Select and apply the key, critical components of academic research methods to the identified problem or investigative topic

Programme : BA/BSc Business Programmes		Level :  5
Academic Year :  2018/19		Semester: 2
Module title :  Work Based Project 2		Assignment no. : 2
Module code:  BUS584	Word guide: 5000 words
Percentage Weighting of this assignment for the module: 70%
Issue date :  October 2019	Return date :  7th May 2020
Lecturer :	Second marker :

 

Notes for students : Electronic copy of Report must be submitted through the Turnitin software. This assignment will be marked electronically and results available online through Grademark in Turnitin. 10% of marks are awarded for satisfactory use of language and/or good presentation. 5% of marks are awarded for satisfactory referencing and/or presentation of a bibliography where either is required. Note that all referenced work should be obtained from credible sources. Students should ensure that they comply withGlyndwrUniversity’s plagiarism policy. Students should make correct use of the Harvard referencing method.

 

Learning Outcomes Tested in this Assignment : 3. Select and apply the key, critical components of academic research methods to the identified problem or investigative topic 4. Complete a practical or theoretical research project and to demonstrate support and rationale for the purpose, research methods and subsequent outcomes of the project.

Work Based Project 2 Report Guide

Students are required to produce a Work Based Project Report to evidence the research and activities undertaken in the pursuit of the objectives laid out in the Work Based Project Proposal.

Included within this guide is:

• Marking guidelines
• Guidance for the Format and Presentation of the Report
• Presentation, Layout and make-up of Reports
• Use of English

Marking Guidelines

Section	Word Guide	Marks
Abstract Brief summary of whole work based project including methodology, main findings and conclusions.	200	15
Background and Context to the Issue/Problem Background to topic chosen and the context associated with that issue/problem. This section can also include:- A profile of the organisation/sector chosen Rationale for choice of subject Any historical aspects associated with the issue/problem Any change in legislation leading to problem. Clear aim and objectives for the work based project	800
Literature Review Introduction to factors involved, relevant theory & underpinning knowledge. Details & implications of any new legislation. Discussion of recent articles on topic under headings of key factors. Use of a wide range of quality, up to date sources of literature.	1200	20
Methodology Account of all the activities contained within the work based project to include: Justification of research method(s) chosen & why other methods not chosen, Full details of execution of research, Discussion of reliability & precautions against bias of the secondary sources used, e.g. archival research, choice & validity of web sites & journal articles, variety of research methods chosen etc. Methods of analysis used.	600	10
Findings Results and summaries of secondary data collected Descriptive account of results from archival research.	600	10
Analysis & Discussion Comparison and discussion of results obtained Explain and justify any deductions made from secondary data collected. Link findings back to literature review.	600	10
Conclusions & Recommendations Overall conclusions of the project Link back to the aim and objectives of the project This section must also  include a personal reflection related to:- An overall reflection of the project (did the project go to plan, difficulties encountered, how you overcame these difficulties) How the project has influenced your choice of dissertation subject for level 6	1000	15
Total Words	5000 Words	80 Marks

 

Additional Marks Allocated	Marks
Originality, creativity & depth of study                 Originality of topic chosen to include a topical subject or novel perspective                 Attempts to use a range of research techniques and/or varied/detailed sources of data                 Ability to apply and integrate knowledge gained on degree course	5
Project Management                 Management of time from proposal stage to final submission                 Evidence of Supervisor meetings included within report                 Planning and consideration of all stages of Project and ability to overcome any difficulties	5
Presentation, style and quality of English and Referencing                 English grammar, spelling and sentence construction                 Impersonal style using interesting but not overcomplicated language                 Ability to discuss ideas accurately and succinctly, avoiding repetition and ‘waffle’                 Presentation in paragraphs, side headings, quality graphics and labelled appendices            Accurate referencing using the Harvard Reference System.                 Suitable use of referencing throughout the report.	10
	20 Marks

Guidance for the Format and Presentation of the Work based Project 2

1.    Title page:  comprising report title, author(s), date of submission, course title (including reference to Wrexham Glyndŵr) and module title.  The front cover of the report should also carry the same details.  The report title should be short, indicative and preferably memorable as the title page. 

2.    Contents page:  this should contain all the main section and sub-section headings and the page numbers on which they are to be found.  An indented layout makes for clarity.

3.    Abstract:  this should generally be no more than one page in length. The summary is written after the report itself has been written.  It should not be written as an introduction to the report, but as an extremely abbreviated, succinct description of everything that is contained in the report document itself.  It should enable a reader to obtain a clear overall grasp of the context, purpose, methods, sources and conclusions or recommendations of the report.

