The Research Dissertation

(Module Code: 07-07978)

MSc Marketing

MSc International Marketing

MSc Marketing Communications

MSc Strategic Marketing and Consulting

2017 – 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

THE RESEARCH DISSERTATION MODULE 3

Brief Overview of the Module 3

Learning Outcomes 3

Assessment 3

1. The Research Methods Module 4

Learning Outcomes 4

Topics to be Covered 4

Workshops 4

Assessment 5

2. The Dissertation 5

What is a Dissertation? 5

The Value of a Dissertation 6

Choice of Dissertation Topic 6

Supervision 8

Deadlines and Requirements of the Dissertation 9

The Structure of a Dissertation 9

Referencing Source Material 12

Avoiding Plagiarism 12

Ethical Approval of Research Methods 13

Submission of Final Dissertation 13

Absence during the Dissertation 15

Applying for a Dissertation Deadline Extension 15

Dissertation Result and Appeals 15

What are Research Ethics? 15

Ethical Principles and Guidance 16

Ethical Review Checklist 17

Ethical Approval of Research Methods 17

FORMS 19

MSc Dissertation Ethics Checklist 20

Plagiarism declaration 22

Plagiarism declaration 23

Plagiarism declaration 24

Plagiarism declaration 25

Dissertation Proposal Form 26

Supervision Process Feedback Form 29

Dissertation Absence Application Form 30

Application for Extension to Dissertation Submission Deadline 31.

Research Interests – Staff 35

 

 

THE RESEARCH DISSERTATION MODULE

 

 

This guide is intended to help you understand the nature of the Research Dissertation module for your MSc programme. The guide will explain the Research Methods module and the requirements of the final dissertation document. The Research Dissertation is often viewed as the highlight of a Masters programme since it provides the student with a chance to undertake self-directed research on a subject of their choice in considerable depth. However, it is also a demanding aspect of the programme and will require intensive and independent study on the part of the Masters student.

 

On all four MSc programmes, the Research Dissertation will count for ONE THIRD (60 credits) of the total credits (180) for your degree. Please take time to read and absorb the contents of this guide as it contains important and valuable advice.

 

Brief Overview of the Module

The Research Dissertation is the opportunity for you to apply your knowledge and understanding of research methods and your research skills in practice. You should already have useful knowledge and skills acquired through the Marketing Research module (MSc Marketing/International Marketing) or Marketing Analytics module (MSc Strategic Marketing and Consulting/Marketing Communications). You will be further prepared for the Dissertation by engaging in additional lectures, workshops and practical exercises as part of a compulsory Research Methods module in Semester 2. We will develop your understanding of research from the scope and role of research in management and the philosophy of social science research through to how to apply research methodologies in practice. The workshops will explore research design, literature reviews, qualitative and quantitative data analysis (in theory and in practice), ethics and codes of conduct in research and dissertation writing skills.

 

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the Research Dissertation, successful students will demonstrate:

 

· The ability to undertake a substantial piece of independent and original research, applying relevant methodology and with due consideration for ethical and professional good practice;

 

· The ability to achieve a detailed knowledge of relevant literature in relation to a particular marketing topic and to contextualise their research;

 

· Critical and analytical thinking – challenging literature, defending methodology, collating evidence, processing and analysing data, relating theory to practice and considering the implications and limitations of their research;

 

· The ability to organise and plan a major project;

 

· The ability to present a major piece of research to a high standard of communication and presentation.

 

Assessment

The assessment for this module has two components.

– The first component involves the Research Methods course taught in Semester 2. This is assessed via an assignment totalling 3,000 words maximum, which contributes 15% to the total mark of the overall Research Dissertation module.

– The second component is a final dissertation (maximum 12,000 words) counting 85% towards the total module mark. Assessment is undertaken by your supervisor, a second examiner from within the Business School, and may also be reviewed and moderated by the External Examiner.

 

To be considered for the degree award, you must obtain at least 50% in the overall Research Dissertation module!

