AHMES03: Research Methods

Module code: AHMES03

Module provider: Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour; Henley Business School

Credits: 30

Level: 7

When you'll be taught: Full year

Module convenor: Dr Aminu Bature, email: a.bature@henley.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Amanda Hall, email: amanda.hall@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: na

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 19 November 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

ONLY AVAILABLE ON THE AHEP PROGRAMME

This module is run jointly by LOB and SPPE . 

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

 The two main objectives of this module are to: 

• equip you with the skills needed to evaluate research papers you read throughout your programme. Once you start critically assessing how research knowledge has been produced, you will be better able to apply it without breaching the boundaries of the authors intent, its relevance and limitations.   

• be the first step in completing the Negotiated Learning module. It is during the Negotiated Learning module that you will be working to produce a rigorous piece of research, which is relevant for your career path and provides new insight to enhance an aspect of Army practice. This will be either in the area of International Relations and Strategic Studies or in Leadership. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end  of this module, it is expected students will be able to: 

• Recognise a range of research methods used in the study of leadership, strategy, and international relations.

• Understand the research process and principles of good research design, building on study skills developed on the Commissioning Course at Sandhurst, in Studying Leadership, Strategic Studies, and International Relations; and in the Junior Officer Leadership Programme (3) on the Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Land) at Shrivenham. 

• Apply these methods in your own research projects.

• Make clear and well-informed choices in defining, designing and developing your own research projects.

• Demonstrate critical thinking and awareness of the use and limitations of evidence.

• Critically assess arguments made in the academic literature, in public policy, and in your own workplaces.

Module content

The following  content is indicative and may be subject to minor changes:

Session 1. Introduction to Research Methods in International Relations and Strategic Studies 
Session 2. Research Design in International Relations and Strategic Studies 
Session 3. Qualitative Methods in International Relations and Strategic Studies 
Session 4. Quantitative Methods in International Relations and Strategic Studies 
Session 5. Bringing it all together in International Relations and Strategic Studies 
Session 6: Introduction to Research Methods in Leadership 
Session 7: Research Design in Leadership 
Session 8. Qualitative Methods in Leadership 
Session 9. Quantitative Methods in Leadership 
Session 10. Bringing it all together in Leadership

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The content is delivered on-line in a guided self-study format with directions to associated content, textbooks and journal articles. The module is structured around key readings and other sources, with a series of practical activities for each topic.

Study hours

At least 0 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.  

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

This module is subject to the Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes policy, which can be found at:

https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf

The Module Convenor will apply the following penalties to work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted up to one calendar month 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; 
• where the piece of work is submitted more than one calendar month after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

• Discussion forums 
• In module tests and exercises 

Reassessment

Additional costs