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Singapore Institute of Management
Introduction to Research Skills, 2017
Assignment
The Research Skills assignment is an opportunity to start thinking about your ideas
for the final year dissertation. The objective of the assessment is for you to develop a
research proposal that can be used as a guide to help you structure and manage
your final year research activities. Please note that this assignment does NOT
require you to define a final topic for your final year dissertation. It serves as an
exercise, and you can change your final year dissertation topic afterwards.
The word limit for the assignment is 2500 words (10% leeway) not including charts,
diagrams and list of references or appendices.
This is an individual assignment and it will count towards 100% of the module
assessment.
The due date for the assignment is 04/09/2017 by 12 noon (UK time).
Details of the Assignment – Research Proposal
You are expected to develop a research proposal. A research proposal provides the
background, the issues (research problems and questions), the theoretical base, the
methodology and the timeline of the research. In this assignment you are required to
focus on the general concept of ‘customer satisfaction’ in the Singapore context.
(Please note that in your final year dissertation you may choose a different topic and
context; this topic and context have been chosen purely for the purpose of this
assessment).
For this assessment your discussion must include:
An introduction that sets the scene and informs the reader of the specific topic
within customer satisfaction to be addressed in your discussion.
Some background information of the context, for example information about a
specific field (e.g. hotel, restaurant, transport, theme park etc.) in Singapore,
including statistics. Use databases like the Marketline/Mintel to access such
reports on the industry.
A brief literature review should be presented; this should highlight the main
theories and concepts associated with this topic. The literature should be clearly
linked to the critical issues under discussion. Highlight the main debates and
gaps around the issue of customer satisfaction, clearly indicating how your study
would address these gaps. Your discussion must clearly identify a specific issue
that your study will be addressing concerning customer satisfaction and justify
why this issue is pertinent and worth researching further. Credit will be given for
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originality of the research idea and clearly defined scope and research
boundaries
You are required to read peer reviewed academic journals and other similar
resources to identify the theoretical debates and gaps around customer
satisfaction. Some useful journal articles have been listed in the module outline;
do ensure that you read these as well as other relevant ones.
Once you have clearly identified the gaps in the literature you must clearly state
the research objectives and the research questions that will be addressed by
your study (3-5 of them). These must be clearly derived from the gaps noted in
the literature.
You must also provide suggested potential theoretical contributions that could
emerge from your study, based on the gaps that you are addressing. Ensure that
the significance and rationale for the research is clearly explained and there is
evidence of originality in developing a potential research topic. Also indicate the
significance of your study to other stakeholders; for example why is your study
important for managers or policy makers?
You also need to suggest the research method (s) that would be used for the
study, and clearly justify why you choose them, and then conclude the
assignment.
You are required to devise a timeline showing the research activities with a
reasonable period of time. This timeline can be in various forms, e.g. a table or a
Gantt chart.
The Harvard referencing style must be used throughout the paper, and a list of all
the references used provided at the end of the paper. Poor referencing will be
penalized.
You may include an appendices section to provide any supporting information
you find pertinent, such as data/charts/statistics. However appendices must not
exceed 3 pages at the most.
Suggested Format and Weighting
Title (Clear and concise)
An introduction detailing the specific topic to be addressed (10%)
Contextual background (15%)
Literature debates and gaps related to a specific theoretical framework (20%)
Outline of research question(s), aims and objectives (10%)
Potential contribution of the research to literature and management practice
(15%)
Potential methods and conclusion (20%)
Timeline of the research (10%)
References
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Specific Assessment Guidelines
1. Assignments should be submitted in Times New Roman size 12 font, with double
line spacing.
2. All readings should be clearly referenced using the ‘Harvard Style’. Poor
referencing will be penalized.
3. Ensure that you refer to the UoB ‘plagiarism’ guidelines and adhere to these
when developing your assignment
https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/studentservices/conduct/plagiarism/index.aspx
4. Any assignments submitted after the deadline will be penalised
5. Papers that exceed the 2,500 (+ or – 10%) word count will also be penalized.
6. Please note that the lecturer will not read any sections or drafts of any student’s
paper beforehand. All papers will be read only when submitted in September 2017.
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University of Birmingham General assessment criteria for undergraduate
coursework and examinations
80+ An outstanding piece of work, showing total mastery of concepts and
theories associated with social science and business research and a highly
developed mature ability to analyse, synthesise and apply knowledge and
concepts. The work is well structured, with objectives clearly expressed. All
objectives of the work set are covered, the work is free of errors with a very
high level of technical competence, and ideas are expressed with fluency.
There is evidence of critical reflection; the work demonstrates originality of
thought and the ability to tackle questions and issues not previously
encountered.
70-79 An excellent piece of work showing a high degree of mastery of the
concepts and theories associated with and social science and business
research and a well developed ability to analyse, synthesise and apply
knowledge and concepts. The work is well structured, with objectives
clearly expressed. All major objectives of the work set are covered and the
work is free of all but very minor errors with a high level of technical
competence. There is evidence of critical reflection and of some ability to
tackle questions and issues not previously encountered. Ideas are
expressed clearly; only the originality required for an 80+ mark is absent.
60-69 A good piece of work showing a sound and thorough grasp of the concepts
and theories associated with social science and business research, though
lacking the breadth and depth for a first-class mark. A good attempt at
analysis, synthesis and application of knowledge and concepts but more
limited in scope than that required for a mark of 70+. The work is well
structured, with objectives clearly expressed. Most objectives of the work
set are covered; the work is generally technically competent but there may
be a few gaps leading to some errors. Some evidence of critical reflection
and a reasonable ability to tackle questions and issues not previously
encountered. Ideas are generally expressed with clarity, with some minor
exceptions.
50-59 A fair piece of work showing grasp of the major element of the concepts
and theories associated with social science and business research but with
some gaps or areas of confusion. Only the basic requirements of the work
set are covered; the attempt at analysis, synthesis and application of
knowledge and concepts is superficial with a heavy reliance on course
materials. Work contains some errors and technical competence is at a
routine level. Ability to tackle questions and issues not previously
encountered is limited, there is little critical reflection, and some confusion
and immaturity in expression of ideas.
40-49 A poor piece of work showing some familiarity with the concepts and
theories associated with social science and business research but with
major gaps or misconceptions. Only some of the basic requirements of the
work set are achieved, there is little or no attempt at analysis, synthesis or
application of knowledge and a low level of technical competence with
many errors. Difficulty in beginning to address questions and issues not
previously encountered, an inability to reflect critically on an argument or
viewpoint. There is almost a total reliance on course material with little
evidence of additional reading. Ideas are poorly expressed and structured;
the students would apparently find it difficult to study the topic at a higher
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level.
30-39 Work not of passable standard with serious gaps in knowledge of the
subject-matter and many areas of confusion. Few or none of the basic
requirements of the work set are covered and there is an inability to apply
knowledge; technical competence is poor with many serious errors.
Students rely on a ‘common sense’ analysis with little consideration of
concepts relevant to the work. Little or no additional reading is evident and
there is a heavy reliance on course materials. The students find it
impossible to begin to address questions and issues not previously
encountered. The level of expression and structure is inadequate, and the
group would apparently not be capable of studying the topic at a higher
level.
Below
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A very poor piece of work showing that the student has failed to engage
seriously with any of the subject-matter involved, and/or demonstrates total
confusion over the requirements of the work set. The students would be
required to undertake a large amount of additional work to reach a level that
would be considered passable.