 

 

The Research Methods Module

The Research Methods Module is taught in Semester 2 (Thursday, 15:00-17:00, Vaughan Jeffereys Lecture Theatre, Education Building) and is co-ordinated by Sheena Leek, whose office hours are as follows:

 

Sheena Leek

114 Ash House

Wednesday 2.30-4.30 Thursday 11.00-12.00

0121 414 6226

[email protected]

 

 

The module aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the concepts of research for academic dissertations, including the various research philosophies, the range of approaches to research design and the ethics of research. It aims to provide students with the ability to determine the appropriate use of quantitative and qualitative methods, and the capability to perform analysis of qualitative and quantitative data. Workshops and guest lecturers will be used to facilitate the delivery of research methods concepts.

 

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module, successful students will demonstrate:

 

Knowledge and understanding of: –

 

1. The philosophy of social / marketing research, and how to defend their philosophical standpoint;

2. How to use appropriate literature and theoretical frameworks;

3. Relevant qualitative and quantitative research methodologies;

4. Methods of qualitative and quantitative data collection;

5. Ethical issues in social / marketing research;

6. How to relate theory to research findings, draw relevant conclusions, and consider the implications and limitations of their research.

 

Skills

 

By the end of this module students will have developed (or enhanced) their ability to: –

1. Think critically and analytically;

2. Critique relevant literature, and challenge viewpoints, ideas and concepts;

3. Present information effectively in writing;

4. Work and learn independently;

5. Plan, organise and develop a coherent, well-argued and convincing masters-level dissertation.

 

Topics to be Covered

Please check the module’s Canvas section for updates.

 

Workshops

 

There will be three workshops designed to help you with the following topics: –

 

· Qualitative data analysis – using NVivo

· Quantitative data analysis – setting up data and basic statistics

· Quantitative data analysis – basic statistics

 

You will be provided with tasks to complete in each workshop. Completion of the tasks will aid in developing your practical skills for use in both the assignment and your final MSc dissertation. The workshops have been designed for you to discuss any difficulties you may have with the tasks, and to check you have completed the tasks correctly. This is your chance to learn to use SPSS and NVivo for your assessed coursework and MSc dissertation, and attendance will be taken at the workshops.

 

Assessment

 

This assignment has two parts. Please note the two different deadlines.

 

Part one: Dissertation Proposal – Part one consists of a dissertation proposal, which will enable us to assess your understanding of the key concepts, practices and processes involved in research for academic dissertations. The word count of part one is 2,250 words. References are not included in the word count. Part one is worth 75% of the assignment. The deadline for part one is 12.00 noon, Thursday 26th April 2018.

 

Part two: SPSS Task – Part two requires you to demonstrate your skills in quantitative data analysis, interpretation, and presentation, as well as your ability to use SPSS for such purposes (see detailed learning outcomes outlined on page 5 of your dissertation handbook). The word count of part two is 750 words. References are not included in the word count. Part two is worth 25% of the assignment. The deadline for part two is 12 noon, Friday 23rd March 2018.

 

The assessment will contribute 15% to the total mark of the Research Dissertation module.

 

The Dissertation

 

What is a Dissertation?

A dissertation is a piece of work that demonstrates your scholarship in the field of marketing. Scholars have identified various qualities that should be exhibited including (Cassell, 2000; Jankowicz, 1991; Raimond (1993) cited in Riley et. al., 2000): –

 

· An academic approach;

· Careful and accurate use of evidence;

· Thoroughness in the coverage of subject matter;

· Shows understanding and critical and analytical thinking;

· Clearly defined objectives;

· Evidence of originality;

· A sound methodology and good quality evidence/data;

· Balance in reporting data and evidence;

· Care in the identification and attribution of sources;

· Respect for truth and validity of data and assertions made on the basis of data.

 

These are key issues that should remain uppermost in your mind as you work on your dissertation. This is a piece of scholarly, academic work.

 

 

 

The Value of a Dissertation

The dissertation process is valuable for a number of reasons: –

1. The whole dissertation process will help develop key personal skills that will be of value to employers such as information gathering, project management, time management, data analysis and report writing;

2. The dissertation may be of direct value in securing future employment. High quality dissertation research in a commercially relevant or contemporary field can provide a head start in interviews for positions in certain market sectors. You may already have links with an organisation, public or private, profit or non-profit, who could provide a research topic in marketing. So when developing your ideas for a possible dissertation topic, it is always worth considering how it might improve your chances of securing a position with a particular organisation;

3. In addition, the dissertation process may prompt you to consider pursuing a higher degree by research. There will be opportunities at Birmingham and at other universities to pursue MPhil or PhD degrees in marketing, and you will find your training and research experiences on the MSc very useful preparation.

