Assignment 2: PROPOSAL AND LITERATURE REVIEW A research proposal is a short, coordinated document which summarises what you are going to research, why the research is of relevance, what is currently...

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Assignment 2: PROPOSAL AND LITERATURE REVIEW



















A research proposal is a short, coordinated document which summarises what you are going to research, why the research is of relevance, what is currently known about the topic and how the research will be carried out.





The aim of the proposal is to demonstrate that the research is feasible and that you have thought through how you are going to do it. It shows your understanding of the range of issues involved in doing reliable, valid and ethical research and gives others confidence in your capabilities. These are essential characteristics of graduates.





The following headings provide guidance for the content of the sections of your proposal. The overall word count should be no more than 2000 words (+/-10%) with Section 4 being no more than 1500 words. Suggested word limits for the remaining sections are shown.






































STUDENT NAME AND NUMBER:





SUPERVISOR:







1.

POTENTIAL TITLE:







2.

AIM OF THE INVESTIGATION AND RELATED OBJECTIVES



In this section, state the location, aim of your research (
ie This research aims to…..)

and the related objectives as bullet points (no more than 5).



Suggested limit 50 words







3.

RATIONALE FOR CHOOSING THE RESEARCH TOPIC



In this section you justify your choice of topic, including your personal reasons as well as the impact on the wider field. Highlight the contributions to be expected.



Suggested limit 50 words







4.

BACKGROUND TO THE RESEARCH TOPIC/ LITERATURE REVIEW



In this section define your topic, and discuss the relevant literature that is published which relates to it. The literature needs to include relevant data on the industry your study will be located in and the theoretical framework on the management issue involved. You must show evidence of wide, up-to-date literature source coverage, e.g. textbooks, journal articles, conference papers, relevant academic or practitioners’ web sources, company reports. This section provides the conceptual framework which informs the choice of your research questions, your methodology and data collection methods and data analysis



Maximum 1500 words







5.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND RELATED METHODOLOGY



In this section you need to identify your research questions (as bullet points) and indicate the overarching approach to the research (methodology). Additional you need to indicate the philosophical approach used, for example, your research will be positivist, interpretivist or else, and why the chosen approach is relevant to finding answers to the research questions. You will need to justify your choices with reference to research textbooks.



Suggested limit 150 words





6.

RELEVANT DATA REQUIRED AND DATA COLLECTION METHODS



In this section you need to identify the data needed to find answers to your research questions and how you intend to collect and analyse it (methods, target population, sampling method, instruments and analysis). You need to indicate why these methods are suitable for this type of research. You will need to justify your choices with reference to research textbooks



Suggested limit 150 words







7.

ACCESSIBILITY, RELIABILITY, VALIDITY AND ETHICS



In this space summarise the main ethical considerations in relation to your proposed topic, how you propose to make your research valid and reliable (with reference to research textbooks). You will refer to your research design and indicate how you will gain permission from research subjects and maintain anonymity and confidentiality.



Also indicate your plan to gain access to the proposed subjects by considering the timeframe for the project, the timeframe for the fieldwork, their location, language, culture, and the relation with the proposed data collection method(s). What problems with access do you foresee and how do you intend to tackle these?



Suggested limit 100 words







8.

REFERENCE LIST (Not included in wordcount)





You need to include an accurate list of all references used within the proposal. These will include all of those used within the literature review (section 4) and any used in the remaining sections, (eg from research texts). The reference list must be in alphabetical order and use a Harvard Referencing style (Guidance may be obtained at
https://metranet.londonmet.ac.uk/services/sas/library-services/referencing/#whatIsHarvardReferencing)





APPENDICES (not included in wordcount)



Updated Research plan (Gantt chart)






Data collection tools (eg questionnaire, interview questions etc)












Marking criteria:


Extent to which you have updated the proposal


Extent to which you have shown academic and industry literature reading


Extent to which you have structured and reasoned your theoretical argument


Extent to which you have produced a professional document (spelling, referencing, layout, etc) + submission of required appendices.




1. Are any of the people involved in collecting or analysing data for the proposed activity
not
employed (on formal or honorary contracts) or enroled as (undergraduate, postgraduate or short-course) ?






2. Does the proposed activity involve any foreseeable legal risks or risk of physical, psychological or social distress to staff, students or participants?
Yes/No




3. Does the proposed activity only involve library-based work or work based only on the analysis and scrutiny of publicly available documents?
Yes/No




4. Does the proposed activity involve the collection or use of body tissues or body fluids (including excreta) from humans or animals?
Yes/No




5. Does the proposed activity involve the collection of data from human or animal participants?
Yes/No




6. Does the proposed activity involve the collection of data through the direct or indirect observation of human subjects?
Yes/No




7. Does the proposed activity involve the administration of any drug, food substance or placebos to human or animal subjects?
Yes/No




8. Does the proposed activity involve exposing human or animal participants to any abnormal or painful physical or sensory stimuli (including auditory, visual and olfactory stimuli)?
Yes/No




9. Does the proposed activity require human or animal participants undergoing abnormal physical, psychological or emotional stress (including dehydration, exercise, sensory deprivation, confinement or sleeplessness)?
Yes/No




10. Does the proposed activity involve exposure to topics or issues that might cause offence (including exposure to controversial, offensive or illegal material or ideologies)?
Yes/No




11. Does the proposed activity involve deceiving participants?
Yes/No





12. Does the proposed activity require the disclosure of private or confidential information without the informed consent of participants?
Yes/No





13. Is the proposed activity likely to lead to the potential disclosure of illegal activity or incriminating information from participants?
Yes/No





