Dissertation ProjectModule Details

Rationale

This course is designed to help the students undertake a research project related to Entrepreneurship and Innovation. It provides a clear guide on how to undertake research as well as highlighting the realities of undertaking research, including the more common pitfalls. The course is developed to provide the students with a guide to the research process and with the necessary knowledge and skills to undertake a piece of research from first thoughts about a research topic to writing a dissertation project. The main objective of this course is to introduce students to the intellectual and scholarly requirements of producing an extended piece of written postgraduate research. The course involves a significant piece of student-directed learning based on a detailed investigation into a key area related to the award. It should take the form of a desk-based study. 
The Dissertation requires students to demonstrate:
o    Originality.
o    A definition of the issue under investigation and a succinct statement of the aims of the study.
o    A critical reflection on the theoretical frame established for the study.
o    Use of appropriate research methodology: Students are required to conduct desktop-research only (secondary research).
o    The extent to which all of the above result in a set of conclusions which are consistent with the research.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course students will be expected to:
(i)    Define and explain the principles involved in planning and executing a research project;
(ii)   Conceptualize a research problem and assess it in the context of current knowledge on the subject;
(iii)  Operationalize concepts to formulate and to test hypotheses;
(iv)  Select appropriate measurement instruments for data collection and hypotheses testing;
(v)   Describe the principles for collection and analysis of data and other information; and;
(vi)  Design, develop and write reports and review the results of secondary research carried out as part of this course.