 

Choice of Dissertation Topic

When considering a topic for your dissertation you MUST take into account the MSc course that you are undertaking, therefore: –

– Students on MSc International Marketing are expected to complete a dissertation that addresses an international marketing issue.

– Students on MSc Marketing Communications are expected to complete a dissertation that addresses a marketing communications issue.

– On the MSc Strategic Marketing and Consulting programme, all students have to apply to do a company topic dissertation, which links directly to a client company’s research problem. Only a few students will be selected, depending on the number of projects available.

– MSc Marketing Communications programme students may apply to do a company topic if they have taken the Consultancy Skills and Practice module (20 credits) as an optional module.

All students on the MSc Strategic Marketing and Consulting have to fill in an application form that lists their top five preferences regarding the projects on offer, (see project / academic dissertation proposal form , pp. 27-28), but also an alternative academic topic that they are interested in pursuing, in case they are not selected for a project. We have a limited number of company projects on offer, and selection will be done based on academic results from the first semester, as well as the student’s overall performance in the Consultancy Skills and Practice Module, and their Curriculum Vitae (CV).

 

MSc Marketing Communications students who have taken the Consultancy Skills and Practice module also have the option of applying to do a company topic dissertation – see above conditions; the application and selection criteria are the same as for MSc Strategic Marketing and Consulting students.

 

When choosing a topic you should consider how it would help develop your knowledge, understanding and skills. You should consider how it might enhance your employment prospects or your preparation for a higher degree. You should also, of course, choose a topic that you will enjoy – because, after all, you are going to be working on it for a long time.

Ideas for research topics can come from a variety of sources. Some students in the past have pursued topics linked to a member of staff’s specialist research interest (please see research interests, pp. 32-34). Others have pursued a topic that has been prompted by a current marketing issue they have spotted in the press. Others have chosen to explore a topic in a specialist area of marketing that links directly to a company for whom they wish to work.

For students undertaking a client company project this will be the basis of the dissertation. If you undertake a client company project you need to remember that it is the Dissertation that is assessed and not the report for the client. The purpose of this handbook is to focus on what you are required to do for the dissertation whether it is an academic topic or a company topic.

 

In coming to the final dissertation topic decision you should bear in mind two important things: –

 

· Is the information you need to complete your dissertation available? Can you get hold of the information and on time? Some research methods can be costly (postage, travel expenses for interviews etc.). Can you afford to carry them out?

· Is the research topic you have chosen realistic and manageable within the time frame of the MSc programme?

 

Below are some examples of past dissertation titles:

 

MSc Marketing:

· The effectiveness of celebrity endorsements: A case study of Guinness Nigeria PLC and Friesland WAMCO Nigeria PLC

· Testing the acceptability of m-banking: the implications for e-marketing strategy

· Innovation resistance exiting within both online shopping and electric bikes in Taiwan silver market

· Consumer perception of the influence of sponsorship on purchase intention.

· The influence of environmental consciousness factors on consumer purchase decision toward bottled water in Hong Kong

 

MSc International Marketing – PLEASE NOTE: all dissertations for MSc International Marketing need to focus on an international marketing topic to fulfil programme requirements!

· A cross national investigation: the role of determinants of perceived product quality on men’s cosmetic purchase intention in China and Malaysia

· Marketing strategies for international companies to compete in Vietnamese retailing market: the case of Unilever

· Attitudes towards email advertising: a comparative study between Chinese and British consumers from a cross-cultural perspective

· The impact of organisational culture on global corporate brand building

· The effects of luxury brand counterfeits towards brand awareness of high-end brand and attitude towards counterfeits in Thai market

 

MSc Strategic Marketing and Consulting

· Influence of CSR Programme and its animal welfare policy toward customer brand perspective and purchase decision in the UK

· Aston Villa Football Club: the supportive role of social media for AVFC’s internationalisation strategy

· To identify how Creation could effectively communicate with its audience and deliver an enhanced brand experience

· Cross-cultural comparison of product innovation management activities

· Motivational antecedents, involvement and eWOM effects of user-generated content for luxury brands

 

MSc Marketing Communications – PLEASE NOTE: all dissertations for MSc Marketing Communications need to focus on a marketing communications topic to fulfil programme requirements

· Evaluating experiential marketing in the exhibitions industry. A case of CSI: the experience

· The impact of Facebook on brand development in the health and beauty industry

· Investigating the impact of social media on brands

· What motivates consumers to pass on marketing messages?