14. Does the proposed activity involve staff, clients, premises, facilities, material or data derived from NHS, Social Care or Local Authority Education Services?
Yes/No





15. Does the proposed activity involve participants who are potentially vulnerable or unable to give informed consent (including children under the age of 16, people with learning difficulties, people with cognitive disorders and people with debilitating illnesses)?
Yes/No





16. Does the proposed activity require the staff and/or students involved to have undergone a Criminal Records Bureau check?
Yes/No











B+



67%


·
Good
in meeting the brief of the assessment task, addressing the specific criteria and meeting all of the Learning Outcomes


· Refers to experience and reading to advance the line of argument, using argument well, but not always with distinction


· Shows overall good evidence of significant knowledge and understanding of what has been learned in the course so far, linking theory and practice


· Provides overall good evidence of wide reading from appropriate academic sources


· Includes accurate references in text, all sources accurately recorded in reference section


· Logically structured, and effectively written and / or presented orally, but perhaps not always with distinction


· Good discussion & analysis








Answered Same DayJan 10, 2021

Answer To: Assignment 2: PROPOSAL AND LITERATURE REVIEW A research proposal is a short, coordinated document...

Soumi answered on Jan 15 2021
149 Votes
BUSINESS ETHICS
DOES BUSINESS ETHICS INFLUENCE CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS COMPANIES?
(ASSIGNMENT 2: PROPOSAL AND LITERATURE REVIEW)
Table of Contents
1. Potential Title for the Proposed Research    4
2. Proposed Aim and Objectives of the Research    4
3. Rationale    4
4. Literature Review    4
Concept of Business Ethics    4
Concept of Customers’ Buying Behaviour    5
Factors Affecting Customers’ Buying Behaviour    5
Cultural Factor:    5
Social Factor:    5
Demographic Factor:    5
Psychological Factor:    6
Models and Theories Relating to Business Ethics a
nd Customers’ Buying Behaviour    6
Stakeholder Theory:    6
Virtue-Ethical Theory:    6
Deontology Theory:    6
Howarth Sheth Model:    7
Impact of Business Ethics on Customers’ Buying Behaviour    7
Conceptual Framework    8
5. Research Questions and Methodology    8
6. Data Requirement and Data Collection Methods    9
7. Accessibility, Reliability, Validity and Ethics    9
8. References    11
9. Appendix    13
1. Potential Title for the Proposed Research
‘The Impact of Business Ethics on Customers’ Behaviour’ has been proposed as the potential title for the research.
2. Proposed Aim and Objectives of the Research
The proposed research aims at finding whether business ethics influence the customers’ behaviour at the time of selecting companies for their purposes. Based on the research aim, the following objectives are formulated
· To comprehend the impact of business ethics on customer’s buying decisions
· To assess customers’ preference in terms of opting companies who conduct their business activities ethically
· To suggest ways to improve customers’ preference through ethical optimisation
3. Rationale
The brand name and the feel of reliability that comes with it influence the customers’ preference at the time of making a purchase. However, as argued by Gursoy (2019), customers’ preference at the time of making a purchase include the amalgamation of quality, availability, brand reputation and pricing, thereby limiting the importance of brand name as an influence of purchase. The proposed research will try to assess the impact of brand name on customers, opting Sainsbury, UK as the chosen organisation.
4. Literature Review
Concept of Business Ethics
At the time of conducting business, the abidance to standards for safety, quality and conditions approved by the legislatures restrict the exploitation of the customers, with the sole aim of contributing in the welfare of the society, which is collectively termed as business ethics. As mentioned by Ferrell et al. (2019), the abidance of business ethics not only makes the business organisations consider the rights of the customers in terms of standard abidance, but also include the aspects of commitment, honestly and consistency. Business ethical norms different from one another based on the type of business conducted, the market trends, the legislature of the respective markets and the expectations of the customers. It is found that business organisations that keep its ethical standards high, gain a high brand reputation, which ultimately manipulates the preference of the customers.
Concept of Customers’ Buying Behaviour
As a customer starts searching for particular products or services, the cultural aspects, economic conditions, the value for money propositions, the social structures and the psychological traits act as shaping factors of buying preferences that make customers behave in a predictable manner in terms of their characteristics, which is termed as customer buying behaviour. As mentioned by Bhatia (2019), at the time of buying a product or availing a service, customers first identify their needs, and then they start searching for the right products and services, finally making the purchase, based on personal preferences and evaluations. Depending on the nature of the customers, nature of the product or service and availability of resources, customers buying behaviours differ in degree. It is often found that customers buy products and services based on the trend, which comes in conflicting arguments with the features of customers’ buying behaviours.
Factors Affecting Customers’ Buying Behaviour
Cultural Factor:
The preference for a product or service is highly affected by the culture if the customer. As suggested by Suman et al. (2019), the culture of a person shapes the perspectives and includes the aspects of regional, religious and community based practices. It is found that due to the emphasis of local values, cultural preference at the time of buying, customers behave differently in different markets.
Social Factor:
The social factors that influence the customers’ buying behaviours include the aspects of social class, role of genders in society, structure of family, and use of resources. As noted by Pandey et al. (2019), higher class customers make premium purchases and their preference come from quality perspective, while the lower class customers make value for money purchases, compromising with best available quality. It is seen that people with nuclear families tend to differ from joint families, while availability of products and services affect all customers.
Demographic Factor:
The demographic factors, such as age, sex and occupational aspects of customers tend to differ for each group. As opined by do Paco et al. (2019), the priorities of a customer change with their age as social expectations change over time and sexual preference vary due to their different role...
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