Module: Research Methodology

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Research Methodology
Module Code	MNA1076 (ITS: HR548)
Faculty	DCU Business School	School	DCU Business School
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5

Description

The general objective of this module is to introduce students to the research process and present the tools and methodologies of social science required to carry out their dissertation research. Participants are given a firm foundation on the philosophy of social science and paradigm shifts. The enduring and dominant perspectives in Organisational Psychology/Behaviour are reviewed and approaches assessed. The development of valid research questions and hypotheses are covered. Participants will develop the skills to design objective interview schedules and survey questionnaires. Data gathering and data storage issues are dealt with and the ethical issues underpinning organisational research are covered in depth. Quantitative data analysis skills are developed (SPSS) and participants submit their own proposal for their research topic.

Learning Outcomes

1. 1D646C97-3017-0001-59AE-5A0F594B1A19
2. Explain the nature and purpose of research
4. 7,6
5. 1
6. 1D646C97-3EEC-0001-B9A8-69001F106B30
7. Prepare a literature review and research question
9. 20,12,19,11,9,10
10. 2
11. 1D646C97-53FE-0001-A479-C000C3C09050
12. Identify the main stages in the research process
14. 7,12,6,8,14
15. 3
16. 1D646C97-5CE7-0001-B674-11001B703600
17. Choose and justify an appropriate research methodology
19. 17,16,8,9
20. 4
21. 1D646C97-B1D1-0001-399B-137AE719BE00
22. Design a data collection approach to address their research question
24. 17,8,14,10
25. 5
26. 1E49B1CC-B3B8-0001-961D-73C026C52D50
27. Recognise and appraise ethical issues that may arise while carrying out research
29. 22,7,12,16,23,8,21
30. 6

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Class timetabled meeting times
Independent Study	48	Preparation for class meetings
Assignment Completion	38	written assignments
Assignment Completion	13	Presentation of Model to Programme Staff (prep and presentation)
Lecture	2	Meeting with module co-ordinator regarding research idea
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	20737	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	100%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Niamh Daly	Module Teacher	Finian Buckley, Lisa Van Der Werff, Yseult Freeney

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Report(s)	Research Project Proposal	100%	Sem 2 End

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

Finding a Gap
Considering approaches to literature review and how to situate research within the broader field of knowledge on an organisational psychology/behaviour topic or problem

Choosing a method
Discussion of the philosophy of social science and the relative strengths and weaknesses of the methodologies that are based on these approaches

Quantitative Research Methods
Review the range of quantitative approaches to research in Organisational Psychology

Analysis Skills
Introduction to key analysis software including SPSS, Nvivo and JAMOVI

Quantitative Research Methods
Review the variety of qualitative approaches to research employed in the field of Organisaitonal Psychology

Qualitative Research Methods
Review of the key qualitative methods used in organisational psychology literature with an indepth focus on interviews and thematic analysis

Research Ethics
Review the Ethical Standards in Research prescribed by PSI (also BPS and APA).

Discussion of DCU Business School Ethics requirements

Research Thesis format
Requirements of research thesis

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Bell, Bryman, Harley: 0, Business Research Methods,
Field: 0, Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics,

Articles:

All: 0, As relevant, Organisational Research Methods, 57471
2020: Creating High‐Impact Literature Reviews: An Argument for ‘Integrative Reviews’., Journal of Management Studies, 57472, 1
Methodological fit in management field research: 57473, 1, Aguinis, Edwards, Bradley
57474: 1, Pratt, Kaplan, Whittington, 2020, Editorial essay: The tumult over transparency: Decoupling transparency from replication in establishing trustworthy qualitative research.,
1: Dawson, 2014, Moderation in management research: What, why, when and how., Journal of Business & Psychology,
Braun & Clarke: 2021, Can I use TA? Should I use TA? Should I not use TA? Comparing reflexive thematic analysis and other pattern‐based qualitative analytic approaches., Counselling and Psychotherapy Research,

Other Resources

None