Module Name: Applied Research Methods
Word length: 2500 words (Excluding Reference list and in-text references) 10% +/- allowance.
Style guidelines:
o Font: Times New Roman Size 12
o Line spacing: 1.5
o Referencing style: Harvard referencing throughout the document.
Task:
Students will conduct a critical review of a published peer-refereed paper. The chosen paper (attached) needs to be an empirical study that draws on primary or secondary data. This review should contain the following information:
o The essay should attempt to relate the research methodology to the appropriate ontological and epistemological position, and provide a critical comment.
o The essay needs to provide a critical commentary about the theoretical position adopted by the research.
o The essay needs to comment on the ethical considerations and methodological choices used to support the research.
o Finally, the essay needs to consider the appropriateness of the methodology used in relation to the philosophical and theoretical approach. Suggestions can be made to identify an alternative theory and an alternative methodology that could have been selected to research the subject area (the implications of this alternative methodology can be discussed in terms of sampling, data collection, and analysis).
Module Learning Outcomes Assessed:
Understand different philosophical positions and how they relate to theory and research methods.
Critically evaluate the links between philosophy, theory, and research method in journal articles.
Judge which specific methodology or combination of methodologies is appropriate for a specific research problem.
