BM631 Research Methods CW1 Assignment Brief 2026 | BNU

BM631 Assignment Task

As a business graduate, you will be expected to have higher analytical skills compared to non-graduates, and one of those skills is the ability to identify a problem, investigate it in sufficient depth and detail, draw conclusions as to its meaning and impact, and, where necessary, make recommendations.  The research methods module provides you with the toolkit to accomplish this for non-routine and complex issues that require significant application and effort.

This module directly leads into your dissertation, and so should be considered as the lead into your dissertation and not as a separate and stand-alone module.

Your task is to write a 1,500-word (+ or – 10%) research proposal structured as per the guidance below. The word count does not include the working title or the list of references. 

This assessment is broken down into three distinct chapters: First, what are you researching and why? (This section would include the research background/ aims, questions and objectives, etc.). 

Second, what academic literature will you use to support and guide your work? Note: This would be a draft Literature Review to be attached to the appendix section of the proposal.

For this section, you will need to have identified and read several peer-reviewed articles.  

These peer-reviewed articles would integrate.  

a. Scholarly journals on ABI Inform/(ProQuest) or other authoritative databases from the BNU Library.  
b. Newspaper databases or authoritative reports from industry or professional bodies such as CIPD, CIM, ACCA, CIMA, ILM or CMI.  

All sources should have been recently published.

For each article, you should discuss a theory, key idea or finding from each article/source that you think will be helpful for your literature review and explain why that theory, key idea or finding is particularly relevant to your investigation. What you are aiming to evaluate here is the contribution that others have made to your subject area and how their research could help to enlighten – and drive forward - your own.  

Third, how will you carry out your primary research and analyse the results? Why are you choosing these methods? How do you intend to obtain your primary data, and why do you consider that this method or these methods is/are likely to be the most appropriate?  Who will be in your sample? (We are looking for credible plans, not simply wishful ideas!)

In this section, you should apply academic theory to build a coherent argument to support your work that;  

a. explains and identifies who the participants will be in your research, how many you will need to be involved and why, and finally, how you will recruit them, such as online opt-in survey using social media, poster invite, noticeboard or authorisation from firm or firms involved, and what permissions of any you will require to conduct the research?  

b. argues and explains what primary research activities you will intend to use for your dissertation: survey, focus group, observation, archival, online ethnography, experiment, etc. and why this/these approaches are particularly relevant to your research.  

c. explains how you intend to analyse the data you collect from your research participants; what qualitative analysis techniques will you use and/or what quantitative analysis techniques will you apply.

List of references  

This should include all sources cited in the body of the report using the Harvard referencing style. 

If you are registered with the Disability and Inclusion Services or have a disability, please contact your module leader to discuss how your reasonable adjustments will be applied to this assignment.

Draft Literature Review

You are required to write and submit a draft literature review for your dissertation topic that will focus on the core academic literature that informs and underpins your work. The literature review should be between 3,500 and 4,000 words (+/- 10%) and NOT marked; however, your supervisor will provide feedback for you on areas that you need to develop further that should enable you to receive a higher mark when submitted as one of the major chapters of your dissertation. This draft literature, as reviewed, should be attached in the appendix section of the proposal.

If you are registered with the Disability and Inclusion Services or have a disability, please contact your module leader to discuss how your reasonable adjustments will be applied to this assignment.

This assignment has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your achievement of the following module learning outcomes: 

• LO1: Engage in identifying a relevant topic appropriate to the student’s area of study from which a suitable research project can be developed.
• LO2: Demonstrate an understanding of how to conduct a literature review, including searching for and critically engaging with the ideas of contributing authors to the particular topic.
• LO3: Critically evaluate and design a range of research methods and appropriate research techniques for the collection and analysis of data using quantitative, qualitative or joint methods to address the research aim, question and objectives
• LO4: Demonstrate transferable skills including time management, project management, listening, negotiation, written communication skills, independent learning and advanced research skills.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity means taking responsibility for your own work and not acting in a way to give you an unfair advantage over another learner. This includes writing in your own words and acknowledging sources you have used. It also covers the appropriate use of Artificial Intelligence. 

When you submit an assignment, you are making a declaration that it is your own work and that you have acknowledged the contribution of others and their ideas in its development (for example, by referencing them appropriately).

For further information, please see the following student-facing guidance on the University website: 

BNU Student Academic Integrity Guidance 
BNU Artificial Intelligence Guidance for Students 

There are also links to resources to support your understanding of Academic Integrity within your Blackboard module sites in the Assessment Information area.