12.2.3.10
BRM324
Business Research Methods
FACULTY OF COMMERCE
BACHELOR OF APPLIED ACCOUNTING, AUDITING AND INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
1. PRESENTED TO
: Senate
2. PRESENTED BY
: Faculty of Commerce
3. YEAR/LEVEL OF STUDY : 3
4. MODULE TITLE
: Business Research Methods
5. MODULE CODE
: BRM 324
6. DURATION
: 16 Weeks
7. LECTURE HOURS PER WEEK: 2
8. TUTORIAL HOURS PER WEEK: 1
9. STUDENT INDEPENDENT LEARNING HOURS PER WEEK: 4
10. TOTAL MODULE CREDITS: 12
11. PREREQUISITE MODULES: None
12. COREQUISITE MODULES: None
13. DELIVERY METHODS:
13.1 Mode of Delivery
: Face to Face
13.2 Teaching Methods
: Lectures, demonstration and tutorials
13.3 Assessment Methods
: Continuous assessment
: Mid and Final examinations
13.4 Assessment Weighting : Continuous assessment 10%
: Mid Semester examination 30%
: Final examination 60%
14. AIM(S) OF THE MODULE:
The aim of this module is to equip learners with knowledge required in undertaking
business research.
15. LEARNING OUTCOMES:
On completion of this course students should be able to:
a) Analyse the research process
b) Identify a research problem
c) Compare the different research methodologies
d) Evaluate the literature relevant to the research area
e) Determine the techniques for negotiating access and sampling
f) Distinguish the various data collection methods
g) Contrast the data analysis techniques
h) Write a comprehensive research report using an acceptable format
16. TOPICS OF STUDY:
16.1: The Nature of Business and Management Research
a) The nature of research
b) The nature of business and management research
c) The research process
16.2: Formulating and Clarifying the Research Topic
a)
b)
c)
d)
Attributes of a good research topic
Generating and refining research ideas
Turning research ideas into research projects
Writing the research proposal
16.3: Critically Reviewing the Literature
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
The critical review
Literature sources available
Planning the literature search strategy
Conducting the literature search
Obtaining and evaluating the literature
Recording the literature
16.4: Formulating the Research Design
a) Research approaches
b) The purpose of research
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
The need for a clear research strategy
Multiple methods choices
Time horizons
The credibility of research findings
The ethics of research design
16.5: Negotiating Access Research Ethics
a) Problems associated with access
b) Strategies to gain access
c) Research ethics
16.6: Selecting Samples
a) Probability sampling
b) Non-probability sampling
16.7: Using Secondary Data
a)
b)
c)
d)
Types of secondary data and uses in research
Locating secondary data
Advantages and disadvantages of secondary data
Evaluating secondary data sources
16.8: Collecting Primary Data
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Observation
Questionnaires
Interviews
Focus groups
Experiment
16.9: Data Analysis
a) Qualitative data
b) Quantitative data
17: PRESCRIBED TEXTS:
Saunders, M., Lewis, P and Thornhill, A., (2015), Research Methods for Business Students, 7th
Edition, Trans-Atlantic Publications Inc., ISBN-13: 978-1292016627
Allibang, S., (2016), Research Methods: Simple, Short and Straightforward Way of Learning
Methods of Research, Independently published, ISBN-13: 978-1519018205
Sekaran, U. & Bougie, R.J., (2016), Research Methods for Business: A Skill Building Approach, 7th
Edition, Wiley, ISBN: 978-1-119-16555-2
18: RECOMMENDED TEXTS/READINGS:
Cooper, D.R. & Schindler, P.S., (2013), Business Research Methods, 12th Edition, McGrawHill Education, ISBN-13: 978-0073521503
Bryman, A., Bell, E. & Hirschsohn, P., (2016) Research Methodology: Business and
Management Contexts, 5th Edition, Oxford University Press, ISBN-13: 978-0199076130
This course module outline approved by Senate on ………………………………………