack in order to register with the medical centre. If you have not received a form, please contact Medical Centre reception (telephone 01509 222061). The centre is open 08.00 – 17.00 on weekdays. Should you require medical assistance outside these times you should go to the Loughborough Urgent Care Centre at Loughborough Community Hospital (telephone number 01509 568800). RESEARCH STUDENT REGULATIONS AND CODE OF PRACTICE Please also familiarise yourself with the University’s Research Degree Regulations and Code of Practice which can be downloaded at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/governance/regulations/26/current/ and http://www.lboro.ac.uk/students/welcome/research/codes-of-practice/. MONITORING AND PROGRESSION Supervisors and Independent Reviewers are available to students for their academic (and personal) support. The Departmental Administration for MPhil and PhD students is the responsibility of Dr Ali Ataullah (business), Dr Arijit Mukherjee (economics), Dr Mark Hepworth (information science), Tracey Preston and Lynda Langton. One of the main administrative activities is the organisation of the Monitoring and Review process by which research students’ progress is assessed (see below: the review process).
The Review Process It is vital that student and supervisor(s) quickly establish a working relationship, and that the student feels well supported. In the SBE we require a short report, with sections for both supervisor(s) and student which should be completed after the first 3 months (6 months for part time students), and sent to Tracey Preston. Records of Meetings between Students and Supervisor(s) The University has a requirement that there is evidence that supervisor(s) and (full time) student hold 12 formal meetings per year (usually equates to one per month depending on the time of year). SBE has a simple signature sheet for that, and this will be retained. Evidence of meetings is formally required for student progression from year x to year x+1 of work. For part time students, our local requirement is 4 meetings a year which must be signed for. Because many part tome students are far away from Loughborough, these may be by phone or videoconferencing.
6
Annual Reviews It is a University requirement that all students have an annual review towards the end of each year of registration. For further details of these reviews can be found at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/students/welcome/research/codes-ofpractice/progressmonitoring/
Termination of Student Studies See section 13 of the Code of Practice. Termination can occur at any time on the basis of unsatisfactory progress. Obviously, the most likely time is immediately after an annual review. Unsatisfactory progress can include failing to participate and/or submit adequate work in the research student training programme as well as not pursuing his/her own research well enough. TRAINING AND TRANSFERABLE SKILLS The Research Training Programme for MPhil and PhD students is the responsibility of Professor John Cadogan, Tracey Preston, and the individual module leaders.
All full-time research students are required to undertake and successfully complete the research training programme during their first year of study. The programme has been designed to offer training and research skills to support your research. Students who have undertaken appropriate training elsewhere may apply for exemption from some or all of the programme. This will be granted only in exceptional circumstances.
SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAMME WILL BE PRE-REQUISITE FOR PROGRESSION TO THE SECOND YEAR AND REMAINING AT PHD LEVEL.
Overview and Objectives: The overall objectives of the Research Training Programme are to provide students with: -
in-depth knowledge of their specific subject areas and core theories associated with those subject areas; an appreciation of the breadth of intra-disciplinary issues in business and management research; an awareness of ethical considerations in undertaking business and management research; an understanding of epistemological and ontological perspectives on business and management research; specific and advanced skills in collecting and analysing data; the ability to apply those skills to alternative research scenarios, and select alternative methods based on relevance; 7
-
the skills to formulate and present research findings to diverse audiences of academics and practitioners in both public and private sector.
The PhD Training Programme timetable and module specifications can be found in appendix 1. Transferable Skills The Roberts Review, 'Set for Success', determined a need for Postgraduate Research Students to develop transferable skills to complement the research training provided by a PhD. This recommendation was accepted by the Government. Following from this the Research Councils now require transferable skills training for all doctoral students The transferable skills are listed in the Joint Statement on Skills Training Requirements. As a PhD student, you are expected to complete 30 days of dedicated transferable skills training during your registered period of study. This may be spread evenly, i.e. 10 days per year for full-time students, or may be weighted so that up to 20 days are completed in the first year, with a minimum of 5 days completed in each year. For part-time students, the annual requirement is pro rata. At Loughborough there are four recognised ways to develop these skills: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Attendance at Staff Development courses Department-based training (e.g. seminars, training courses) Other activities (e.g. developing skills through voluntary work, self-guided study) Attendance at UK-Grad courses
Guidance Notes on how you can develop skills and maintain your Training Record in relation to the Research Councils' requirements and the University's policy are downloadable from the Graduate School website at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/graduateschool/resources/key-skills/ with the forms you need to record your training. A copy of your transferable skills record should be given to Tracey/Lynda for your student file.
