2000 words proposal

BS 3149 CW1: Research Proposal 40% (Cohort 19) Page 1 of 5 BS 3149 : Research Methods in a Hospitality Context CW1: Research Proposal 40% (Cohort 1 9 ) TurnitIn Submission Deadline Final Submission Deadline Thu 13 Oct 201 6 at 22 :00 Fri 14 Oct 2016 at 22:00 Submission Mechanism Submission Mechanism Upload to CampusMoodle: 1. Research Proposal in MS Word format (The ‘pages’ format is not accepted) Upload to CampusMoodle: 1. Research Proposal in MS Word format (The ‘pages’ format is not accepted) . This must be an identical copy of the TurnitIn Submission with the exception of the references amendments) 2. TurnitIn Originality Report Assessment Title and Weight Coursework 1 (CW1): Research Proposal. This assessment is the first of 2 total assessments for this module. It weighs 40% of the final module grade. Aim of the Assessment The assessment gives the student s the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to choose a good hospitality research topic upon conducting an evaluation of the topic for feasibility and appropriateness. Students will demonstrate their understanding of the first stages of the research process and apply the needed skills to undertake these stages leading to the Research Proposa l. This assessment paves the way for the second assessment of this module (Coursework 2: Research Project) as students will realize their Research Proposal into a Research Project t o complete the research process. BS 3149 CW1: Research Proposal 40% (Cohort 19) Page 2 of 5 Assessed Learning Outcomes 1. Identify relevant research topics and questions related to professional practice, which provide a scope for an individual investigation. 2. Identify and review existing research and literature, which provides suitable scope and impacts on the development of a research proposal. 3. Identify major research approaches and methodologies that will assist in the development and management of the research process in a professional context. Assessment Brief You will work individual ly on this assignment to write a Research Proposal on a hospitality topic of your choice (self -generated research) . Word Limit 2,000 words . The word count is to exclude the Cover Page, the Table of Contents , in -text references, text associated with tables and graphs , list of references, appendixes …etc . Tasks 1. Identify an original research topic related to hospitality that has not yet been researched . It is important that the topic will sustain your interest throughout the full research process and you will have contact and/or access to app ropriate people who can provide you with the relevant data for your analysis . 2. Evaluate the research topic for feasibility and appropriateness . A preliminary literature review is required as a sub -task for the evaluation. 3. Upon completion of the evaluation, determine if the research topic meets the needed criteria of a good research topic. If it does not, then repeat steps 1 -2. 4. Refine your research topic to have a clear concept ual and context ual focus . 5. Formulate the research questions , aim, and objectives . 6. Plan your research by defining and developing the research methodology, resources requirements, action plan and timeline . 7. Write the Research Proposal to include all the parts listed in the following section. Structure and Content of the Research Proposal Your Research Proposal must include all the following sections in the given order : 1. Cover Page . The cover page must include: 1.1. The module code and title 1.2. The assessment title 1.3. The title of your Research Proposal 1.4. Your RGU Student ID 1.5. Your name (first name followed by last name) 1.6. The word count (please refer to the word count limit). Please use automated word count calculation tools. 2. Table of Contents . BS 3149 CW1: Research Proposal 40% (Cohort 19) Page 3 of 5 3. Rationale and Background of the Research Topic . In this section you should demonstrate that you have evaluated your research topic against the criteria of a good research topic. In particular: 3.1. Give details of your preliminary review of the literature which has le d to the rationale. The review should include at least 6 relatively recent journal artic les (not older than 201 3). 3.2. Classify the type of research you are proposing and discuss why it falls under that particular classification. Explain how they research topic will make a good contribution to the existing knowledge and/or how it will have signi ficant applied practices. 4. Research Questions. Focus your refined research topic into at most 2 research questions. Formulate the questions that your research will address and answer. 5. Aim and Objectives. Formulate your research aims and objectives stemming from your Research Question(s) : 5.1. Research Aim: overall purpose of your research explaining what the end product of your research will be. 5.2. Research Objectives: list at least 3 and maximum 5 research objectives . The objectives represent the practical steps, sequential stages and/or applied tasks needed to achieve the aim. 6. Research Design and Methodology . Plan your research design and establish your research methodology. Make sure to present a comprehensive step -by -step methodology and to j ustify how your ch oices will achieve research coherence. 