Business Research Methods

BBS_6_REM | Business Research Methods | Research Report Guidelines

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BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS - REPORT GUIDELINES

This guide is intended to make you aware of all the report sections, helping in the module BBS_6_REM

Business Research Methods summative project. All this information is also on Moodle, summarized here

with a marking guide, and was communicated throughout the course.

Summary of the report sections in their order

1. Title page: London South Bank University's name/logo, the title of your project, the module

coordinator's name and date/month of submission. Please note your name does not need to

be given for blind marking reasons.

2. Abstract/Executive summary: A brief description of the aims and objectives of the research and

a short summary of the research approach and key findings. The abstract should be between

250-300 words (generally, try to keep this to one page only). It is useful to have a quick overview

of the work.

3. Acknowledgements (if you wish) to any individuals or companies who have provided helpful

ideas, data or resources. Do not count into the word count.

4. A full Table of contents (sections/chapters) including appendices.

5. List of tables and a list of figures, each with page numbers.

6. Chapter 1: Introduction

7. Chapter 2: Literature review

8. Chapter 3: Research methodology

9. Chapter 4: Findings, analysis and discussion

10. Chapter 5: Conclusion and recommendations/implications

11. Bibliography: A full reference list in alphabetical order following the LSBU closely required

Harvard referencing style.

12. Appendices (if any) consist of material that does not need to be read to make sense of the

dissertation. Do not treat the appendices as a repository for all tables and figures. Essentially

appendices should be used for data or additional explanations that are too lengthy to include

in the main body of the dissertation without distracting from the mainline of the argument

being developed. The ethics form(s) should go in there and interview guidelines and survey

questions; consent forms, etc. Please, remember that collecting primary data without

requesting approval via the ethics form means automatic failure! The same treatment is

reserved for those students forgetting to attach in the appendix the ethics form approved

BBS_6_REM | Business Research Methods | Research Report Guidelines

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INDICATIVE WORDS COUNTS

These are NOT exact indications. There are just to provide a sense of what it can be.

Research report

Introduction 500

Literature review 750

Methodology 1,000

Results of the Analysis 1,500

Conclusions and

recommendations/implications 750

Other (abstract/executive summary;

tables, etc.) 500

Total 5,000 words (+/- 10%)

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1. Chapter: Introduction

Background: A concise background of the research topic and research problem. Present some

statistics which further justify your interest.

Research problem: An academic problem definition. Students will be expected to clearly state the

main problem/opportunity and their research's main aim(s).

Research question: Which one (!) overarching question does your research intends to answer? (in

rare cases, the research questions might be two)

Research objectives: These should always be specific, clear and achievable. It must be remembered

that the assessment will examine the degree to which the research effectively addresses stated

objectives. They should be clearly related to your research problem.

Research contribution: For whom is your study worthwhile? Which contribution will your research

make to knowledge and understanding of the general research area?

2. Chapter: Literature review

A critical review of the current (as much as possible) academic literature that relates and is relevant

to your research objectives/question (s). Make sure the main theories regarding your research

problem are addressed. Mention the methods used by other researchers to address comparable

research problems.

In summary, you should clearly state the gaps in the literature that you aim to research as well as

the main concurrent and comparable works.

Students are expected to use a substantial range of appropriate journal references recalled in the

text according to the LSBU Harvard guide.

3. Chapter: Research methodology

This chapter should show the justification of the chosen methodologies by including the following

sections (the inclusion can be explicit or not; an explicit inclusion helps the market to tick the boxes).

Research philosophy: Outlines an awareness of research philosophy (e.g. epistemology and

ontology) and rationale for your choice.

Research approach: Outlines an awareness of the inductive/deductive approach and the rationale

for your choice. Make sure that, in both the cases, you address the theories.

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Research design: Outlines an awareness of exploratory/descriptive/causal (at least) research and

the rationale for your choice.

Research Strategy: Outlines whether research will you use qualitative, quantitative, mixed- or multi-

method. Explain your choice and back up it by using other research. Make sure that the measures

used to look at the investigated phenomena are clear.

Data collection methods: Outlines the use of the instrument for collecting the primary research.

Measurement and scaling procedures: Outlines the use of measurement and scaling used within

the questionnaire/interview/focus group/etc.

In your research, are you using a cross-sectional or longitudinal view? Why?

The pilot study: if any outlines issues relating to the testing of the research instrument.

The sampling process: Outlines the sampling process, target population, sample size, and whether

probability or nonprobability sampling methods have been employed. Clearly explain why.

Methods of analysis: Outlines the methods of analysis employed within the study.

Ethics considerations: Refer to the market research code of practice; this is NOT the ethical

consideration form but a summary of the ethical issues that emerged throughout your research. If

you do not see any, please, say clearly why.

Research limitations: Outlines the various limitations of your research, size, sampling etc. → This

section may alternatively be placed at the end of your report.

From a general and practical point of view, please, list the analysis steps. Ensure the reader can

understand the reason for each step and connect it with the research methods used.

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4. Chapter: Findings, analysis and discussion

The report should include primary and secondary findings. You are required to triangulate your

findings:

• Relate your findings to your research objectives.

• Validate and present your results and make a logical sequence of points describing them.

• Use other sources/references to prove the correctness of your findings.

5. Chapter: Conclusion and recommendations/implications

Critically discuss findings to be able to link them to the implications with respect to your research

question(s) and objectives.

This chapter should include:

• Logical conclusions are consistent with research results and the research question(s).

• A clear answer to the research question(s)

• Specific economical-focused recommendations/implications.

• Limitations of research project (if not already covered in chapter 3).

6. Bibliography

A list of all the references used in the text. They HAVE to be reported according to LSBU Harvard guide.

The maker will check this.