MSc International Management 2010/11
MN5252
Independent Research Paper
Refer to the MSc International Management IRP Handbook for details
1
Purpose of the Independent Research Paper
• Academic assessment
– Intellectual exercise
– 14.29% weighting
• Possible factor in degree classification
– Distinction / Merit / Pass / Fail
• Possible links to career development (e.g., internships,
placements, interviews, and networking)
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Milestones for IRP
• 14 Feb: Proposal submission deadline
• By early March: Supervisor allocated
• By end of Term 2: Feedback on IRP proposal from supervisor
• Following exams: Arrange meeting with supervisor
• July/August: Core research period; organize these eight weeks into stages
• 1 September: Due date (IRP must be received)
3
IRP Assessment Criteria
• Academic ability test at the MSc level
– to synthesise information from a range of relevant material
– to analyse critically sources, assessing their significance to the
area of your research
– to evaluate the source evidence together with the arguments
of different authorities and use them
– to communicate in written form ideas, whether they are your
own or those of other people, coherently and concisely
– to plan and complete a major piece of academic work
– to present this work in a suitable format and by a set date
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What Makes a Good IRP?
• Achievable
– Is the research plan realistic?
– Issue of access to relevant data
• Completed on time
• Focused
– Less is more (cannot include everything)
• Evidence-based
– Via research methodologies (collect/analyse data)
• Located in the literature
– Current state of knowledge and any debates/controversies
• Presented in an appropriate style
– IRP as an engaging story
– Is there a controlling idea?
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Some Common Challenges
• Difficulty in getting started
• July/August slump in motivation
• Over-ambitious in scope
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Refining the IRP Proposal
(based on what I read)
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Feedback from your supervisor is very instructive – s/he is an instructive
resource
Many IRP proposals require greater focus. Is the topic researchable by you
in the limited time available?
Clarifying research method(s) you plan to employ to research your topic
(interviews, questionnaires, literature synthesis, etc) is necessary. How
realistic will you be able to apply that/those methods? If you plan to
conduct interviews, are confident that you will get access to the
interviewees?
Start a literature review, which will also help you to refine the IRP proposal.
Every IRP will have to include a review of relevant literature so it is not
time wasted. At the proposal stage many students did not demonstrate an
ability to search for relevant literature. Whatever your IRP topic you will
not have been the first person to consider researching it – so relevant
literature will be available
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IRP Deadline Date
• Submission deadline is 1 September 2011
– Both paper (delivery in-person or by post/courier) and online
(JISC–TurnitinUk)
• College restrictions on granting ‘extensions’ or
‘deferrals’
– Other commitments including internships are not valid
reasons
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Relationship with IRP Supervisor
• Primary role of the supervisor is to guide you through the
research and writing process
• IRP is a piece of independent research so the supervisor is
not a co-author
• Allocated a minimum of two face-to-face meetings
following feedback on the IRP proposals
• Send any documents in advance of face-to-face meetings
• Be enthusiastic and efficient – the supervisor will
reciprocate
• Maintain contact, particularly if difficulties are encountered
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Correct Citation as Academic Form
• APA Style (which includes the so-called ‘Harvard’ in-text citation
system)
– http://apastyle.apa.org/learn/tutorials/basics-tutorial.aspx
• Purdue University has an excellent and free resource, OWL
(online writing lab), with summaries of the key citation styles
– http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/
• Be consistent (i.e., do not mix styles) and correct in use of the
style you have adopted
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Suggested References to Support IRP
• Standard handbooks for research methods in business and
management
– John Creswell, Research Design, 3rd ed. (2009)
– Alan Bryman and Emma Bell, Business Research Methods, 2nd
ed. (2007)
– Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis, and Adrian Thornhill, Research
Methods for Business Students, 5th ed. (2009)
• Case study method
– Robert Yin, Case Study Research, 4th ed. (2008)
– Jan Dul and Tony Hak, Case Study Methodology in Business
Research (2008)
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Length of the IRP
• 8-10,000 words
– This includes in-text references and any footnotes or
endnotes, but excludes the bibliography, any appendices, and
the abstract (executive summary)
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IRP Layout
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Title page
Declaration of authenticity
Abstract (or executive summary)
List of acknowledgements (optional)
Table of contents listing all divisions with page numbers
Numbered list of illustrations
Main text of the IRP, clearly divided into
sections/chapters
• Bibliography
• Appendices (supporting documents, survey
questionnaire, interview questions)
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Main Text Structure (8-10,000 words)
(sample only – discuss your IRP with your supervisor)
Chapters
Description
Word
Count
(approximate)
1 Introduction
•What is the IRP about? Why is it relevant to international management?
•Define/explain key terms in the IRP title
•Establish a narrative – sets a tone for the IRP
•Outline the organizational structure of the IRP
1000
2 Literature Review
•Locating the IRP
•Organize relevant literature into themes/categories used in the IRP (i.e., do not list or
describe what you have read)
•Who are the key writers? What do they have have to say? Are there debates? Is there a
gap in the literature?
2000
3 Research
Methodology
•Outline the approach to research (including any conceptual model)
•Justify choices made
•Indicate methods of data collection and data analysis
1000
4 Presentation of
Findings
•Presentation of findings (based on data analysis)
•Identify key themes (related to the IRP title)
•Indicate majority and minority perspectives
2500
5 Discussion of
Findings
•Discussion of findings (interpretation) should make links to the literature review (Chp
2)
2500
6 Conclusion
•Summation
•What do we learn?
•Recommendations
500
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Barriers Facing Students
• Self-motivation
• Time management
– Stages of the IRP
• Juggling other commitments
– Work / relationships / holidays
• Access (hurdles/obstacles) to data collection
– Alternatives should be considered at the outset
• Changing direction
– Consult with supervisor (as soon as possible)
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Key Weaknesses – IRP Assessment
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Lack of focus
Too descriptive (lack of analysis and interpretation)
Unclear data sources or under-used data
Reading is ‘thin’ or ‘light’
Completion appears ‘rushed’
IRP ≠ consultancy report
Missing, incomplete, or wrong academic components
(such as abstract, references, bibliographic citations)
• Plagiarism leads to failure, possible termination of
degree
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Best Practice
• IRP habits
– Regular writing and rewriting (cut, remove, sculpt)
– Focus, focus, focus (Examiners should not be wondering: why am I
reading this? What does it have to do with the topic?)
• Systematic literature review
– Helps to generate and refine research question (focus)
– Avoid boundary-less reading
– Widen reach beyond most accessible texts (i.e., ones
introduced on various courses)
– Both academic and non-academic literature
– Beyond description; ‘informed opinion’ is important
• Confined period of data collection
– Relevant data set linked to the focus of the IRP
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– Allow sufficient time for data analysis and writing-up