LO2: Conduct and analyse research relevant to a chosen business research project.

• P3 Conduct primary and secondary research using appropriate methods for a business research project that consider costs, access and ethical issues.

• P4 Apply appropriate analytical tools to analyse research findings and data.

2.1: Research as a process:

• Research has distinct phases which support a coherent and logical argument. This includes using literature review - secondary research to inform a primary, empirical, study.
• Individual appointments to discuss draft literature review
• Conducting research

2.2: Selecting a sample:

• The importance of gathering data and information (qualitative or quantitative) to support research analysis.
• Selecting sample types and sizes that are relevant to the research.
• Considering sampling approaches and techniques including probability and non-probability sampling.

2.3: Ethics, reliability and validity:

• Research should be conducted ethically. How is this achieved and reported?
• Research should also be reliable (similar results would be achieved from a similar sample) and valid (the research measures what it aimed to measure).

2.4: Analysing data:

• Using data collection tools such as interviews and questionnaires.
• Using analytical techniques such as trend analysis, coding or typologies.

2.5: Primary research / field work - independent research:

• Experiment, Survey, Case study, Action research,
• Grounded theory, Ethnography and Archival research

LO3: Communicate the outcomes of a research project to identied stakeholder

P5: Communicate research outcomes in an appropriate manner for the intended audience.

3.1: Stakeholders:

• Who are they? 
• Why would they be interested in the research outcomes?
• What communication method do they expect?

3.2: Communicating research outcomes:

• Consideration of different methods of communicating outcomes (e.g. written word, spoken word) and the medium (e.g. report, online, presentation).
• The method and medium will be influenced by the research and its intended audience.

3.3: Convincing arguments:

• No matter what the method/medium, all research should be convincing and presented logically where the assumption is that the audience has little or no knowledge of the research process.
• The importance of developing evaluative conclusions

LO 4: Reflect on the application of research methodologies

P6: Reflect on the effectiveness of research methods applied for meeting objectives of the business research project.

P7: Consider alternative research methodologies and lessons learnt in view of the outcomes.

4.1: Reflection for learning and practice:

• Difference between reflecting on performance and evaluating a research project.
• The former considers the research process; the latter considers the quality of the research argument and use of evidence.
• Reflection on the merits, limitations and potential pitfalls of the chosen methods.

4.2: The cycle of reflection:

• To include reflection in action and reflection on action.
• Considering how to use reflection to inform future behaviour and future considerations.

4.3: Reflective writing:

• Avoiding generalisation and focusing on personal development and the research journey in a critical and objective way.