Unit Outline
BAA402
Designing Research
Semester 1, 2024
Megan Woods
Tasmanian School of Business & Economics (TSBE)
College of Business and Economics
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Megan Woods
Email: Megan.Woods@utas.edu.au
 
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
Students in this unit you will explore advanced issues connected with the research process in Accounting and Business Management. You will be equipped with a sound knowledge of a systematic and ethical approach to research. The unit will encourage critical understanding of qualitative and quantitative traditions and approaches in research and examine the research process from design to the reporting of findings. During the unit, you will develop your draft research proposals, consider your data collection methods and prepare to apply for ethics approval for your dissertation research.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1.
Identify and explain the key concepts, processes, and considerations in research design.
2.
Recognise and plan to consider potential ethical issues in research design, and practice.
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)
BMA401, BFA410, BFA710, BAA704
Alterations as a result of student feedback
Addition of specific learning activities linked to development of application for research approval from the University of Tasmania's Human Ethics Research Committee. 
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Workshop
Introductory 1-hr workshop, Week 1
1
Once only
Lecture (Online)
Pre-recorded 1-hr lecture, once a week
1
Weekly
Workshop
1-hr workshop, weekly, commencing in Week 2
2
Weekly
Other
5-hrs independent learning
5
Weekly
Online
Online Class
Introductory 1-hr workshop, Week 1
1
Once only
Independent Learning
Pre-recorded 1-hr lecture, once a week
1
Weekly
Online Class
1-hr workshop, weekly, commencing in Week 2
1
Weekly
Independent Learning
5-hrs independent learning
5
Weekly
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
The Tasmanian School of Business and Economics regularly hosts Masterclasses and Industry Engagement and Employability Events, which students are encouraged to attend. Registration and details will be available via the College of Business and Economics channel on the Uni App and/or via your Unit Coordinator. 
 
 
How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Data Plan
Week 8
50 %
LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:
Research Proposal
Week 13
50 %
LO1, LO2
 
Assessment details
    
Assessment Task 1: Data Plan
Task Description:
The aim of this assessment task is to develop your understanding of the issues and choices which must be considered when determining the data that your study will use, and the methods you will use to collect or create that data. This includes consideration of the ethical issues which may arise when collecting or creating data, analysing and reporting data, and storing and managing data, and research practices that can be used to address those issues. The work you do to prepare this assessment will also contribute directly to you being able to apply for HREC approval to undertake your study. The assessment criteria are provided below. Standard descriptors for these criteria are included in the assessment rubric. This, along with more detailed instructions, will be available in MyLO.

Task Length:
3000 words maximum
Due Date:
Week 8
Weight:
50 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify and explain issues involved in conducting a qualitative or quantitative study.
LO1
2
Justify the choice of research design.
LO1
3
Identify potential ethical issues in the chosen research design.
LO2
4
Explain potential actions that could be devised to address the ethical issues identified.
LO2
 
Assessment Task 2: Research Proposal
Task Description:
The aim of this assessment task is to develop your skills in explaining and justifying your intended research project. This includes identifying who will participate and contribute data to your study, explaining and evaluating the risks and benefits the study poses to your research participants, and the strategies you will use to treat your participants ethically and in ways that maintain research integrity. The work you do to prepare this assessment will also contribute directly to you being able to apply for HREC approval to undertake your study. The assessment criteria are provided below. Standard descriptors for these criteria are included in the assessment rubric. This, along with more detailed instructions, will be available in MyLO.

Task Length:
3000 words maximum. NB: Your word limit includes everything in your assignment except the list of references.
Due Date:
Week 13
Weight:
50 %
 
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Explain the research problem you propose to address.
LO1
2
Evaluate the literature to outline your research opportunity and explain your research question(s).
LO1
3
Identify and justify your research design.
LO2
 
 
 
How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.
 
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
 
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
 
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.
 
 
 
Required Resources
Required reading materials
There is no prescribed text, but there is a list of essential readings that will be available on MyLO. Over and above the essential readings you are also expected to supplement available readings by seeking additional relevant resources to enhance your knowledge and the quality of your assignments.
 
Recommended reading materials
Aaker, D, Kumar, V, Leone, R & Day, G 2016, Marketing research, 12th edn, John Wiley & sons, Hoboken, NJ.
Babbie, E 2017, The basics of social research, 7th edn, Wadsworth, Belmont.
Bryman, A & Bell, E 2015, Business research methods, 4th edn, Oxford University Press, New York.
Carsrud, A & Brannback, M 2014, Handbook of research methods and application in entrepreneurship and small business, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham.
Creswell, JW 2018, Designing and conducting mixed methods research, Sage: Thousand Oaks.
Creswell JW & Poth, CN, 2018, Qualitative inquiry & research design: choosing among five approaches, 4th edn, Sage Publications Inc.: Thousand Oaks.
Denzin, N & Lincoln, Y 2018, The Sage handbook of qualitative research, Sage Publications, London.
Denzin, N & Lincoln, Y 2013, The landscape of qualitative research, 4th edn, Sage Publications, London.
Jennings, G 2010, Tourism research, Wiley & Sons, Milton, Qld.
Hall, CM 2011, Fieldwork in tourism: methods, issues and reflections, Routledge, New York
Malhorta, K 2015, Essentials of marketing research: a hands-on orientation, Pearson Education.
Neuman, WL 2011, Social research methods: qualitative and quantitative approaches, 7th edn, Allyn and Bacon, Boston.
Rapoport, A (ed) 2008, Experiemental Business Research Vol 2, Economic and Managerial Perspectives, SpringerLink ebooks (Electronic Source).
Saunders, M, Lewis, P & Thornhill, A 2016, Research methods for business students, 7th edn, Pearson, Harlow, Essex.
Silverman, D, 2011, Qualitative research, issues of theory, method and practice, 3rd edn, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks.
Smith, M 2003, Research methods in accounting, Sage, London (Electronic Source)
Yin, R 2014, Case study research, 5th edn, Sage, Thousand Oaks.
 
Other required resources
In addition to the texts recommended above, you are also expected to be familiar with the key academic journals in your discipline from which useful insights may be derived.
In particular, you are encouraged to review regularly the relevant papers that are published in:
• Abacus: a journal of accounting finance & business studies.
• Academy of Management Jounal
• Academy of Management Review
• Accounting and Business Research
• Accounting and Finance
• Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal
• Accounting Organisations and Society
• Annals of Tourism Research
• Asia Pacific Journal of Management
• Australian Accounting Review
• Contemporary Accounting Research
• Current Issues in Tourism
• Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice
• European Journal of Marketing
• Human Resource Management
• Human Resource Management Journal
• Human Resource Management Review
• International Journal of Human Resource Management
• Industrial Marketing Management
• International Journal of Consumer Studies
• International Journal of Research in Marketing
• Journal of Sustainable Tourism
• Small Business Economics: An entrepreneurship journal
• Tourism Management