HPRM 440 Boston College Impacts of Performance Appraisal Case Study of Apple Company Paper good day I have a business research activity i need assistance t

HPRM 440 Boston College Impacts of Performance Appraisal Case Study of Apple Company Paper good day I have a business research activity i need assistance thank you stay safe:) HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMMES
Academic Year 2020:
January – June
Summative Assessment 1:
Business
Research
(HPRM440-1)
NQF Level, Credit:
8, 16
Weighting:
30%
Assessment Type:
Research Proposal
Educator:
Dr L Geldenhuys
Examiner:
Methodology
Mr G Delport
Due date:
9 June 2020
Total
100 Marks
Instructions
1. The research proposal must be typed, using the following type settings only:
• Font: Arial
• Font Size: 12
• Line Spacing: Multiple at 1.5
2. To obtain maximum results, please consult the rubric included in this brief to
ensure that you adhere to and meet all the given criteria.
3. Please make sure you have read and adhere to the Harvard Method of
Referencing: A Beginner’s Guide, available in the HE Library module on
ColCampus, as well as The Beginners Guide to Plagiarism, available in the HE
Student Information module, also on ColCampus.
4. This assessment has a sub-minimum requirement of 50%. For the student to
successfully complete this specific module, he / she must obtain a grade of 50%
or higher for this specific assignment.
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5. The Plagiarism Declaration, included in this brief, must be signed and attached to
the front of your assignment. Refer to the Plagiarism Information Sheet in your
Course Outline for further information
Question: Research Proposal
(100 marks)
As the culmination of the Business Research Methodology module, you are tasked to
write a 12 -15 page research proposal, based on the specifications of the IMRAD model.
The content knowledge and quantitative analysis skills that you have acquired in this
module will assist you to successfully write a quantitative research proposal. You are
required to consult a minimum of seven (7) literature references.
Assessment criteria and mark allocation for each proposal section is discussed in the
assessment rubric below. This should serve as a guide for the possible layout of your
proposal.
Plagiarism
A Unicheck-verification report will be issued via ColCampus once the proposal has been
submitted. Remember to include your list of references (sources used in the preceding
text). If the verification report indicates that a 30% similarity rating has been exceeded, a
mark of zero will be awarded.
The following Learning Outcomes are assessed in this question:
•
•
•
•
•
2
Generate ideas for research projects
Develop research questions / statement, research hypotheses, define and
refine them
Provide a sample literate review for a research proposal
Outline a methodological framework for a research proposal
Write a research proposal
HPRM440-1-Jan-June2020-SA1-LLG-V3-04112019
ASSESSMENT RUBRIC:
Proposal Section
Title Page:
•
Proposed title for
the research study
•
”Completed as
requirement in
partial fulfilment of
Post-Graduate
Diploma”
•
Candidate’s details
•
Supervisor details
•
Submission date
Keywords
Introduction and
Background
• Introduction and
Background of
Research:
o Purpose of the
study
3
Assessment
Criteria
Comments
• Students to receive full credit for
including all aspects as indicated.
• Subtract marks for each element
not included on the title page
• Keywords and brief definition to be
included (done on separate page in
research proposal for full marks).
Introduction and Background
Purpose:
• The purpose of the study is to… (2
lines) (Full marks if the stated
purpose is clearly spelled out).
• Marker discretion to be used –
example of purpose statement:
e.g. ‘The purpose of the research
HPRM440-1-Jan-June2020-SA1-LLG-V3-04112019
Marks
Awarded
(100)
(3)
(2)
(30)
4
is to investigate the buyer
experience of customers visiting a
retail outlet of Company ABC in
Pretoria’.
o Context of the
study
Context of the study:
• Student must describe the
background to the planned study.
• The probable reader (i.e. the
marker, other students, industry
stakeholders) must be informed of
the industry within which the
problem is found – explaining the
research context is thus essential.
(Context refers to the background,
environment, framework, setting,
or situation surrounding an event;
understanding the context of
research is therefore essential for
the
probable
reader
to
understand).
• Credit student for using the
funnelling approach – starting from
a broad and general description of
the broader industry, then moving
towards a more specific and
narrower discussion of the
company in question.
• REFERENCING all statements
that are made (according to the
Harvard referencing style). Include
recent references, especially
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3
when describing the current
situation / context for the research.
• Include a description of the
business or management problem
or gap in knowledge or practice to
be addressed. (For example, if the
topic is about the effects of social
media on consumer behaviour,
provide details on how social
media
has
become
more
important, which forms of social
media are popular, and how this
might impact on management).
o

5
Problem Statement
Main problem
Main Problem:
• The problem statement must have
a verb at or near the beginning of
the statement and should be in a
statement and not question form.
• The statement must be broken up
into logical sections to create
research questions.
• The research problem statement
is a statement of how the business
problem will be addressed.
• The business problem is NOT the
same as the research problem.
Make sure you include relevant,
searchable key words.
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
Research
Questions
o Significance of the
Study
Research Questions:
• Particularly
for
inductive,
exploratory research, where there
is little prior research, students
should
formulate
research
questions that their research aims
to address, and which will be
addressed
in
the
Discussion/Conclusions at the end
of the study.
• The research questions offer a
further break down of the
Research Problem (ideally 2 – 5
research questions)
3
Significance of the study:
2
The study fills a gap in that . . .
• A description and explanation of
the gap in the theory that might be
filled by the study, should be
included
• Justification of the reason for the
above statement your reasoning
and REFERENCE your sources.
You need to ensure that you
highlight the contribution your
study will have to the body of
knowledge.
The study will provide guidance to…
Describe the aspects of management or
business practice that the study is
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intended to be of value to. Describe who
may benefit from the study and how it is
hoped they will benefit.
o Research
Objectives
Research objectives:
o Theoretical
perspective
Theoretical perspectives:
• Proposal to contain brief
overview of the underpinning
theoretical perspective to be
used in the study.
• Should contain reference to
specific theoretical models /
views / approaches and briefly
state how these are linked to
the research problem and
research objectives.
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• Research objectives must be
formulated according to the SMART
philosophy –
o Specific (objectives are clear, to
the point, not vague)
o Measurable (do the objectives
make it possible to obtain data
that can be analysed?)
o Achievable (objectives must be
realistic and attainable)
o Relevant (the objectives should
be clear on why the study
needs to be done)
o Time-related (must contain
reference to how long the study
will take to complete; needs to
be appropriate and realistic).
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3
o Limitations and
Delimitation of
Study
Limitations and Delimitation of the
Study
•
•
o Overview of
Research Design
and Methods
•
o Ethics
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Delimitations are used to narrow
the scope of the study. Proposal
should state what will be included
and what will be excluded, e.g. your
research topic may focus on a
specific
market
sector,
organisation
type,
level
of
employees in an organisation,
methodology, etc.
Reference to sampling should not
be included here, but in the
methodology section.
Research design and methods
•
2
Proposal to inform the reader what
kind of design is planned and how
the data will be obtained
Example:
A
quantitative
exploratory study is planned, and
data will be obtained by means of a
questionnaire consisting of three
sub-sections.
Ethics
• This section must provide evidence
that possible ethical implications
were considered.
• Ethical clearance is required for
conducting research, particularly
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3
where data will be obtained from
respondents.
o Division of
Chapters
Division of Chapters:
Proposal to provide a brief overview
of the different chapters to be
included in the final report
1
o Conclusion
Conclusion:
• To include a short summary of the
first chapter reminding the reader of
the problem statement and what is to
follow in the next chapter.
1
Literature Review
•
Introduction
o Definition of Topic or
Background
Discussion
9
Introduction
• This section must introduce the
literature review and describe
briefly the structure and contents of
the review by each topic in turn.
• Linking the above to the research
problem is required.
• Introduction to include definition of
key terms as well as justification for
why they will be included in the
study.
Topic Definition
• This section must include a broad
working definition of the concept(s)
that will form part of the planned
study.
HPRM440-1-Jan-June2020-SA1-LLG-V3-04112019
(30)
3
4
•
o Overview of Main
Theories
 Discussion of
Theory / Theories
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Must be linked to the research
objectives.
Main Theories – Overview and
Discussion
• This section should discuss the
theoretical basis that underpins the
planned study.
• This section must include a
discussion of theories, how these
can be applied, and the reasons for
choosing a specific theoretical
basis for the study.
• Theories must be named and
properly referenced.
Discussion of Theory / Theories
• The literature review should include
a detailed discussion of previously
completed research.
• It must include the major studies on
the topic, with discussion and
deductions from this research,
finding similarities and differences
in findings, naming possible gaps,
ideas for further research, other
points of view, and the like.
• It is not sufficient to simply restate
findings from previous studies.
• The literature review should create
a golden thread (linking main
arguments from one section to the
next) in the proposal.
• Proper referencing is needed.
HPRM440-1-Jan-June2020-SA1-LLG-V3-04112019
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12
o Integration of
Theories
Integration of Theories:
• The theoretical discussions must
be integrated in this section – the
reader should be able to see how
the theoretical points of view are
related and how they are linked to
the problem statement.
o Conclusion
Conclusion:
• This section must include a
summary and conclusion of
literature review – it must link the
research title and research problem
to the research questions.
Research design and methodology
Research Design and
Methodology
•
Introduction
11
Introduction:
• This section must describe the
methodology, which will be used to
address the research questions
outlined in the previous two
chapters.
