Outline

Overview

This unit is an introduction to research methods used in business disciplines. The unit provides students with an understanding of the range of methods that may be used to answer research questions, their strengths and weakness and underlying philosophical assumptions. Key elements of the research process are addressed, including the purpose of the research; devising the research questions and hypotheses; selecting a research strategy; methods and procedures for data collection and analysis; and interpreting and reporting the results. Students learn important research terminology, how to write a research proposal and ethical considerations in conducting research. The first component of this unit is delivered to the whole Business School Honours cohort and covers obligations as a researcher. The second component of the unit splits into Disciplinary areas and covers issues related to research design.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Business School
Credit points	12
Prerequisites ?	Students must meet the entry requirements to the Honours program, including completion of a pass undergraduate degree and a major in the specialisation area
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Alessio Galluzzi, alessio.galluzzi@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Being a 'Researcher' essay Written essay	20%	Week 04 Due date: 28 Mar 2021 at 17:00 Closing date: 01 Apr 2021	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Research proposal presentation Oral presentation	10%	Week 12 Due date: 26 May 2021 at 17:00 Closing date: 02 Jun 2021	10 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Optional small test	Discipline and cluster based assessments n/a	40%	Week 12	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research proposal Proposal	30%	Week 13 Due date: 02 Jun 2021 at 17:00 Closing date: 09 Jun 2021	3000 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Being a researcher essay (20%): Using particular research methodologies raises many epistemological questions for researchers about the nature, development and communication of knowledge. The essay question for this assessment is: What are the implications of epistemological considerations for research practice? How do you as a researcher interrogate your own thinking to arrive at a more objective standard for assessing the merit of claims you make?
Discipline and cluster based assessments (40%): This aspect of the unit will be assessed in the research methods stream you have been enrolled in by your discipline honours coordinator.
Research proposal (30%) and presentation (10%): The aim of this assessment is to develop your knowledge and skills in writing, presenting and defending a formal proposal that describes your proposed research project.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	1. Approaches to business research 1; 2. Epistemology and research philosophy; 3. Approaches to business research 2; 4. Research paradigms	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 02	1. Research communication and research intent; 2. What role for ethics in business research?	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 03	1. How to identify and manage approaches to theory in business research; 2. Where does literature fit in? (Library workshop)	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 04	1. Identifying research problems and developing approaches to responding to these problems; 2. Presentations of research 'problems'	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 05	1. Understanding diverse research methods in business; 2. Qualitative research design and methods 1; 3. Qualitative research design and methods 2	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 06	1. Qualitative research design and methods 1; 2. Qualitative research design and methods 2	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 07	1. Problematising your research area and formulating your question; 2. Writing and presenting your research proposal	Workshop (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: All lectures and seminars are recorded and will be available on Canvas for student use. However please note that these classes are interactive therefore your attendance is required. Please note the Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 12 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 240-300 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Please see canvas for prescribed readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. apply effectively an understanding of research approaches, theoretical perspectives and methodologies to the design, implementation and evaluation of a research project
LO2. develop a research proposal for a relevant area of research and questions within a disciplinary field of research and practice
LO3. use a range of communication strategies to critique and debate responses to complex and unfamiliar problems and appropriately respond to feedback from a range of different stakeholders
LO4. demonstrate ethical and social awareness in conducting research including potential impacts on business, society and research participants as well as honesty and integrity in performing and reporting on the research.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Additional information

Component aspects of BUSS4001 and workshops: Please note that there are two aspects of this unit - Approaches to Business Research and Research Methods. All students, regardless of the Discipline where their thesis is being supervised, need to attend the Approaches to Business Research classes which take place in the first 4 weeks of the semester. Your research methodology classes will begin in week 5 and you will be required to attend one of the four research methods streams. Also, your research methodology assessment tasks will be assessed within those streams and as such, they will differ according to the student's Disciplinary home.
Research method streams: There are four research methods streams. These are: 1. Finance; 2. Business Analytics; 3. Accounting; 4. Cluster (Business Information Systems, Business Law, International Business, Marketing, Work and Organisational Studies)

Business School Policies

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

BUSS4001: Business Honours Research Methods

Semester 1, 2021 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect