To explore the main research paradigms within the field of management research.

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Assessment Task

The portfolio is comprised of two tasks (5000-word budget in total). Part 1 is worth 70% of the available marks and Part 2 is worth 30%.

1. Part 1 is an essay style task where you are required to write a critical essay in response to the following question:

Critically discuss the main considerations when designing a research project in business and management

In your essay, you should consider, amongst other things, the following:
• The main research paradigms in the field of management and research
• The difference between quantitative and qualitative research and the circumstances in which each are appropriate
• Different techniques of data-gathering operationalised in qualitative and quantitative business research
• Different techniques of data analysis used in qualitative and quantitative business research
• Issues of validity and reliability
• Sampling strategies and techniques.
(LOs tested 1, 2, 4 and 5).

To explore the main research paradigms within the field of management research.

2. Part 2 requires you to obtain a readily available data set (ask your tutor(s) for assistance if you need to) and perform a rudimentary descriptive analysis (using Excel or other appropriate software) of the data. You need to produce the following information and discuss the meaning in relation to the data set (LOs tested 3 and 5):
a. Mean
b. Mode
c. Median
d. Standard Deviation
e. Sample Variance
f. Kurtosis and Skewness
g. Range
h. Correlation Coefficient (you will need to compare two variables in the data set for this).

In order to achieve all of the above we recommend you copy across the data output (including charts where necessary), from which ever software you use to analyse the data, into a Word document in the first instance. From there you will be able discuss the relative meanings of each output from a) to h) as above.

Note: As per good data handling procedures, always keep three copies of your assignment in progress. One copy on a USB type medium; one in a cloud-based storage system and one on your PC. To explore the main research paradigms within the field of management research.

Learning Outcomes Tested
1. To explore the main research paradigms within the field of management research.
2. To critically understand the methods of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
3. To demonstrate advanced skills in data handling, using appropriate statistical software.
4. To demonstrate high-level skills in qualitative research methods.
5. To demonstrate deep competence in quantitative research methods.

To explore the main research paradigms within the field of management research.