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PHD SUPPORT FUND
A fund has been set up for both full time and part time Research Students to use for attending conferences, seminars, training events and data collection travel, expenditure on resources etc. The University financial year runs from 1st August to 31st July. The money is non transferable, so if you do not use the fund one year or have any of your allocation left over, you cannot transfer the money to the following year. That said, where budgetary limitations allow, we try to be flexible on students’ behalf. Our annual guideline for spending on a student is £400, but we recognise that many conferences etc. cost more than this, so if the budget allows we will pay more than that on some students in one year (and compensate with less the year before or after). The fund is available to students from their second year onwards. Students who register in their 4th year still have access to the fund, however it is expected that any requests/claims will be minimal. To use the fund you will need to follow the School’s Financial Procedures outlined below: Financial Procedures/Application Procedure Application should be made to Miss Tracey Preston and should be on the application provided in appendix 2. This must include details of the conference or workshop, an estimated budget, including subsistence, whether a paper is being presented including title. Relevant supporting documents must be attached. For conference/seminar attendance only, the application must also include the signed recommendation of the main supervisor who must show how the conference is relevant to the student’s research. Approval or rejection shall generally be provided in 7 working days. Applications must be made at least one month before the date of travel. Do not wait for a paper to be accepted before applying for funding: submit the paper and apply for funding simultaneously. All funding will be conditional on proof of a paper being accepted for presentation, except under exceptional circumstances. Award Procedure The PhD Support budget is limited to £400 per full time student and £200 per part time student. 1.
Funding is available for students in their second year onwards.
2.
There will be no presumption that all students will be equally entitled to identical funding rates, but every effort will be made to meet all reasonable claims within the overall budget.
3.
Students in year 4 are entitled to use the fund but it is expected that claims will be minimal. 9
4.
Any further expenditure will be the responsibility of the individual concerned. Consideration will be given to the nature of the conference, PhD work progress, and other conferences attended.
Award criteria Funding for an initial conference will only be provided if the individual: 1.
is accepted as giving a paper at the conference; or is attending a bona fide research or training workshop. A copy of the acceptance letter must be provided before funding can be agreed.
3.
has provided all the necessary paperwork: applications submitted without the paperwork will be automatically rejected with no reconsideration. For subsequent conferences, the criteria for the initial conference must be satisfied. In addition:
4.
the conference should have international recognition
Conference attendance and applications will be considered as a whole for each individual. For example, if an initial application is for a high-profile international conference, an application for a subsequent conference will be deemed to have satisfied condition 4. Travel and Payment Procedures 1.
When conference funding is approved, you should keep a copy of the supporting documentation and supply the original to Tracey Preston together with a completed Purchase Request form, who will pass the forms to the School’s Finance Team who will make the bookings for you. All travel must be booked through the department (ie. by a member of the School’s Finance Team). Travel which is not booked in this way will not be reimbursed. Note that airfares rise rapidly as the date of travel approaches. Plan ahead and save money for further conferences. You may need a visa for overseas travel. You must plan well ahead to obtain the visa and include this in your cost estimates. The department will not be responsible for failed or late visa applications and may charge you for unused air tickets.
2.
The conference grant will cover return trip travel to the conference and reasonable subsistence for the conference duration only. For this purpose, you may arrive the day before the conference begins and depart the day after it ends. The department will not pay the cost of any side trips before, during or after the conference, the School’s Finance Team will not arrange any such trips for you. If you claim reimbursement for taxi fares at the conference you must show that these were necessarily incurred. You must also select a reasonable means of travel. The department will reserve the right to refuse all unreasonable requests for reimbursement.
3.
All subsequent expenses must be itemised and receipts provided. Credit card receipts are not acceptable. These are university audit requirements. The university’s subsistence rates provide guidelines and are not a guarantee of payment.
