Faculty of Business: Leisure, Sport and Tourism
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level: Postgraduate

Result Type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 27707 Applied Research Methods
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are also course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Recommended studies: a basic knowledge of the range of qualitative and quantitative research methods used in leisure and tourism research and of a survey and statistical analysis package such as SPSS

Handbook description

This subject covers the selection of a research topic; the process of conceptualising research problems and asking research questions; reviewing the literature; selecting the appropriate research method; devising a research strategy; and preparing a research proposal. In the latter half of the semester, students work with an allocated supervisor to prepare their own research proposal to be executed in the Master's project subject or in the Arts Management research project subject.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Develop a researchable topic from the literature or from a policy or management problem or issue.
2. Conceptualise the research problem(s) and review related literature.
3. Devise a research strategy to address the research problem(s).
4. Outline a feasible research program to be executed in the following subject, Masters Project 2.

Contribution to graduate profile

The subject is designed for Master of Management (Tourism/Arts/Sport/Event Management) students. The goal is to work toward the production of a research proposal in preparation for the follwoing subject, Masters Project 2. The subject assumes a basic knowledge of social research techniques and their applications, as covered in the subject Applied Research Methods for Leisure, Sport and Tourism. This involves a familiarity with the range of qualitative and quantitative research methods used and familiarity with a statistical analysis package.

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject is conducted as a series of seminars and workshops based on readings and case-studies. In the latter half of the semester students work with allocated supervisors to prepare their own research proposal. Content for this subject will be supported by UTSOnline.

Content

• Developing a research topic
• Developing a conceptual framework and concept map
• Reviewing the literature
• Selecting a research method, qualitative and quantitative methods
• Devising a research strategy
• Consideration of research ethics
• Preparing a research proposal

Assessment

Problem analysis and review of literature (Individual)	40%
This addresses objectives 1 and 2.
Research proposal (Individual)	60%
This addresses objectives 1-4.

The review of literature and research proposal will be secure through a combination of continual revising of topics across semesters and multiple topic choice within each semester. Individuals are required to submit reference lists for their own work for each assessment task, which reduces the possibility for plagiarism. The choice of subject material for these assignments will encourage individual work.

Recommended text(s)

There is no single text - students will be required to read widely from among the items below, and from journals and monographs as needed.

Indicative references

Bertrand, I. (2004), Media Research Methods: Audiences, Institutions, Texts. New York: Macmillan.

Buckingham, A. & Saunders, P. (2004), The Survey Methods Workbook: From Design To Analysis. Cambridge: Polity.

Hewson, C. (2003), Internet Research Methods: A Practical Guide For The Social And Behavioural Sciences. London: Sage.

Lewis–Beck, M., Bryman, A.E. & Futing Liao, T. (2004), The Sage Encyclopedia Of Social Science Research Methods. Thousand Oaks CA: Sage.

Nardi, P.M. (2003), Doing Survey Research: A Guide To Quantitative Methods. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.