ASSESSMENT BRIEF
Subject Code and Title BRH606BM Business Research for Hoteliers
Assessment Defence of research proposal
Individual/Group Individual presentation
Length 15-minute (10-minute presentation; 5-min Q&A) + slide deck
Learning Outcomes This assessment addresses the following subject learning outcomes:
a. Analyse the various approaches to business and social research, and the difference between primary and secondary research
b. Critically review extant knowledge in a disciplinary area for the identification of researchable problems
c. Understand and justify the use of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis
d. Investigate a range of data collection methods and tools
e. Conceptually map the research process, developing a defensible framework for proposed research
f. Evaluate the ways management research may be written and disseminated
Submission Due by deadline notified by the Academic Services Officer. (Due dates will be five (5) business days from the date of notification)
Weighting 50% Supplementary Pass/Fail
Total Marks Not Applicable.
This supplementary assessment will not be awarded a mark but will be graded against the marking rubric or criteria as a Supplementary Pass of 50% or a Fail.
Context
This assessment aims to equip students with the ability to understand, formulate and justify a relevant research project in response to a business-related problem. This research project has already been established and planned in Assessments 1 and 3, with subsequent feedback provided.
For this assessment, students are required to deliver a 10-minute presentation of their revised research proposal that discusses the research problem, research aim and questions/objectives/ hypotheses, gap in knowledge, and a suitable methodology to undertake the proposed research project. This will be followed by a 5-minute Q&A.
Please refer to the task instructions below for details on how to complete this assessment.
Instructions
For this assessment, students are required to revise and present the research context, literature review and methodology sections of their research proposal, taking into account the feedback received in Assessments 1 and 3. To do this, students will be required to address the following:
• Research context – Describe the research problem with evidence from industry report(s) and/or academic journal articles. Then, present the research significance to highlight the importance and value of the research.
• Literature review – Present a conceptual framework OR a summary of the overall literature reviewed with an explanation of key concepts relevant to the proposed research project. Then, identify the gap in literature (gap in knowledge) and how your proposed study will contribute to this gap.
• Research method – Define, explain, and justify the chosen research method. Definitions and justifications should be supported by academic references. This section will include: o The research aims and questions/objectives/hypotheses with appropriate scope.
o The research approach to be applied – Specify whether the proposed study will be designed as an exploratory, explanatory, descriptive, evaluative, or causal research. o Details of methodology to be applied – For example: qualitative, quantitative or mixed-methods. Include a justification as to why this method would be appropriate and aligned with the overall research approach.
o The population of the study, including a discussion on the overall population size.
o The proposed sampling method including where (the sampling frame) and how
(sampling technique) the sample will be obtained, and the estimated sample size.
o The proposed data collection method(s) – For example: focus groups, interviews, surveys, experiments and/or observation.
• References – A minimum of 12 academic journal articles or textbooks in the referencing style advised below.
Upon submission of the slide deck, the learning facilitator will reach out to organise a presentation schedule.
Submission Instructions
1. To be submitted electronically as a PowerPoint file, according to the due date and time advised by Academic Services.
2. A minimum of 12 academic sources and additional supporting industry/professional references where required. Lecture notes are unacceptable as a form of research.
3. All referencing (in-text referencing and reference list) must be in accordance with APA 7th edition – see Academic Writing Guide on Blackboard.
4. See marking rubric attached at the end of this document. You do not need to attach this rubric to your submissions.
Referencing
It is essential that you use appropriate APA style for citing and referencing research. Please see more information on referencing in the Academic Skills webpage.
Academic Integrity
All students are responsible for ensuring that all work submitted is their own and is appropriately referenced and academically written according to the Academic Writing Guide. Students also need to have read and be aware of Torrens University Australia Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure and subsequent penalties for academic misconduct. These are viewable online.
Students also must keep a copy of all submitted material and any assessment drafts.
Special Consideration
To apply for special consideration for a modification to an assessment or exam due to unexpected or extenuating circumstances, please consult the Assessment Policy for Higher Education Coursework and ELICOS and, if applicable to your circumstance, submit a completed Application for Assessment Special Consideration Form to your Learning Facilitator.
Assessment Rubric
Assessment Criteria Fail Pass
RESEARCH CONTEXT (10%) Demonstrates no awareness of context or basis for the research problem. Demonstrates awareness of context of the selected research problem and justifies the need for the study.
LITERATURE REVIEW SUMMARY &
GAP IN KNOWLEDGE
(20%) Limited understanding of required concepts and knowledge.
Lacks insight or connection between the concepts.
Gap in knowledge not clearly identified.
Well demonstrated capacity to explain and apply relevant concepts.
Develops ties between concepts that relate to the research problem and leads logically to the gap in knowledge and research questions/objectives.
RESEARCH AIM AND
QUESTIONS/OBJECTIVES
(10%) Research aim and questions/objectives are unclear, irrelevant or unrelated to the concepts discussed in the literature review. Clear articulation of research aim and questions/objectives which results from a synthesis of the literature.
METHODOLOGY
(40%) Insufficient explanation or understanding of key methodological concepts.
Often confuses qualitative and quantitative research resulting in inappropriate methodological choices. Systematically and critically supports methodological choices with evidence from the research.
Demonstrates how steps of the research process can be executed in the proposed project with a logical sequence of methodological choices.
DELIVERY
(10%)
Communication is unstructured and unfocused and/or in a format that is inappropriate for the task.
Material is difficult to understand due to poor structure and/or expression. Concise presentation of material resulting in clarity of message and information.
Clear, logical and sequential delivery of key components.
BRH606BM Supplementary Assessment Term 2 2022
REFERENCING (10%) References are not from credible sources.
Limited or lack of academic journal articles and/or textbooks.
References are not relevant to the research topic. References are from credible sources.
The proposal meets the minimum requirement of 12 academic journal articles and/or textbooks.
References are relevant to the topic.