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Photocopies of the completed forms are kept by Tracey Preston and the Finance Office.
For the latest information on “Travel and Subsistence Rates”, please see:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/financial/restricted/rates.htm
The School’s Operations Manager is Anne Finocchio (room BE2.83, ext 223133,
[email protected]). The Operations Manager is a member of the SBE’s Management Group and is responsible for the five-year financial planning process. Any queries about the School’s operational budgets should be directed to her.
Claims will not be authorised unless prior approval from Tracey Preston has been obtained. Please remember to include all original receipts.
ITEMS WHICH CAN BE PURCHASED •
Conference Attendance including registration, accommodation (try to get a student discount where possible), meals, travel. It is expected that students will make economical choices of accommodation etc wherever possible.
•
Data Collection - travel to conduct interviews, accommodation and food (where necessary), petrol/travel, photocopying of questionnaires, postage
•
Writing up fee
•
Thesis Submission (cost of coping and soft/hard binding)
NOTE: This fund does not cover IT related items or the purchase of books.
IMPORTANT NOTE We cannot promise to fund everything that every research student would ideally like.
THE FUND IS A PRIVILAGE AND NOT A RIGHT
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PLAGIARISM You must make sure that all the work that you submit for assessment is your own and that it is properly referenced. Copying directly from other people’s work without appropriate citation is regarded as plagiarism. The work of other people includes ANY material, both published (for example textbooks, journals, newspapers, internet) and unpublished (for example lecture notes, essays of other students). Similarly you must not summarise an author’s ideas or arguments without providing a full reference. Lengthy extracts or paraphrases must not be used. Poor scholarship is not plagiarism but may also lead to a ‘fail’ mark. For example: • • • •
Quoting too heavily from a cited source Using too much wording or structure that is not your own, from a cited source Careless citation of sources Quoting from a cited source without quotation marks and page references
Plagiarism or any other violation of assessment regulations will result in a formal disciplinary investigation. Penalties for plagiarism or other academic misconduct are decided by an Academic Misconduct Committee and can be very severe – up to and including termination of studies. For further details go to: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/students/welcome/handbook/examsandassessment/plagiarism/ Some of this information is directed more a the taught programmes, however it is still applicable to research degrees. Please make sure that you familiarise yourself with this information. Further guidance will be given during Semester One – you must ensure that you understand the University’s policy and rules regarding plagiarism.
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FEEDBACK
Postgraduate Research Committee Meetings The Postgraduate Research Committee meetings take place once a term as a forum for addressing issues of concern to research students and as a means of informing research students about departmental activities that may affect them. The committee is chaired by the Associate Dean (Research), and composes of Director of Research Degree Programmes, Tracey Preston, Lynda Langton; and student representatives (one from each programme). Minutes of the meetings are circulated and maintained in the Department record. Where appropriate matters are referred onwards, for example, to the IT Support Team, or to the relevant person.
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES We hope you will have no cause for any complaints, but if you do please first contact your supervisor. If necessary you may also contact Tracey Preston and/or your Academic Director. The School follows the University procedures which are available on the web at: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/governance/ordinances/38/current/
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CODE OF GOOD BEHAVIOUR It is expected that you will follow the University's rules whilst you are registered as a student. These include both academic conduct in respect of exams, assessment and administrative processes, but also your behaviour and conduct whether on campus or off. The University's rules are set out in the University Ordinances, University Regulations and University Charter and Statutes. Whilst you are not expected to know all of these in detail, you should be aware of their existence (and relevance to you as a student). The sections below highlight key areas of policy and the rules which are of particular relevance to students. As a student of Loughborough University, your conduct and behaviour - both on and off campus - sets the reputation of the University and the entire student body. Maintaining a positive relationship with the local community is a priority to the University and it is expected that you will act accordingly to present the University and student body as well behaved, polite and mindful of the Loughborough community. Further information can be found here: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/students/welcome/handbook/regulationsandbehaviour/ Please note that the University has an IT Acceptable Use Policy. Details are located at: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/it/about/policies/aup/ Please familiarise yourself with this policy.
ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT Academic Misconduct refers to both plagiarism and any other failure to comply with rules for the conduct of examinations or other assessments. Academic misconduct in any form of academic assessment is subject to severe penalties under University Regulations and School Codes of Practice. The essence of misconduct under this Code is improper interference, in the broadest sense, with the proper functioning of activities of the institution, or those who work or study in the institution; or action which otherwise damages the institution. A full explanation of Academic Misconduct (and its consequences) can be found at: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/governance/regulations/26/current/
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APPENDIX 1: PHD TRAINING PROGRAMME DOCUMENTS
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PhD/MPhil Training Schedule 2012/2013 9.30 am - 5.00 pm (inc. 1 hour for lunch, lunch vouchers will be provided) Semester One Week
Date
2nd October 2013 (2.00 pm)
1
Module
Assignment
Contributor
No
Ali Ataullah, Stewart Robinson, Tracey Preston Arijit Mukherjee, Mark Hepworth, Lynda Langton.
Induction
Room Number/Building
SMB103 8th October Morning SMB104
th
2
8 & 9th October 2013
Effective Management of Research
No
Ray Randall and Dan Sage
Afternoon HE021 9th October - K109
6
4th & 5th November 2013
Principles of Research Design
Yes
Julie Holland and Ursula Ott
KG111
10
5th & 6th December 2013
Qualitative Methods & Analysis 1
Yes
Christine Coupland
U006
th
13
th
13 & 14 January 2014
Quantitative Methods & Analysis 1
Yes
Ray Randall
13th January – SMB002 14th January – U007
Semester Two Week
Date
Module
Assignment
6
10th & 11th March 2014 (TBC)
Quantitative Methods & Analysis 2
Yes
John Cadogan
TBC
TBC
Qualitative Methods & Analysis 2
Yes
Peter Ackers Cheryl Travers, and Sarah Cromie
TBC
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Contributor
Room Number/Building
Effective Management of Research Principally taught by Modular weight ECTS Credit Credit Level Exam weighting Availability
Business School 15 7.5 7 0 Module is available to students meeting pre-requisites but only if listed in their Programme Regulations.
Aims The aim of this module is for the student to become aware of the knowledge, principles and skills base necessary for the management of social research in an effective and professional way through the full life-cycle of the research process, from the initial idea for a research study through to the dissemination of research findings and beyond into their career as a researcher. Specific aims include conducting a literature review, managing references and other research sources, presenting research in a variety of contexts, developing the skills to manage a research project, consider career opportunities in research. Intended Learning Outcomes In terms of knowledge and understanding, on completion of the module students should be able to: - appreciate the nature and life cycle of the research process; - understand the importance of effective research management for the successful execution, completion, and dissemination of a research project or doctoral thesis; - identify the various parts of the research process which need careful and effective management; - assess the strengths and weaknesses of different research methods and research designs, their most appropriate usage and combinations in different research contexts; and the implications of these for the management of the research process; - understand the relationships between research, research management, dissemination and the development of policy and practice. In terms of intellectual, practical and transferable skills, students should be able to: - make informed choices about how to conduct and manage a research study; - critically evaluate published research in terms of the quality and effectiveness of its research management. - be able to conduct a review of the relevant literature - target appropriate outlets for published research in the students subject area. Content Managing the research process. Why 'manage' research? How to manage research effectively: devising a realistic timetable and time management, planning, budgets and budgeting, confidentiality, ethics, safety, managing sources and references. Presenting research findings, publication, the media, conferences dissemination. Outcomes of research. Research and policy. Developing a research career.
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Method of Teaching, Learning and Assessment Teaching and Learning: Total student effort for the module: 150 hours on average. Twenty hours in total of interactive lectures and discussions, and the remaining time for private study comprising: guided reading and preparation associated with lectures; student self-directed reading; preparation and production of assessed work. Assessment: N/A Developmental feedback generated through teaching activities Dialogue between students and staff in tutorials Indicative answers and marking criteria discussed in class sessions
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Principles of Research Design Principally taught by Modular weight ECTS Credit Credit Level Exam weighting Availability
Business School 15 7.5 7 0 Module is available to students meeting pre-requisites but only if listed in their Programme Regulations.
Aims The aim of this module is for the student to develop a critical understanding of the major principles underlying the main types of research design used in business and management. Intended Learning Outcomes In terms of knowledge and understanding, on completion of the module students should be able to: - understand the difference between quantitative and qualitative research strategies and their implications for principles of research design; - understand the advantages and disadvantages of combining quantitative and qualitative research strategies; - appreciate the principles of research design in quantitative research; - appreciate the principles of research design in qualitative research; - understand the implications of sampling and other methodological decisions for these principles. In terms of intellectual, practical and transferable skills, students should be able to; - apply principles of research design in both quantitative and qualitative research; - critically evaluate published research in terms of principles of research design; - formulate tractable research questions in business and management research. Content A brief introduction to the main types of research design. Quantitative and qualitative research as contrasting research strategies and the contrasting influences of the physical sciences and humanities. Combining quantitative and qualitative research. Triangulation. Links between research strategy and epistemological and ontological issues. Formulating research questions and hypotheses and understanding how to make a contribution to the literature. Principles of research design in quantitative research: generalisability, validity, reliability, replicability. Alternative criteria in qualitative research: credibility, transferability, dependability, confirmability, authenticity. Sampling issues in quantitative and qualitative research and their implications for and links with research design principles. Prominent methods of data collection in quantitative research: questionnaires; structured interviewing; quantitative content analysis; structured observation. Students will be introduced to principles of questionnaire design, interviewing approaches, observation approaches, coding issues and principles, and the links between research questions and methods of data collection. Method of Teaching, Learning and Assessment Total student effort for the module: 150 hours on average. Four four-hour sessions, and the rest of the time for private study comprising: guided reading and preparation associated with timetabled teaching sessions; student self-directed reading; preparation and production of assessed work. 19
Assessment: One piece of coursework of c.1,500 words (100%). Students will be asked to develop a research proposal of their choice, choose an appropriate methodology and to provide a reflexive commentary on their adequacy. The aim of the exercise will be to assess their understanding of the implementation of the principles underlying the design of the research instruments and the limitations that such instruments entail. In addition, students will be expected to draw comparisons between the aims and potential of the proposed design and alternative designs. Feedback given to students in response to assessed work Individual written feedback on coursework Developmental feedback generated through teaching activities Dialogue between students and staff in tutorials Indicative answers and marking criteria discussed in class sessions Discussions during poster presentations
20
Qualitative Methods and Analysis I Principally taught by Modular weight ECTS Credit Credit Level Exam weighting Availability
Business School 15 7.5 7 0 Module is available to students meeting pre-requisites but only if listed in their Programme Regulations.
Aims The aim of this module is for the student to become familiar with key concepts in qualitative research design. Intended Learning Outcomes In terms of knowledge and understanding, on completion of the module students should be able to: - explain the alternative philosophies underlying qualitative research; - distinguish method and design, data generation and analysis; - analyse the potential benefits and limitations of qualitative research in the student's area of interest; - consider situations where quantification may be appropriate as a supplement to qualitative analysis; - describe key ideas and techniques in ethnography and action research. In terms of intellectual, practical and transferable skills, students should be able to: - engage in critical reasoning and debate; - retrieve, organise and assimilate bodies of knowledge; - assess the applicability of qualitative research to the student's area of interest. Content The nature(s) of qualitative research and contrasts/comparisons with quantitative research. Different genres of qualitative research and the criteria for evaluating qualitative research projects and papers. Overview of qualitative methods, ethical issues, and data analysis, content analysis. Action research as a form of qualitative enquiry. Method of Teaching, Learning and Assessment Teaching and Learning: Total student effort for the module: 150 hours on average. Four 5-hour days using a mixed diet of mini lectures, discussion and question-and-answer sessions, guided exercises, group work and evaluation of published material. These will be supplemented by guided and open reading. Assessment: One assignment of c.1,500 words (100%), to be submitted by a set deadline, focusing on one or more of the methods of analysis covered in the module. Feedback given to students in response to assessed work Individual written feedback on coursework Developmental feedback generated through teaching activities Dialogue between students and staff in tutorials Marking criteria discussed in class sessions 21
Qualitative Methods and Analysis II Principally taught by Modular weight ECTS Credit Credit Level Exam weighting Availability
Business School 15 7.5 7 0 Module is available to students meeting pre-requisites but only if listed in their Programme Regulations.