4.    Introduction or Background:  this section should provide the reader with an understanding of the context and reasons behind the report (in topic terms, not course terms).

       It is often helpful in the Introduction to describe briefly the structure and form of the rest of the report so that the reader is helped to understand the flow of it.

5.    Literature Review:  this section needs to be a detailed study using up-to date sources and, where appropriate, utilise a combination of academic journal articles, professional/industry/ sector resources and legal documents. The content of this section is the basis upon which the remainder of the research is founded.

       To enable the reader to follow the details of the literature review it is useful to divide this section under key headings.

6.    Methodology:  this is an important part of the report since it serves to confirm the validity of the report’s findings.  This section should therefore be used to thoroughly describe and explain the methodology you used.  In doing so it is also necessary to discuss the choices of methodology open to you and why you chose the particular methods used. The choice of methodology should be appropriate to secondary, rather than primary data collection.

       You should also discuss the reliability of sources & precautions against bias of the secondary sources used, e.g. archival research, choice & validity of web sites & journal articles, variety of research methods chosen etc.

       The proposed methods of secondary data analysis should be referred to in this section

7.    Findings:  this section must provide an account of all the results of your investigative work and the information you obtained.

       Exactly how you set things out, and in what order, is up to you; but you need a clear, logical layout which is ‘reader friendly’, easily understandable - yet of sufficient depth for the purpose, and containing enough evidence to persuade the reader of the validity of your account.  You need to skilfully balance the need for brevity with the need for sufficient information.  Try varying your style and consider using charts, diagrams, pictures, etc.  (make sure these serve a purpose and are not trivial).

8.    Analysis and Discussion:  in this section you are discussing the results of your research with the factors you identified as important in the literature review. Literature sources should be used wherever possible to support background discussion or definition. Take care to explain and justify any deductions made. Criticise, discuss, compare, conceptualise etc.

       Note that you may find it more convenient to have a section entitled Findings, Analysis and discussion rather than two separate sections as there is a danger of repeating some information in the two sections.

       Make sure you have clear, informative headings and sub-headings (but not too many).

9.    Conclusions: you must set out the conclusions that you have drawn from the project. You should also relate these back to the initial aim and objectives of the project that you referred to in the opening chapter of the work.

       This concluding section must also include a personal reflection related to:-

• An overall reflection of the project (did the project go to plan, difficulties encountered, how you overcame these difficulties)
• You could also include a reflective model in this section such as Kolb or Gibbs.
• How the project has influenced your choice of dissertation subject for level 6

10.  References and Bibliography:  these should be complete and presented in conventional form.  A sound referencing system is necessary; the Harvard system is recommended.  Note that a bibliography is different to a list of references, and the two should be kept separate.  The former is optional and is merely a list of texts and sources which the author found useful and wishes to pass on to readers who may seek to broaden their understanding of the topic area.  A list of references, however, is indexed to precise markers within the report’s text where the author is acknowledging the source of an idea or an argument, or some data, or a quotation, etc.  The reference is cited in order to authenticate the source and to enable to reader to look it up.  It must, therefore, contain full and exact information to enable someone else to access the original.

11.  Appendices:  these are useful for the incorporation of essential information which might be too lengthy and detailed to include in the main body of the report, or which would disrupt the flow of text if included there.  You should not include material of merely of casual interest.

       Appendices should be separately titled and referred to on the contents page.  They should also be fully page numbered.  Normally, the content of appendices does not count towards the recommended word length of a report.

Presentation, Layout and make-up of Work Based Project Report 

The report should normally be a submitted electronically through the Turnitin software

The text should be typed in Arial size 11 font and should be at least 1.5 line spacing. 

Graphic displays (charts, diagrams, tables, etc.) should be numbered and entitled.  Any references to them in the text should bear their page numbers as well as their individual title number.  The purpose of graphics should be to lend clarity, not to decorate; they should therefore not be too numerous or intrusive to the flow of text, nor too elaborate.

A decimal numbering system for sections and sub-sections is helpful.  Accompanying indents also lend clarity.  Differentiated headings and sub-headings are a good idea, with ample space between sections.

It is worth giving considerable thought to a section and page numbering system since the readability of reports is often an important factor in assessing their worth.  Readers need to know exactly where they are in a document and how to find a particular entry or section at random.  The use of informative headings wherever necessary is good practice.

(Note that reports may include material (e.g. film) which is not text based.  In such cases you should seek additional guidance concerning the presentation requirements.)