BUSS4001: Semester 1, 2023

University home

Library

Current students

Staff intranet

Find an event

Give

Current students

Units BUSS4001 Semester 1 2023 [Block mode]

Unit of study_

BUSS4001: Business Honours Research Methods

Semester 1, 2023 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This unit is an introduction to research methods used in business disciplines. The unit provides students with an understanding of the range of methods that may be used to answer research questions, their strengths and weakness and underlying philosophical assumptions. Key elements of the research process are addressed, including the purpose of the research; devising the research questions and hypotheses; selecting a research strategy; methods and procedures for data collection and analysis; and interpreting and reporting the results. Students learn important research terminology, how to write a research proposal and ethical considerations in conducting research. The first component of this unit is delivered to the whole Business School Honours cohort and covers obligations as a researcher. The second component of the unit splits into Disciplinary areas and covers issues related to research design.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	BUSS4001
Academic unit	Business School
Credit points	12
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	Students must meet the entry requirements to the Honours program, including completion of a pass undergraduate degree and a major in the specialisation area
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Andreea Constantin, andreea.constantin@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Bo Nielsen, bo.nielsen@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Research proposal Proposal	40%	Formal exam period Due date: 01 Jun 2023 at 23:59 Closing date: 08 Jun 2023	3000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Discipline and cluster based assessments For Cluster students: “Research methods” essay. More details in class.	50%	Week 07 Due date: 06 Apr 2023 at 23:59 Closing date: 13 Apr 2023	3,000 words (including reference list)
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Research proposal presentation Oral presentation of the research proposal	10%	Week 13 Due date: 24 May 2023 at 10:00 Closing date: 24 May 2023	10 minutes
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Discipline and cluster based assessments (50%): This aspect of the unit will be assessed in the research methods stream you have been enrolled in by your discipline honours coordinator.
Research proposal (40%) and presentation (10%): The aim of this assessment is to develop your knowledge and skills in writing, presenting and defending a formal proposal that describes your proposed research project.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Approaches to Research Design and Research Paradigms (I): Approaches to business research; Epistemology and research philosophy; Research paradigms.	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 01	Approaches to Research Design and Research Paradigms: Literature Review & Library Workshop	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 02	Research Ethics & Ethics Workshop	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 02	Identifying and Managing Theory	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 03	Identifying and responding to research problems	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 03	Research Contribution, Research Proposal, and Presentations	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 04	Research Methods (cluster): Qualitative Research Part 1	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 04	Research Methods (cluster): Qualitative Research Part 2	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 05	Research Methods (cluster): Quantitative Research Part 1	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 05	Research Methods (cluster): Quantitative Research Part 2	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 13	Student symposium – Thesis Research Proposal Presentation (scheduled for 24 May)	Workshop (6 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: All lectures and seminars are recorded and will be available on Canvas for student use. However please note that these classes are interactive therefore your attendance is required. Please note the Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 12 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 240-300 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Emails will be send before each class with the readings/video materials to be prepared for the in-class activities.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. apply effectively an understanding of research approaches, theoretical perspectives and methodologies to the design, implementation and evaluation of a research project
LO2. develop a research proposal for a relevant area of research and questions within a disciplinary field of research and practice
LO3. use a range of communication strategies to critique and debate responses to complex and unfamiliar problems and appropriately respond to feedback from a range of different stakeholders
LO4. demonstrate ethical and social awareness in conducting research including potential impacts on business, society and research participants as well as honesty and integrity in performing and reporting on the research.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The assessment load was very heavy so one assignment has been removed.

Additional information

Component aspects of BUSS4001 and workshops: Please note that there are two aspects of this unit - Approaches to Business Research and Research Methods. All students, regardless of the Discipline where their thesis is being supervised, need to attend the Approaches to Business Research classes which take place in the first 4 weeks of the semester. Your research methodology classes will begin in week 5 and you will be required to attend one of the four research methods streams. Also, your research methodology assessment tasks will be assessed within those streams and as such, they will differ according to the student's Disciplinary home.
Research method streams: There are four research methods streams. These are: 1. Finance; 2. Business Analytics; 3. Accounting; 4. Cluster (Business Information Systems, Business Law, International Business, Marketing, Work and Organisational Studies)

Business School Policies

Work, health and safety

Please be respectful of your classmates and do not attend when sick. Additional support will be available to you if you missed a session due to sickness.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect