Module: Research Methods

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Research Methods
Module Code	BAA1068 (ITS: MT5217)
Faculty	DCU Business School	School	DCU Business School
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module examines what it means to conduct research for operations, with the overarching objective to support students in critically evaluating research designs, methodologies and methods appropriate to different research questions and approaches in the the field of Operations. This includes devising a research question, conducting a literature review, individual research methods (and how they might work together) and academic writing skills.

Learning Outcomes

1. understand generally theoretical statistical concepts
2. Evaluate and describe good ethical practice in research relating to Operations
3. Understand how to define and select a sample from a population with an appreciation of associated difficulties and complexity involved
4. Understand how to categorise data, report descriptively and conduct appropriate analysis according to data type
5. Conduct appropriate analysis and understand the use of statistical tests
6. Understand the use of graphical representations of data

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Directed learning	14	Study course material and core textbooks
Independent Study	62	Source and study additional material related to course and engage with online content
Online activity	9	Use the online discussion forum for discussion and engage with additional online resources
Lecture	8	Theoretical approaches to knowledge development
Tutorial	8	Online tutorial
Assignment Completion	24	Prepare an assignment according to given criteria
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11880	Part of Term	Semester 1 & 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Pj Byrne	Module Teacher

Section Breakdown
CRN	11936	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Pj Byrne	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Initial Research Assignment	30%	n/a
Report(s)	Final Research Report	70%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Research Hypothesis and the Null Hypothesis

Constructing a Research Question

Philosophical approaches to scientific research

Ethical practice in research relating to Operations

Defining a population

Selecting a sample from a population, and difficulties associated with sampling a population.

Categorisation of different types of data

Descriptive statistics

Analysis according to data type

T-Test, Chi Square and Mann Whitney tests

Correlation

Regression analysis

Analysis of Variance (AnoVa)

Graphical representations of data

Citing and referencing

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Robson, C: 0, Real World Research, 4th Edition: A Resource for Users of Social Research Methods in Applied Settings, 4th, Wiley Hoboken, 9781118745236
Field, A.: 0, Discovering Statistics using IBM SPSS, 4th, Sage, 97814462491

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None