7. Resources Requirements. Identify, discuss and explain the needed resources to conduct your research, and classify them into “essential” or “potential”. These may include personal skills to be developed, fieldwork, permission requ isitions and any other relevant resources which are needed for your research. 8. Action Plan and Timeline . Create an action plan across the available timeline set by the module which covers the stage s of the research process and the tasks needed to complete your research. In particular, make sure that you identify any n eeded pre -requisites that must be resolved /made available to ensure a smooth transition of the steps. 9. Reference List . Alphabetical list of all references you used in your preparation of the Research Proposal including the preliminary literature review. All references must follow the RGU Harvard referencing system (Refer to http://libguides.rgu.ac.uk/RGUHarvard) . Submission Requirements To complete your submission: 1. Upload your Research Proposal in MS Word format to the TurnitIn area in CampusMoodl e by the date/time specified at the beginning of the assessment’s specifications . 2. Download the Originality Report generated by TurnitIn. 3. Do the needed references amendments to the Research Proposal. No other amendments are allowed to the Research Proposal at this stage . 4. By the date/time specified at the beginning of the assessment’ s specifications, u pload : 4.1. Your Research Proposal in MS Word format (identical copy of the TurnitIn Submission with the exception of the references amendments) AND 4.2. The TurnitIn Originality Report (downloaded in step 2) to the Final Submission area in CampusM oodle . BS 3149 CW1: Research Proposal 40% (Cohort 19) Page 4 of 5 Assessment Criteria The assessment will be evaluated according to the following criteria: Criterion Percentage Evaluation of Research Topic (preliminary literature review, rationale and research type) 20% Research Questions, Aims and Objectives Formulation 20% Research Design and Methodology Choices 30 % Resources Requirements and Action Plan 15% Citations and Referenc ing 15% Refer to the Assessment Marking Criteria for details of each criterion across the grade bands . Policies and Penalties Plagiarism “Plagiarism is the practice of presenting the thoughts, writings or other output of another or others as original, without acknowledgement of their source(s). All material used to support a piece of work, whether a printed publication or from electronic media, should be appropriately identified and referenced and should not normally be copied directly unless as an acknowledged quote. Text translated into the words of the individual student should in all cases acknowledge the source.” For further information please see: http://www.rgu.ac.uk/about/academic -affairs/quality -assurance -and -regulations Before submitting assignments, you should check to ensure th at:  All material identified as originally from a previously published source has been properly attributed by an appropriate reference in the text;  Direct quotations are marked as such (using “quotation marks” at the beginning and end of the selected text), and  A citation has been included in the list of references at the end of the text. Late Submissions The penalty for late submission of a piece of coursework is that the coursework is failed. A fail will also be given for any accounts of plagiarism found i n the coursework. If you, for genuine reasons, are unable to meet the submission date, please contact Ms. Heather Robinson [email protected] before the submission deadline with the Coursework Extension Form to apply for an extension of the coursework. BS 3149 CW1: Research Proposal 40% (Cohort 19) Page 5 of 5 Penalties  There is a penalty for deviating substantially (+/ - 10%) from the word limit . The penalty is a deduction of up to 5 grade points from the final grade.  There is a penalty for poor spelling and grammar . The penalty is a deduction of up to 5 grade points from the final grade.  There is a penalty for poor presentation for the research proposal (format and structure). The penalty is a d eduction of up to 5 grade points from the final grade.  There is a penalty for not including the TurnitIn Originality Report . The penalty is a deduction of up to 5 grade points from the final grade.  Any amendments to the Research Proposal submitted to Turn itIn which do not fall under references amendments may lead to a deduction of up to 10 grade points from the final grade.  Not meeting the file formatting specifications (file type) has a penalty of up to 5 grade points from the final grade. Support For any questions on the assessment, please contact the Module Co -ordinator Ms. Samia Hossfeld [email protected] .