MMD001: Introduction to Thesis Literature Review

Module code: MMD001

Module provider: International Business and Strategy; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

Level: Doctoral level

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Peter Scott, email: p.m.scott@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: No placement specified

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list:

Last updated: 28 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This compulsory module will provide students with an overview and understanding of the role of the literature review in the doctoral thesis; the practicalities of constructing a literature review (surveying the literature; structuring the review; what should and should not be included and so forth); and the requirements for a good literature review (a critical and analytical approach, applied to both arguments and methodology, which demonstrates the need for the thesis research, the viability of the project, and the suitability of the proposed methodology). Students should gain an understanding of these issues both in relation to thesis research in general and their specific requirements.  

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that the student will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of: 

• Surveying the literature 
• Composing a literature review 
• The importance of a critical/analytical approach 
• The relevance and use of theoretical and empirical evidence. 

Module content

 Six, two hour, lectures, plus nine hours of presentations by the students 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures (12 hours), including discussions regarding the students’ individual literature review projects.  

Nine hours of student presentations, with each student presents a 12 minute summary of their literature review. 

Study hours

At least 14 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

 Pass/fail modules – “This module is marked on a pass/fail basis. Students must pass each item of assessment to pass the 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.

Students’ literature presentations 

Reassessment

Additional costs