Research Methods Trade/Development

INSTRUCTIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL PROJECT

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

INTL725 – Research Methods Trade/Development

3-4 pages, 15% of final grade

Due Week 6, sent to Dropbox on e-Centennial one hour before class

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CRITICAL READING  CRITICAL THINKING  CRITICAL WRITING

1

al analysis is an important part of a research project. This individual assignment focuses

on the analysis part of a research project. This means that you do not need to spend much

n collecting data and processing them. Rather, you only need a sufficient amount of data

formation, and use your analytical skills, critical thinking and writing skills to perform a

l analysis on the topic selected. This is a basic research and an academic report is required.

ding to the Melbourne Business School Library (2008), critical analysis is “the synthesis of

nd theory to construct a causal argument about a problem”. This source also indicates that

ts need to demonstrate the following in a critical analysis project:

depth of insight into the topic,

ndependent thinking, and

well-organized, well reasoned, clearly written report.”

ll, it suggests that students need to avoid a report with “long descriptions and very low

ical content.”

ave the flexibility to choose your topic and focus on a particular industry in a particular

t or country. When choosing a topic, consider the following questions:

Will a Canadian company or organization benefit from this research? How?

Exactly what value do I bring to the company or organization with this research?

s the Canadian company to whom you could write a cover letter and send your research

.

se: You hope that with the research, the company sees that you have analytical skills,

l thinking, understanding of the global marketplace, etc. and might consider hiring you as

ern, consultant, or employee.

nts are expected to follow a two-step process.

Step 1: Choose a topic, and read as many professional sources as possible on this topic.

Step 2: Final Report: Submit a final report to e-Centennial Dropbox one hour before

class. Using Turnitin

Week-3 Weeks 3-5 Weeks 5-6

2

Required sources from students: Verify your data using more than one source per citing.

1. At least five reputable Internet sources from at least three different organizations

2. At least five business journal articles from at least three different journals

3. At least two books from the library shelves

Reputable Internet sources:

 The Economist (www.economist.com)

 The United Nations, World Bank

 McKinsey Quarterly

 CIA

 Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Canada (www.international.gc.ca)

 Business without Borders (www.bwob.ca)

 Export Development Canada (www.edc.ca)

 Canada’s newspapers and magazines: The Global and Mail, National Post, MacLean’s

 US newspapers and magazines: Forbes, Time, Foreign Affairs

 Europe: BBC

Reputable business journals: available on Library online databases

Harvard Business Review

California Management Review

International Business & Economics

Research Journal

Strategic Management Journal

Academy of Management Review

Management Research Review

Journal of Global Marketing

Journal of International Business Studies

Journal of International Business Research

Research in International Business and

Finance

Corporate Finance Review

Corporate Reputation Review

Business Horizons

Asian Business & Management

Journal of Business Ethics

Journal of International Business Ethics

Journal of Law, Business and Ethics

... and many others.

Final Report Format (in addition to a cover letter)

3-4 pages, not including cover letter, cover page, charts, graphs, photos and bibliography, single-

spaced, in the following order: title, abstract, key words, main points of analysis, bibliography.

Use APA referencing style.

TITLE OF YOUR PAPER

Abstract: This section is often written in italic.

Key words: provide 4 to 8 key concepts in your research

Introduction

Background, or Literature Review

3

(Point 1)

(Point 2)

(Point 3)

(Further Analysis, if necessary)

Future Research

In this section, discuss the limitations of your research and suggest future research directions.

Conclusion

Bibliography

Useful Hints:

 The abstract is a summary of the whole paper, i.e., one can just read to abstract to know the

main content of your paper.

 The title is a summary of the abstract, i.e., one can look at the title to know the main issues

you discuss in the paper.

 The first sentence of a paragraph is often the summary of the paragraph.

Complying with the Academic Honesty and Plagiarism Policy

Penalty will be applied as follows:

- Using a source without acknowledging it (even when the student paraphrased and did not copy

word-for-word): 20% deduction per source.

- Plagiarizing one sentence (or almost a sentence): 10% deduction per sentence.

- Plagiarizing one paragraph (or almost a paragraph): 50% deduction per paragraph.

- Plagiarizing one source in the References section of another work: 10% deduction per source.

- Using report file(s) from previous students: 75% deduction

Marking Rubric for Individual Report:

Criterion A-level B-level C-level D-level Unsatisfactory Mark

Letter, Abstract, and Key Words

Clear, concise, and effective

Clear and effective

Clear, could be more effective

Not very clear

Inadequate

/3

Background (literature review)

Excellent Good Adequate Acceptable Unsatisfactory /2

Data analysis and interpretation; Business

Excellent Good Adequate Acceptable Unsatisfactory /3

4

Business implications

Use of professional sources

Uses professional sources extensively and effectively

Uses professional sources sufficiently

Uses professional sources adequately

Uses some professional sources

Does not use professional sources /2

APA format; References

Documents sources using APA format precisely throughout

Documents sources using APA format with a few errors

Documents sources using APA format with many errors

Does not use APA format adequately

Does not use APA format

/2

Writing effectiveness

Writes clearly, concisely and effectively

Writes clearly, and effectively, with only a few errors

Writes clearly and concisely, with many errors

Writing is unclear, with too many errors

Writing is unclear and unfocused, with many serious errors

/3

Total: /15

References

Melbourne Business School Library (2008). Critical Thinking and Analysis Guide, September 2008.

Retrieved on December 11, 2011 from http://mclennan.mbs.edu/classroom/bibliographies/

critical_thinking_and_analysis_guide.pdf