Postgraduate Course: Supervised reading: Literature review (BUST11231)
Course Outline
| School | Business School |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course provides an opportunity for students registered for any of the research degree programmes within the Business School to pursue supervised reading on a topic relevant to the overall aims of that programme. |
| Course description |
The content and reading of the course will be agreed between the student and the supervisor during initial meetings and developed over the various weeks of the writing project.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2019/20, Available to all students (SV2)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Flexible |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
186 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
A written report of not less than 5000 words and 200 hours of average student work. Whilst it is expected that the written assignment builds on and extends the Supervised Reading: Refining the proposal, Supervised Reading: Literature Review should focus more on the theoretical and conceptual frameworks to be deployed. Understanding in Management research proceeds by advancing competing interpretations of a complex and interconnected world. Theory is needed to provide critical insights into what can be studied and how. Studies lacking good theory can become overwhelmed by diversity. Doctoral students must therefore choose between different theoretically informed tools that help them impose order on unruly reality, draw boundaries around their project, as well as select sites for examination, and so on. Studies lacking theory offer only descriptive accounts that are hard pressed to extrapolate or draw general lessons for practice. A clear theoretical perspective thus seems to be a prerequisite for effective PhD study. Therefore, as well as including more a refined on in-depth literature review, this course should include a review of concepts and frameworks from the relevant disciplinary area. These theories should be assessed - their strengths and weaknesses - in relation to how they might throw light on the research objectives and questions of the PhD. Content and structure of the reading assignment may vary from this with the supervisor's agreement. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Critically evaluate a bounded body of literature.
- Identify points of contradiction, paradox, and/or gaps in understanding in the literature.
- Assess how varying modes of study impinge on the framing of research and on potential findings.
- Write a paper that provides a coherent and critical understanding of the literature and that may lead to the development of propositions, hypotheses, or other clearly identified points of theoretical contribution.
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Reading List
| To be determined by discussion with the Supervisor. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
- Understand the relationship between empirical research, theory generation and theory testing
- Comprehend the principles of research design and strategy
- Critically analyse and synthesize information to support research themes
- Be accomplished independent learners who take responsibility for their own learning
- Demonstrate a high level of communication skills: verbal and written
- Demonstrate research management and team-working skills
- Demonstrate independent action and initiative
- Demonstrate an ability to manage tasks and deadlines
- Be able to demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of an analysis
- Demonstrate advanced bibliographic skills |
| Keywords | Management,Business,Accounting,Finance,Economics,Entrepreneurship,Innovation,Strategy |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Neil Pollock
Tel: (0131 6)51 1489
Email: Neil.Pollock@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Lindsey Singleton
Tel: (0131 6)51 5307
Email: Lindsey.Singleton@ed.ac.uk |
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