ECOF 7901 (Now BUS 7901)_

Introduction to Research
Design
COMM8000_Introduction to
Research Design

Comparison
Description The unit provides PGR
candidates with an
understanding of the research
design as the foundation for
effective and interesting
research.

It emphasizes a systematic
approach to developing rigour
in research design, building
theoretical and paradigmatic
links from a research idea to the
design of research methods.
Building on Intellectual
Foundations of Social Sciences
course this course aims to
extend the understanding of
different research approaches
and methodologies in the social
sciences and to introduce a
range of research methods
typically applied in the business
and management disciplines.
The course also aims to develop
fundamental research skills and
prepare students for
undertaking an independent
research study.

The course will provide students
with knowledge and skills to
guide them through the
research process including: a
literature review, development
of research question(s) and
theoretical perspective that will
inform the methodology,
selection of research
strategy/design, and the
application of particular
research methods and
techniques of data collection
and analysis.


Aims and
Context
The unit provides Doctoral
students with an understanding
of the research design as the
foundation for effective and
interesting research. It
emphasizes a systematic
approach to developing rigour
in research design, building
theoretical and paradigmatic
links from a research idea to the
design of method.
It specifically presents Research
design as:
1. A set of choices, influenced
by the aims, the research
questions and the
styles/traditions of the
This course is offered as part of
the portfolio of postgraduate
research training courses
offered to all ASB research
students. These courses are
complemented with discipline
specific research training
courses offered by each school.

The course COMM8001 aims:
1. To develop understanding
of the nature of research,
research process and
design, and about creation
of knowledge in different
business disciplines
2. To develop understanding

research;
2. The relationship between
theory and research.
3. Who, what and when to
study: the selection of
respondents/areas/
organisations and times for
study;
4. What is an appropriate
study design?
5. Examining ethics bias and
personal/subject
involvement can/should
research be value free?
6. How to make theoretical
inferences from different
research approaches.
of different research
approaches and traditions,
different research
methodologies, methods
and techniques
3. To introduce the key
features of selected
research methodologies
highly used in business
disciplines
4. To expose students to
decisions in proposing and
implementing research
design, including ethical and
professional issues
5. To develop and apply
fundamental research skills,
such as critiquing research
papers, conducting
literature review, and
designing and presenting a
research project proposal.

Learning
Outcomes
At the end of the course
students will
1. Have an understanding of
the purpose of research
design, research
approaches, approach and
traditions
2. Understand how to develop
an appropriate research
design for a relevant
research question
3. Understand notions of
theory, theory building and
theoretical contribution
across the social sciences
and
4. business research fields
5. Adopt a respectful
approach towards research
design and assessment that
recognises the value of
6. different epistemological
and theoretical lenses
7. Understand issues of
research quality and
research ethics
The course learning outcomes
are what you should be able to
DO by the end of this course if
you participate fully in learning
activities and successfully
complete the assessment items.
The course learning outcomes
are:
1. Recognize distinct nature of
various research
approaches and
methodologies and be able
to apply them to examine a
research problem
2. Critically analyse and review
research papers and assess
their strengths and
weaknesses
3. Conduct information
searches, critically assess
relevant literatures and
write a literature review
4. Identify research problems,
develop and justify research
questions and hypothesis (if
applicable)
5. Develop a research proposal
that demonstrates ability to

conduct a literature review,
develop research
question(s) and design a
study to answer them
6. Discuss ethical aspects of
research and in particular
those related to the
research proposal
7. Present a well-argued and
logically structured research
proposal orally and in a
form of a written report.

Assessment 1. Research abstract and
question:
This is central to developing
your research design. It will help
you structure, refine and frame
a suitable research question. It
should be doable, feasible, and
narrow enough to be
answered by the research
design that is built in the final
assessment. Each question and
abstract will be presented to
the class for comments.

2. Participation:
In the seminar format, each
participant helps make the
learning meaningful for the
others. Participation will be
marked on the criteria of
meaningfulness,
appropriateness, and how much
it helped others in the class
develop their understanding.
Just being in class or just
asking a question alone does
not count for participation.

3. Final Research Design
Project:
This is should be worked on as if
presenting before a group of
academics- is it robust, rigorous
and appropriate? Is it consistent
ontologically, epistemologically
and methodologically. Should
submission problems occur,
students should contact the unit
1. Class activities
Class activities are specified for
each class. Students are
expected to read the prescribed
material, keep notes on their
reading and complete any tasks
required before a class.
Students will also be asked to
submit their homework in class.
Students active participation in
all class activities during the
semester are marked out of 10.
2. Paper critique
The purpose of the paper
critique is to learn to read
academic articles and develop
critical thinking, reading, writing
and argumentation skills.
Students are required to choose
a paper from the list of research
papers provided in class in week
1 and also available via the
Moodle. Students should
carefully read and analyse the
selected paper and write a
paper critique. A paper critique
is to be submitted two times
during the semester (in week 5
and 9). A paper critique report
should not exceed 700 words.
Each paper critique is marked
out of 10 based on the quality
of the written report (report
specifications and assessment
guide is provided via Moodle).
The higher mark of the marks
for paper critique 1 and 2 will
be included in your final mark

coordinator as soon as possible.
The referencing and style guide
that should be used in all
assessments in this unit is
Journal of Consumer Research
style (see readings).
calculation (10%).

3. Assignment #1: Literature
Review
4. Assignment #2:
Research proposal
This assignment is to be
completed as an individual
assignment.

The purpose of this assignment
is to demonstrate your ability
to:
identify relevant and interesting
research problem(s) in your
field, and demonstrate their
significance;
assess the current body of
knowledge and formulate
research question(s);
propose and justify your
research approach and
methodology to examine your
research question(s);
propose and discuss research
design, data collection and data
analysis methods/techniques;

You are required to develop the
arguments based on your
literature review assignment
(particularly your identification
of areas in need of further
research) to prepare a research
proposal on a topic of your
choice. Your proposal should
include a short summary of the
literature review but must not
duplicate it.