Outline of data collection methods for each approach and commentary on how any surveys or moderators guides will be developed.

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Culture and International Business (An International Business Topic)
The coursework assessment is designed to enable you to partially demonstrate the learning outcomes required for the successful completion of the module, with particular reference to the business/market/academic research skills development outcomes for this component as detailed in the module specification and module handbook:
• Evaluating secondary data sources such as academic literature and market research reports to frame research question
• Demonstrating understanding of development, conduct, analysis and interpretation of business, market and academic research to propose a research plan
• Working creatively with qualitative and quantitative (and potentially alternative research methods)
• Understanding of ethical issues in business, market and academic research that apply to your proposal
• Producing a succinct, well-argued and well-presented research proposal.
This Research Proposal is based on topics you have covered over your degree programme so far, giving you a choice of topics to focus upon (see below): you must choose just one to develop.

You are asked to play the part of a business researcher or market research agency, submitting a proposal document to the client for their approval of your plan to research the question you choose. In order to create an appropriate proposal, you are required to analyse the existing academic and practitioner literature in the area, identify an aim and objectives, develop a strategy for sampling, collecting, analysing and interpreting data, and discuss the ethical and other limitations of your research.

Although practically-focused, this assessment requires an academic slant uniting academic and practitioner knowledge. You are expected to integrate academic concepts and theories from your other modules, and your own reading, to underpin your work and support the judgements you are making. In this regard it is essential that you properly reference all books, academic articles, websites and other reference sources used in your report.

Your Research Proposal is expected to cover the following (N.B. Word counts given here are approximate guidelines only):

• Introduction briefly covering justification for research (approx. 200 words)
• Background – a short literature review identifying clear gap in theoretical and practical knowledge (approx. 900 words)
• Aim and objectives (approx. 75 words)
• Research methods covering both quantitative and qualitative approaches in a mixed methods study. These approaches should be covered separately (in whichever order you prefer and which makes sense for your study) and in each of the two sections should cover:
o Clear sampling plan for each stage, including sampling frame, sample size, intended recruitment methods and any requirements for incentives (approx. 200 words i.e. approximately 200 words on the qualitative and 200 words on the quantitative sampling plan)
o Outline of data collection methods for each approach, and commentary on how any surveys or moderators guides will be developed. This should include consideration of issues such as socially desirable responding, issues with literacy etc. Details about conducting the research (e.g. environment, recording data, any materials required) should be covered (approx. 800 words for EACH of quantitative and qualitative)
o Plans for data presentation, coding, analysis and interpretation suitable for each research approach (approx. 300 words for EACH of quantitative and qualitative).
• Consideration of ethics issues arising from the research and how you would address these (approx. 300 words)
• Description of any limitations of the research (approx. 150 words)
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