BTEC HND in BUSINESS
Unit 8: Research Project
Assignment front sheet
Qualification: Pearson BTEC HND in Business
Unit 8: Research Project
Assignment Title: Research in Business
|
Learning Outcome
|
Learning outcome
|
Assessment Criteria
|
In this assessment you will have the opportunity to present evidence
that shows you are able to:
|
Task no.
|
|
LO 1
|
Understand how to formulate a research specification
|
1.1
|
Formulate and record possible research project outline specifications
|
1
|
|
1.2
|
Identify the factors that contribute to the process of research project
selection
|
1
|
|
1.3
|
Undertake a critical review of key references
|
2
|
|
1.4
|
Produce a research project specification
|
1
|
|
1.5
|
Provide an appropriate plan and procedures for the agreed research
specification
|
1
|
|
LO 2
|
Be able to implement the research project within agreed procedures and to specification
|
2.1
|
Match resources efficiently to the
research question or hypothesis
|
2
|
|
2.2
|
Undertake the proposed research investigation in accordance
with the agreed specification and procedures
|
2
|
|
2.3
|
Record and collate relevant data where
appropriate
|
2
|
|
LO 3
|
Be able to evaluate the research outcomes
|
3.1
|
Use appropriate
techniques
|
research
|
evaluation
|
2
|
|
3.2
|
Interpret and analyse the results in terms of the original
research specification
|
2
|
|
3.3
|
Make recommendations and justify areas for further consideration
|
2
|
|
LO 4
|
Be able to present
the research outcomes
|
4.1
|
Use an agreed format and appropriate media to present the outcomes
of the research to an audience.
|
2
|
|
In addition to the above PASS criteria, this assignment gives
you the opportunity to submit evidence in order to achieve the following MERIT
and DISTINCTION grades
|
|
Grade Descriptor
|
Indicative characteristic/s
|
Contextualisation
|
|
M1
Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions
|
Effective judgements have been made.
|
You must use an effective strategy and judgment to produce
the posters.
|
|
M2
Select / design and apply appropriate methods / techniques
|
A range of sources of information has been used
|
At least 12 references must be used.
|
|
M3
Present and communicate appropriate findings
|
Coherent, logical development of principles/concepts for the
intended audience
|
You must use technical language and a logical approach in the
report and posters.
|
|
D1
Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid
conclusions
|
Conclusions have been arrived at through synthesis of ideas and
have been justified
|
You must use synthesis to generate ideas to evaluate the research
conducted.
|
|
D2
Take responsibility for managing and organising activities
|
Autonomy/independence has been demonstrated
|
You must demonstrate independence in planning and managing
the completion work.
|
|
D3
Demonstrate convergent/lateral/creative thinking
|
Effective thinking has taken place in unfamiliar contexts.
|
You must demonstrate a level of independence in proposing new
solutions for the chosen business that may help to increase the sales.
|
AIM
To develop learners’ skills of
independent enquiry and critical analysis by undertaking a sustained research investigation
of direct relevance to their Higher Education programme and professional development.
SCENARIO
Your Research Project tutor has
asked you to conduct a research on one of the companies listed below. The research
must be conducted using primary and secondary data in marketing or human resource
area. The research must lead to valuable recommendations to improve Sales in your
chosen company.
Choose any one company for your
research.
1. Boots
2. Subway
3. Primark
4. Next
5. Lidl
6. Marks
and Spencer
7. MacDonald’s
8. Argos
(Home Retail Group)
9. Marriot
Hotels
Task 1 – Creative Posters
Produce creative posters relevant
to your research that indicate the following
a) Research
title
b) Background
of the research
c) Factors
that contribute to the process of research project selection
d) Rationale
of the research
e) Research
aim, question and objectives
f) Research
method: Data collection method and instrument, sampling frame and size
g) Data
analysis method
h) Gantt
chart for the chosen research project (AC 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5 and M1)
Task 2 –Report
In relation to your research project
specification
a) Conduct
a critical literature review relevant to your research. (AC 1.3)
b) Select
an appropriate research methodology to match resources to the research question.
(AC 2.1)
c) Collect
primary and secondary data in relation to the research question. (AC 2.2)
d) Analyse
data and present your findings in relation to the research question. (AC 2.3, 3.2)
e) Undertake
a critical evaluation of the research techniques that you have used. (3.1)
f) In
relation to your significant findings, put forward possible recommendations to the
management or for further research in the area of research that you have done. (3.3)
g) Produce
a report to present the outcomes of the research. (4.1)
Hint: The Report must be structured
according to the following sections
1. Introduction
– In this section details regarding project research topic, aims, research objectives,
rationale, scope and limitations must be presented.
2. Literature
review – In this section relevant theories and other literature related to the topic
must be reviewed and presented.
3. Research
methodology – In this section the research method for collecting and analysing data
must be presented. The strengths and limitations of the research method must be
discussed.
4. Data
analysis and findings – In this section, data analysed using various techniques
such as graphs and charts must be presented. The research results must be interpreted.
5. Conclusion
and recommendations – In this section:
·
Findings of the research must be discussed to reach
a conclusion
·
The conclusions must be linked to the research objectives
·
Recommendations presented should provide a guideline
which may help managers to improve their business.
6. Reference
list - Use the Harvard Style.
·
Also, use in text referencing in you work (Harvard
Style)
7. Appendix
– In this section the questionnaire used for the survey or interview must be presented.
(AC 1.3, 2.1,
2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, M2, M3, D1, D2 and D3)
100% Plagiarism Free & Custom Written,
Tailored to your instructions