Aims The aim of this module is for the student to develop a more advanced understanding of a range of analytic approaches, to consider their uses and limitations, and to understand their operation with research materials. Intended Learning Outcomes In terms of knowledge and understanding, on completion of the module students should be able to: - explain the operation of case study research, qualitative interviewing, qualitative data analysis, and ethnographic research; - conduct qualitative interviewing; - discuss the relationship between qualitative and quantitative research; - analyse a range of issues that arise in qualitative research, including ethics, interpretivism/realism and reflexivity; - explore the possibilities of applying qualitative methods in their own research. In terms of intellectual, practical and transferable skills, students should be able to: - engage in critical reasoning and debate; - retrieve, organise and assimilate bodies of knowledge; Content Case study research, interview-based research, data analysis, computer-aided analysis. Method of Teaching, Learning and Assessment Teaching and Learning: Total student effort for the module: 150 hours on average. Four four-hour sessions using a mixed diet of lectures, discussion and question-andanswer sessions, guided exercises, hands-on training with IT software, group work, individual presentations and discussion. These will be supplemented by guided and open reading, data collection, and production of materials for assessment. Assessment: One individual piece of analysis of c.1,500 words (100%), focusing on generation and analysis of qualitative data. Feedback given to students in response to assessed work Individual written feedback on coursework Developmental feedback generated through teaching activities Dialogue between students and staff in tutorials Indicative answers and marking criteria discussed in class sessions
22
Quantitative Methods and Analysis I Principally taught by Modular weight ECTS Credit Credit Level Exam weighting Availability
Business School 15 7.5 7 0 Module is available to students meeting pre-requisites but only if listed in their Programme Regulations.
Aims The aim of this module is for the student to acquire the necessary basic skills to undertake quantitative research in business, management and organisation studies; including an understanding of the methods commonly used to prepare, collect, and analyse quantitative data; an ability to make informed choices about ways of collecting and handling data and to assess the appropriateness of particular analytical procedures; and an ability to assess critically and evaluate the research of others. Intended Learning Outcomes In terms of knowledge and understanding, on completion of the module students should be able to: - demonstrate an understanding of the advantages and limitations of different research methods to the extent that they can make informed choices about how to proceed with relatively simple research tasks; - show that they are conversant with the advantages and limitations of particular methods employed by others and reported in the social science literature; - demonstrate an awareness of several basic statistical tests and know how to interpret their results. In terms of intellectual, practical and transferable skills, students should be able to conduct a number of basic statistical tests on simple research data and interpret their results. Content Applying quantitative analysis to data collected by a variety of means including questionnaires, experiments, intervention studies. Coding of data. Analysis of survey data. Levels of measurement. Category variables and numerical scores. Scales. Response formats. SPSS for Windows. Data entry and editing. Data checking. Frequency distributions. Skewness. Kurtosis. Measures of central tendency: mode, median and mean. Measures of dispersion: range, variance and standard deviation. Histograms. Bar charts. Simple correlation. Statistical inference and significance. Sampling theory. Type I and II errors. Confidence intervals. Unrelated and related t tests. Contingency tables. Chisquare. Presentation of statistical analyses. Missing data. Data transformations: recoding, counting and computing new variables. Selecting subsamples. Method of Teaching, Learning and Assessment Teaching and Learning: Total student effort for the module: 150 hours on average. Four 4.5 hour teaching sessions made up of a mixture of interactive lectures, discussions, workshops and 'hands on' sessions of data analysis. For some sessions students will be expected to prepare materials, and to contribute and participate using these readings and knowledge obtained within the classroom. The remaining time should be devoted to 23
private study including review of lecture notes, individual reading of recommended texts and journal articles, preparation of material for class sessions and preparation of assessed coursework. The module seeks to be fully compliant with the requirements of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Act and suggestions for better practice are always welcome. Assessment: Essay (100%) requiring students to articulate and write a critical review of a piece of published work as if for a journal. Feedback given to students in response to assessed work Individual written feedback on coursework Generic written feedback on the examination will appear on module Learn page after results are published Developmental feedback generated through teaching activities Studio, laboratory or field trip interaction with tutors; Dialogue between students and staff in tutorials Indicative answers and marking criteria discussed in class sessions
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Quantitative Methods and Analysis II Principally taught by Modular weight ECTS Credit Credit Level Exam weighting Availability
Business School 15 7.5 7 0 Module is available to students meeting pre-requisites but only if listed in their Programme Regulations.