• For each sub-section, describe the
theory AND how your own research
fits the theory, or where it does not
and how you are going to
overcome the shortcomings.
• Outline how the section is
structured and what it aims to
achieve.
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3
(25)
2
•
Research Design and
Approach
Approach (Paradigm)
• This section must state the method
to be used (qualitative, quantitative
or mixed) and refer to the general
approach to be used (inductive or
deductive,
exploratory/descriptive/explanatory
(causal) research) that is deemed
appropriate for the study
• An explanation of why this
methodology has been selected
must be included here.
Research design
• The
selected
methodological
approach must be explained
• Must state if a case study,
interviews, survey, will be used and
why this is appropriate for the study
• Must explain the advantages and
disadvantages of the selected
method.
•
Population and
Sample
o Population
Population:
• The population must be defined.
o Sampling Frame
and Sampling
Method
Sampling Frame and Sampling Method
• Sample and sampling method must
be explained
• Specific form of sampling must be
explained
(e.g.
random,
convenience,
purposive,
snowballing, etc.),
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2
2
2
2
•
•
•
Sample size and reason for this
number must be included and
explained
Indicate how many interviews or
questionnaire respondents will be
obtained and how these individuals
will be asked to participate
Should not contain specific details
that might identify the respondents
•
Data-gathering
instrument
Data-gathering instrument
• Research instrument must be
described
• Specific details to be included (e.g.
what kind of questionnaire,
interview schedule, etc.)
• The actual instrument must be
included as an appendix, with a
covering letter to the potential
respondent motivating them to
participate.
•
Data-gathering
Procedure
Data-gathering Procedure
• Explanation of how the data will be
gathered by referring to the
instrument discussed earlier.
•
Data Analysis
Techniques
Data Analysis Techniques
• Proposal must explain how data
will be analysed.
• Define / explain and properly
reference the selected methods.
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2
2
2
•
Validity and
Reliability
Validity and Reliability
• Discussion of how these apply to
the planned study must be included
• Definitions must be referenced
appropriately.
2
o Internal Validity
Internal Validity
• Definition needed and brief
statement of how it applies to the
planned study.
2
o External Validity
External Validity
2
•
Definition needed and brief
statement of how it applies to the
planned study.
o Reliability
Reliability
• Definition needed and brief
statement of how it applies to the
planned study.
2
o Conclusion
Conclusion
• This section of the proposal must
contain a short conclusion that
summarises the methodological
approach (2 – 3 lines maximum).
1
Planning Scheduling
Planning Scheduling:
• The proposal must contain a
planning schedule – should include
start date, planned dates for
completion of each proposal
chapter; submission date; etc.
(2)
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Template for Internal
Consistency
Template for Internal Consistency
• A consistency matrix is a powerful
tool in assisting you to align your
sub-problems, the references that
you used to investigate each subproblem in turn and the hypothesis
or proposition or research question
that resulted from the literature that
you reviewed. It also lists the
analysis method you will use to
analyse the data.
• It is also a process model – you
carry out each step of your
research in the sequence shown in
the consistency matrix, which is
shown on the next page
(2)
Technical Aspects
Technical Aspects
• Including Table of Contents;
Referencing; List of References,
List of Figures / Tables, Appendix /
Spelling
(4)
Appendix
• Data-gathering
Instrument
o Quantitative: e.g.
Survey /
Questionnaire /
Scale
o Ethics
documentation
Appendix
• Student to be credited if the datagathering instrument is included as
an appendix
(2)
15
TOTAL:
___ / 100
HPRM440-1-Jan-June2020-SA1-LLG-V3-04112019
DECLARATION ON PLAGIARISM
NAME………………………………………………….
SURNAME…………………………………………….
STUDENT NUMBER…………………………………
SUPPORT CENTRE………………………………….
MODULE CODE………………………………………
TITLE OF ESSAY:…………………………………………………………………….………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
This Form should be completed by the student and appended to any piece of work that
is submitted for summative assessment. The following defines plagiarism:
“Plagiarism” occurs when a student misrepresents, as his/her own work, the work, written
or otherwise, of any other person (including another student) or of any institution and
includes the deliberate and detailed presentation of another’s concept as one’s own.”
“Another’s work” covers all material, including, for example, written work, diagrams,
designs, charts, musical compositions and pictures, from all sources, including, for
example, the internet, journals, textbooks and essays.
STUDENT DECLARATION: I confirm that I have read and understood the above
definitions of plagiarism. I confirm that I have not committed plagiarism when completing
the attached piece of work. I confirm that this is my own work.
SIGNATURE……………………………………………DATE………………………………
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HPRM440-1-Jan-June2020-SA1-LLG-V3-04112019

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