Module Directory

This module introduces students to the process and methodology of research in the field of Management and Marketing.

Students are acquainted with the nature of the philosophical assumptions that underpin the choice of research design and strategy to problematize and address a specific research issue. In particular, how to formulate a suitable research question(s) and objective(s) and review the academic literature on the topic.

The aims of this module are:

• To provide students with the necessary guidance to undertake advanced level independent research in Management and Marketing.


• To focus on the nature of research in the discipline and the social sciences in general,


• To examine the knowledge and skills necessary to manage and undertake an independent research project.


• To provide students with opportunities to familiarize themselves with important theoretical and empirical concepts related to the research process.


• To combine critical understanding with the practical application of how to conduct a complex investigation of a real-world organizational or business issue within a specific context.

;By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Appreciate the ways in which management and marketing research is located in the broader corpus of the social sciences that provides the context for the research topic/ issue identified from the literature.


2. Understand the significance of, and the relationship between ontological/ epistemological positions, research approach and methodological considerations.


3. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the principles and techniques of research strategy, design and methods applied to address the research question(s).


4. Identify a range of quantitative/qualitative data collection and proposed analytical techniques and reflect on how it determines the quality of research.


5. Evaluate the ethical, legal and practical concerns in undertaking research in the real world.

Skills for Your Professional Life (Transferable Skills)

This module will also enable students to develop a range of transferable skills:

1. Develop written communication skills through writing and receiving feedback on module assignments.


2. Enhance communication skills through interactive discussions on relevant topics related to the assessments.


3. Practice analytical skills through the application of proposed data analysis techniques for a specific research context.


4. Hone critical and analytical thinking by reviewing the relevant literature and evaluating different approaches and strategies for management and marketing research specific to your research proposal.


5. Develop IT literacy through electronically accessing module materials, completing and submitting assignments and learning to use certain specialist software.;

This module explores applying a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods, including proposed data collection and analysis techniques and illustrates the suitability of these methods for designing potential research projects. The ethical, practical and legal questions raised by research are explored.

Some practical aspects of the research process include the skills required to search and evaluate published research, critical writing skills, planning and organizing a research project within the body of relevant knowledge in order to make theoretical and practical recommendations.

This module will be delivered via:

• One 2-hour lecture per week.
• One 2-hour seminar per fortnight.

Lectures will give an overview of key themes and are designed to facilitate your own independent thinking.

Seminars will provide additional guidance on the development of the research proposal, during which you will receive feedback on your ideas. Information on each seminar will be posted online on Moodle before the scheduled seminar and will include details on what you should prepare.

Each of the lecturers has academic support hours every week, which you can find on the Essex Business School PGT Moodle page. During these academic support hours, you will be welcome to come and discuss various aspects of the module or your assessment.

Whilst we endeavour to provide you with any advice we can, it should be clear that we are not there to tell you what the 'answers' are regarding the assessments. For this reason, it is extremely important that you start thinking about your assignments in good time. The more work you have done before you come and see us, the more fruitful the discussion will be.