Aims The aim of the module is for the student to acquire more advanced skills to undertake quantitative research in the social sciences, including an understanding of the statistical methods commonly used to analyse quantitative data; an ability to make informed choices about ways of handling data and to assess the appropriateness of particular analytical procedures; and an ability critically to assess and evaluate the research of others. Intended Learning Outcomes In terms of knowledge and understanding, on completion of the module students should be able to: - demonstrate familiarity with the advantages and limitations of different analytic methods to the extent that they can make informed choices about how to proceed with more advanced analytic tasks; - show that they are conversant with the advantages and limitations of particular methods employed by others and reported in the social science literature; - show an awareness of several more advanced statistical tests and a knowledge of how to interpret their results. In terms of intellectual, practical and transferable skills, students should be able to conduct a number of more advanced statistical tests on research data and interpret their results. Content SPSS for Windows. Principal component and factor analyses. Item analysis. Split-half reliability. Alpha reliability. Partial correlation. Suppressing, confounding, mediating and moderating variables. Inferential tests for differences between correlations. Multiple regression. Hierarchical multiple regression. Path analysis. Panel data. Test for moderating variables. Dummy variables. Loglinear analysis and logistic regression. Metaanalysis. Multilevel analysis. Presentation of statistical analyses. Structural equation models. Method of Teaching, Learning and Assessment Teaching and Learning: Total student effort for the module: 150 hours on average. Five four-hour teaching sessions made up of a mixture of interactive lectures, discussions, workshops and 'hands-on' sessions of data analysis. For some sessions students will be expected to prepare materials, and to contribute and participate using these readings and knowledge obtained within the classroom. The remaining time should be devoted to private study including review of lecture notes, individual reading of recommended texts and journal articles, preparation of material for class sessions and preparation for assessed coursework. The modules seeks to be fully compliant with the requirements of the Special Educational 25
Needs and Disabilities Act and suggestions for better practice are always welcome. Assessment: One piece of coursework (c.1,500 words, 100%). This will require students to apply appropriate advanced statistical techniques to a previously unseen data set to assess a conceptual model and to interpret the results of the analysis. Feedback given to students in response to assessed work Generic written feedback on examinations Generic written feedback on the examination will appear on module Learn page after results are published Developmental feedback generated through teaching activities Studio, laboratory or field trip interaction with tutors Indicative answers and marking criteria discussed in class sessions
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APPENDIX 2: PHD SUPPORT FUND APPLICATION FORM
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SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & ECONOMICS APPLICATION FOR RESEARCH STUDENT FUNDING
NAME : ……………………………………………………………………………………........................
SECTION 1 – FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR CONFERENCES/SEMINARS (if your request is not for a conference/seminar please go straight to Section 2)
Title of Conference/Seminar and Location (attach details): ……………………………………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Date(s) of Conference/Seminar: ………………………………………………………………....................... Title of Paper to be presented (attach confirmation):…………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Give a brief breakdown of expected costs
£
Exchange Rate
Conference fee (attach tariffs) Expected travel costs (i.e. flights, train etc – attach quote) Hotel accommodation (attach tariffs) Subsistence (where applicable) (rate per day = £
)
Other (specify) Total expected cost of conference Total departmental funds applied for
Supervisor’s statement : ………………………………………………………………………………......... …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Supervisor’s name: ……………………………. Signature: ……………………………………………
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SECTION 2: MISCILANOUS FUNDING REQUEST
Please state what you require funding for; i.e. data collection (travel cost, accommodation where necessary, printing of questionnaires etc.), printing and binding of PhD thesis, writing up fee etc. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Give a brief breakdown of expected costs
£
Exchange Rate
Total departmental funds applied for
Please send ONE copy of the completed application (with supporting paperwork) to: Tracey Preston For Tracey Preston’s use only Decision (conditions if applicable)
Signed
Amounts of Conference funding received from Department in the last 12 months:
Returned to applicant :
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Dated
