AHMES03-Research Methods

Module Provider: Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour
Number of credits: 30 [15 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Aminu Bature
Email: a.bature@henley.ac.uk

Module Co-convenor: Dr Amanda Hall
Email: amanda.hall@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Summary module description 

(Please note that this is the only content section that appears in the module browser during student module selection, and it will also be visible to prospective students in the course catalogue) 

ONLY AVAILABLE ON THE AHEP PROGRAMME 

This module is run jointly by LOB and SPEIR.  

The SPEIR Module Convenor is Dr Amanda Hall 

The LOB Module Convenor is Dr Aminu Bature 

This module equips Student Officers with the learning tools for understanding the ingredients of good research, for successfully choosing, designing and developing their own research projects, for improving performance in other elements of AHEP and subsequent professional training, and for critical thinking throughout their careers. 

Aims:

Aims 

• Develop understanding of the research process and principles of good research design, building on study skills developed on the Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Land) at Shrivenham. 


• Familiarize students with a range of research methods used in the study of leadership, strategy, and international relations;  


• Develop students’ understanding of how they might apply these methods in their own research projects; 


• Equip students to make clear and well-informed choices in defining, designing and developing their own research projects; 


• Enhance students’ critical thinking and awareness of the use and limitations of evidence; 


• Improve students’ ability to understand and critically assess arguments made in the academic literature, in public policy, and in their own workplaces. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

Assessable learning outcomes 

• Student Officers will assimilate the key skills required to undertake research which would fulfil a number of requirements. These may be to undertake module assessments, or later to complete their Negotiated Learning Module. 


• A mix of assessable activities covering topics relating to work in Leadership and Organisational Behaviour, or Politics and International Relations will be undertaken. These are to test the understanding of different forms of research which are carried out with different outcomes in mind. 


• The summation of the learning will allow the Student Officer to articulate a proposal to carry out a piece of original research in a nominated topic. The skills required to identify this topic, understand the background and previous research underpinning the topic, ways of assimilating knowledge and/or collecting data and the analysis and interpretation of that knowledge or findings will be covered. 

Additional outcomes:

Additional outcomes 

Student Officers will be able to apply this learning to improve their submissions for assessment of modules during the AHEP degree process. 

Outline content:

Outline content 

The module comprises two main parts; the first of which familiarises you with the research methods approach and processes utilised when undertaking research in Strategy/Politics and International Relations and the second part fulfils similar objectives for research in Leadership and related topics. 

Section 0 – Joint Introduction 

Section 1 – Introduction to Research Methods in International Relations and Strategic Studies 

Section 2 – Research design in International Relations and Strategic Studies 

Section 3 – Qualitative methods in International Relations and Strategic Studies 

Section 4 – Quantitative methods in International Relations and Strategic Studies 

Section 5 – Bringing it all together in International Relations and Strategic Studies 

Section 6 - Introduction to Research Methods in Leadership 

Section 7 - Research design in Leadership 

Section 8 - Qualitative Methods in Leadership 

Section 9 - Quantitative Methods in Leadership 

Section 10 – Bringing it all together in Leadership 

Global context:

Global context 

(where appropriate) 

The context of this module is the British Army. The scope of the Army is a global one and, therefore, elements of international leadership, global cultures, international relations and the home and foreign political environments are taken into account. 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Brief description of teaching and learning methods 

All learning for this module is via on-line courses. There are also discussion forums, an e-portfolio (The Professional Leadership Portfolio, or PLP) for reflection and as a repository of ideas, and formative assessments embedded into the module content. 

There is no face-to-face contact in this module as all content is taught online. 

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	10
Seminars	10
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	50
Wider reading (directed)	100
Essay preparation	110
Reflection	20
Total hours by term	300	0	0
Total hours for module	300

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	20
Written assignment including essay	60
Class test administered by School	20

Summative assessment- Examinations:

No examination 

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

(Number and length of assignments and in-class tests, and, if available, the submission date for each assignment (expresses as a week of a specific term)) 

A mix of exercises and reflective tasks on the LOB/Leadership material - 20% (referred to as Class test administered by School/Dept in the table above) 

A mix of exercises and reflective tasks on the SPEIR/Strategy & IR material - 20% (referred to as Class test administered by School/Dept in the table above) 

An essay made of a research proposal of 2000 words on EITHER LOB/Leadership OR SPEIR/Strategy & IR tracks, and a separate 500 words Reflective Component - 60% (referred to as Written assignment, including essay in the table above). To include (not exhaustive): 

Identification of a research problem/area within EITHER Leadership OR Strategy/IR 

Formulation of an explicit research question and identification of research objective 

Identification of relevant literature 

Design of the research, identifying relevant methods 

Identification of Project Plan  

Reflection on the relevance of research proposal topic for professional development. 

In summary, the Research Method module has 2 multiple choice quizzes, one covering the leadership topic and one covering the SPEIR topic. Each with 25 questions and each weighted at 20%. 

The quizzes are set and administered automatically through Canvas and made available for students to complete once the module material for that section has been completed.  

The questions in each quiz are randomly selected from a extensive bank of questions stored in Canvas. The student initiates each test themselves through Canvas. Once the test is initiated there is a time limit to complete the quiz. 

The third element of assessment is a research proposal which is due for submission at the end of the module duration. Following the completion of both quizzes the student selects to submit either a LOB proposal or a SPEIR proposal weighted at 60%. 

 

Formative assessment methods:

(Work which provides opportunities to improve performance (e.g. through feedback provided) but which does not necessarily always contribute towards the overall module mark) 

Moderated discussion forums 

In module tests and exercises 

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy 'Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes', which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

Module pass mark of 50%  

Reassessment arrangements:

Resubmission of the failed elements of the module.  

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 10 January 2024