| CODE | CNM5603 | ||||||
| TITLE | Research Methods and Statistics | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Construction and Property Management | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit will introduce students to generic aspects of research methodology. This will enable them to successfully design and manage research projects of various types including those associated with construction technology development and/or business and management issues. The unit will introduce to the basic research paradigms, discuss the required breadth and depth of Masters level research, explain basic research methodology, review approaches to problem and hypothesis definition, outline strategies for conducting literature surveys and examine techniques for gathering and analysing data of both quantitative and qualitative types. The unit will also address the contents and style of the final report, the presentation of the research findings and the criteria to be used in assessment of the final report. Study-unit Aims This unit aims to give students sound knowledge and understanding of generic research methodology and project management. This will enable them to successfully design and manage research projects relating to engineering technology development and/or management issues - from developing the initial research topic and problem definition through to writing the final dissertation. In addition they will develop an understanding of the tools and methods of project management as applied to engineering research or development projects. Learning Outcomes 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: 1. Develop a research project problem definition for a given construction management topic that clearly delineates the remit of the issue; 2. Develop a research plan for a given construction management topic that comprehensively addresses a defined research problem; 3. Demonstrate, in a given research problem, the appropriate statistical instruments for the exploration of the available data. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: In a given research problem context 1. Design a research project; 2. Discriminate among appropriate statistical methods; 3. Apply the correct statistical tools and report the findings based on results for statistical analysis; 4.Demonstrate proficiency in the use of SPSS software. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings Research Methods for Business Students, M. Saunders, P. Lewis and A. Thornhill, (Financial Times/Prentice Hall), 2000. Business Research - A Practical Guide for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students, J. Hussey and R. Hussey, (Macmillan Business), 1997. Discovering Statistics Using SPSS. Andy Field. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Tutorial | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Joseph H. Spiteri |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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