Postgraduate Course: Introduction to Research in Business (CMSE11494)
Course Outline
| School | Business School |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | During the PhD, a student has three objectives. First, develop themselves as a scholar and as a person; second, create a portfolio of research papers, some of which should be published prior to graduation; third, plan, carry out, and write up a major research project that will constitute the doctoral thesis. On graduation students will be expected to have produced a thesis that advances our theoretical understanding of a business-related topic. This means that they should be at the cutting edge of knowledge in that area, something that will be formally assessed. In so doing, they will develop the tools that will prepare them for a successful academic career.
This course is designed to point new doctoral researchers in the right direction with regards to the objectives outlined above. It is intended that PhD students will take this course during their first year. |
| Course description |
This programme of topics is intended to iteratively build towards the provision of a holistic understanding of some of the key things that are required to be successful in the doctoral programme. It should also provide a solid foundation of good practices to stand students in good stead throughout their careers.
Topics covered will include:
- What to Expect and what to strive towards
- How to build a successful student-supervisor relationship
- Contribution, Contribution, Contribution
- UK data and other research mistakes
- Sexy titles and other writing mistakes
- Pathways to impact
- Academic conferences
- What makes a piece of research interesting
- PhD Reflections
- Reviewing for academic journals
The course has a programme of two-hour weekly seminars for 11 weeks. There is a required text which is provided to all students and a poster presentation session which is assessed and attendance is compulsory.
This course will be primarily organised around interactive discussions that will often involve guest speakers. In this way, students will get opportunities to interact with some of the leading research faculty in the Business School, all of who have extensive experience of working with doctoral students. Students will also hear from a recently completed doctoral student discussing various aspects about how they carried out their PhD, what they did when things went wrong, how they went about presenting at conferences, publishing their first paper, and so on.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
50 %,
Practical Exam
50 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
50% coursework (individual essay)
50% practical (individual poster presentation)
The course will be assessed through the completion of an individual presentation of a poster (50%) and a reflective paper (50%). These assessments are intended to help students consider the evolving nature of their research, and their personal development.
Individual poster presentation: Working individually, students will prepare and present a poster presentation on a research project. A good poster will identify a useful research contribution. It will briefly outline the theoretical conversation to which they think their work will add and articulate the methods that they might use to collect your data.
Reflective essay: This paper will constitute a reflective essay where the student will interview an academic about a recently published paper. Drawing on themes discussed during the course, the student will interview the academic to understand their writing practices, the main contribution(s) of the paper, and the ease or difficulties surrounding the review process. The paper will be 5000 words (+/- 10%) and should be divided into subheadings with titles drawn from the classes in weeks 2 to 9. Students do not need to include something for every week, but should reflect on at least 5. |
| Feedback |
Formative feedback: while there is no formal credit given for participation, as PhD students, students will be expected to contribute to class discussions at various points.
Summative feedback: there are specific feedback/marking forms for both elements of assessment.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Critically evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses with respect to their research abilities.
- Prepare a plan for further development to address their weaknesses and enhance strengths as researchers.
- Understand and critically evaluate the requirements for making a strong academic contribution.
- Prepare a poster presentation of the research proposal to a standard suitable for an academic conference.
- Apply knowledge, skills and understanding in planning and executing their PhD research and the writing of their thesis.
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Reading List
Core text provided to all students on course: Huff, A.S. (2009). Designing Research for Publication. London: Sage.
Additional reading/materials can be found at: www.vitae.ac.uk |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
- Develop original and creative responses to problems and issues.
- Critically review, consolidate and extend knowledge, skills, practices and thinking in management and its sub-disciplines.
- Communicate with peers, more senior colleagues and specialists.
- Use a wide range of ICT applications to support and enhance work at this level and adjust features to suit purpose.
- Take responsibility for own work.
- Practise in ways which draw on critical reflection on own and others' roles and responsibilities. |
| Keywords | Business,Management,Strategy,Entrepreneurship,Innovation,HRM,Marketing,Accounting,Finance |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Chris Carter
Tel: (0131 6)51 5540
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Ciaran Masson
Tel: (0131 6)50 9945
Email: |
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