You are required to think of an interesting business-research idea and develop this idea into a formal, clearly-articulated research question – a problem-statement. This question will be used as the organising framework for a critical literature review of previous academic research in the area. Assignment 3 has two related stages. The first is to convert your idea into aresearchable questionusing the techniques taught in the first two weeks of the unit. The second is to write acritical literature reviewusing the methods taught in week 3 of the unit. The overall objective is to produce a formal research question and set of research objectives based on a rigorous assessment of the available evidence on the topic. This will be the basis for your development of the project report in Assignment 3. You are encouraged to discuss your research idea(s) with your lecturer and fellow students in the workshops/tutorials as well as study the materials for the first three weeks of the unit carefully. You will start with a general research idea and, as you go through the literature review, you will modify and hone your question into a clear and concise statement that could form the basis of a research design.
MNG00415 Tourism and Hospitality Research and Analysis Assignment 2 Guide Assignment 3 Notes and Instructions MNG10720 Associate Professor Martin Young Unit Assessor
[email protected] 1 Assignment 3: Research Proposal and Literature Review Due: Week 8 – Friday 27th April 2018 Length: 1800 words Weighing: 40% Covers: Topic 1: Introducing Tourism Research Topic 2: Beginning Research Topic 3: The Literature Review Topic 4: Research Design Resubmission of Failed Assessments Students are permitted to resubmit Assignment 2 if the student has failed that assessment item Failed assessment must be resubmitted within ten (10) business days of notification No other resubmissions will be permitted (e.g. Assignment 3) The maximum grade awarded to a resubmit is a Pass 3 Submission Method Submit a copy on-line via this unit’s blackboard site You need to submit using TurnItIn The link is located under the ‘assessment details’ folder in Blackboard The electronic copy of your assignment must be submitted as a Word Document (.doc or .docx) Late submissions Late submission will lose 5% per day. Assignment extensions need to be applied for via special consideration procedures. These are now eforms submitted via ‘My Enrolment’ For details on special consideration visit http://scu.edu.au/students/index.php/30 Reference Style: Harvard The required reference style for this unit is the Harvard style Click on the ‘Topic 3’ folder within the blackboard site for this unit and upload the referencing chapter from Summers and Smith’s (2006) It provides you with examples and everything you need to know about the Harvard referencing style Make sure that your referencing is consistent Assignment Text You are required to think of an interesting business-research idea and develop this idea into a formal, clearly-articulated research question – a problem-statement. This question will be used as the organising framework for a critical literature review of previous academic research in the area. Assignment 3 has two related stages. The first is to convert your idea into a researchable question using the techniques taught in the first two weeks of the unit. The second is to write a critical literature review using the methods taught in week 3 of the unit. The overall objective is to produce a formal research question and set of research objectives based on a rigorous assessment of the available evidence on the topic. This will be the basis for your development of the project report in Assignment 3. You are encouraged to discuss your research idea(s) with your lecturer and fellow students in the workshops/tutorials as well as study the materials for the first three weeks of the unit carefully. You will start with a general research idea and, as you go through the literature review, you will modify and hone your question into a clear and concise statement that could form the basis of a research design. Marking Criteria Your Assignment 3 will be marked based on the following criteria Assignment Text Instructions 1) Prepare a research proposal that addresses the following criteria: i. Background (250 words) – provide a brief overview describing the industry-related research situation relevant to the research idea you would like to develop. Tips for the Background Section This section sets up for the reader a background to the context for the research It ‘sets the scene’ for the research project Tell the reader why the study is being conducted Describe the location of the phenomenon you are researching and the experiences it offers E.g. if you are studying client satisfaction in hotels, you may want to describe the location of the hotels and the experiences that the hotels offer to clients Assignment Text ii. Significance (250 words) explain the significance and need for this research from the perspective of the business or organisation. Tips for the Significance Section This section should explain the significance and need for your research project to be undertaken from the perspective of the management and marketing of the attraction E.g. if you are studying client satisfaction in hotels, how will your research help the hotels in regards to its operations, management and marketing functions? If you are aiming at a high grade for Assignment 3, you may also want to justify the significance of your research by referring to relevant academic literature A ‘gap’ in the literature, or a limited amount of research having previously been conducted in this area Assignment Text iii. Scope (150 words max) – explain the geographical, temporal and demographic scope of the proposed research Tips for the Scope Section Be specific! Ask yourself the following questions: What(concepts)/who am I studying in my research project? (demographic scope) E.g. Client satisfaction of hotel guests travelling for business aged 40-60 years visiting the Star City Hotel and Casino in Sydney Where will my research participants be drawn from? (geographical scope) E.g. Only domestic hotel guests – that is, hotel guests who live permanently within the geographical country border of Australia When will the research be conducted? (temporal scope) E.g. in the Australian winter period, from June-August 2012 If your answer to these questions are ambiguous, you need to refine the scope further and be more specific Assignment Text iv. Problem statement and objectives (150 words max) – determine a clear and concise problem statement and 2-4 research objectives that relate to your research proposal Tips for the Problem Statement and Objectives Include the demographic, geographical, and temporal scope in your problem statement Use the correct instruction word/s, e.g. examine, explore, describe etc. Consult a dictionary if you are not sure Keep sentences short – try not to exceed 2 sentences in your problem statement Pay attention to grammar and expression Be critical: does the problem statement say exactly what you intend to research? Make sure that your sub objectives are relevant to solve the overall ‘problem’ (i.e. the problem statement) Assignment Text Instructions v) Prepare a literature review that critically evaluates at least five (5) references from the academic literature (books and/or academic journal articles) relevant to your research idea (1000 words). Tips for the Literature Review High grade in this unit- go far beyond 5 references Source academic journal articles from the library’s databases High grade in this unit - be critical in your writing being critical means to look at a particular approach from many different angles, comparing/contrasting it with other approaches, and not automatically adopting it by its face value Example of Being Critical This author is NOT being critical: Job satisfaction is defined as being in ‘a pleasurable or positive emotional state resulting from the appraisal of one’s job or job experiences’ (Locke, 1976, p. 1304). This author IS being critical: According to Locke (1976, p. 1304), job satisfaction can be defined as being in ‘a pleasurable or positive emotional state resulting from the appraisal of one’s job or job experiences’. As opposed to this affective approach to job satisfaction, however, other researchers (Eagly & Chaiken 1993; Kaplan et al. 2009) have presented a more cognitive view of job satisfaction. From this perspective… Based on this discussion, you would make up your own opinion on how you think it is appropriate to define job satisfaction for the purpose of your research study Assignment Text Instructions Provide a reference list (Harvard – see Summers and Smith’s (2006) referencing guide) for academic literature sources you use to justify your final research proposal Assignment Text Note: Your assignment is a hypothetical exercise only, that is designed to give you opportunity to learn, in a small but practical situation, about the research process and its place within business and tourism. Under no circumstances are you to approach any employee of a tourist organisation or tourist attraction for assistance with this assignment and also Assignment 3. Format of Assignment 3 Title Page Background Significance Problem Statement and Objectives Scope Literature Review Reference List Appendices Word Limit and Assignment Sections The cover sheet, title page, reference list, and appendices are not included in the 1800 word limit I recommend that you use headings (and subheadings, if necessary) within your assignment Physical Presentation Double spaced At least 2.5 cm margins Use section headings Insert page numbers Prefer the use 3rd person (instead of writing ‘I’, refer to yourself as ‘the researcher’ or similar term) Final Notes Focus on the marking criteria of the assignment – this is your guide to ensure that you have included all necessary elements into the assignment that you will be marked on Start early – last minute assignments written the night before the due date seldom obtain a high grade