 

Supervision

You will be allocated a supervisor in semester two once you have submitted your dissertation topic forms. This allocation is final and cannot be re-negotiated. There are occasions where your supervisor has to be changed during the supervision process for Business School operating purposes, e.g., the member of staff becomes unavailable and so a new supervisor is required. This is highly unlikely, but we will endeavour to make any such changes as soon as possible and with as little disruption as is feasible. However, this cannot be considered leeway for you to try and re-negotiate your supervisor allocation.

 

It is important that once your supervisor has been allocated that you arrange to meet with them to discuss your dissertation. Throughout the period it is your responsibility to arrange regular meetings with your supervisor and agree a timetable for completion of each stage of the dissertation. Although there may be some deadlines set by the supervisor, essentially you will set the agenda for your research management. After the initial meeting in semester two, students are expected to meet their supervisor at least once, with a total time for all meetings of up to five hours. It is up to you to make the most of these meetings, and be prepared to discuss any relevant issues with them at those meetings.

 

Your supervisor will comment on your ideas, help you narrow down the topic, may suggest sources of reading in the initial stages, they will provide advice on various other problems which may arise in the course of your dissertation. They should provide feedback on your work either by chapter as they are written or on the final, full draft. Your supervisor will require a paper or electronic copy of your draft at least two weeks before the meeting to discuss it.

 

Students should be aware that staff might not be available for periods during the Easter and summer vacations due to their other commitments. Find out when your supervisor will be available during these times and pre-arrange meetings well in advance to ensure that you have the supervision you require.

 

The dissertation is a test of your ability to pursue a research topic independently and in-depth and it is your responsibility to manage the process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deadlines and Requirements of the Dissertation

 

IMPORTANT – You will need to submit: –	Deadlines: –
The Company Project / Academic Topic Dissertation Proposal Form (pp. 26-27) (N.B.: To be completed by ALL MSc Strategic Marketing and Consultancy and interested MSc Marketing Communication students) OR The Dissertation Proposal Form (p. 25) (N.B.: To be completed by ALL MSc International Marketing / Marketing and MSc Marketing Communication students who DO NOT wish to do a company project topic)	12:00 noon, Tuesday 13th February 2018
Research Methods assignment – Part Two: SPSS Task	12:00 noon, Friday 23rd March 2018
Research Methods assignment – Part One: Research Proposal and Ethics Form (pp. 19-20)	12:00 noon, Thursday 26th April 2018
The Final Dissertation (together with the course relevant Plagiarism Form, pp. 21-24)	12:00 noon, Wednesday 29th August 2018
The Supervisor Feedback Form (p. 28)	12:00 noon, Wednesday 29th August 2018

 

 

The Structure of a Dissertation

A dissertation can be structured in different ways. However, dissertations will normally include the following elements in this order:

 

· Plagiarism declaration

· Thesis cover page

· Acknowledgements

· Abstract

· Table of contents

· Main body of dissertation

· References/bibliography

· Appendices

· Ethics form

 

 

· Plagiarism Declaration Form

On the page before your title page, you should include a declaration regarding plagiarism (please fill in the form applicable to your programme, pp. 21-24 of this handbook, and insert before the title page).

This declaration states that your dissertation is your own work and that, where the work of others has been used, you have included appropriate referencing (plagiarism declaration form).

PLEASE NOTE: Your dissertation may not be submitted unless the plagiarism declaration form is duly completed and signed.

 

· Thesis cover page

This should include the university crest and name, title of your dissertation, your name, supervisor’s name, programme and academic year of study, registration (student ID) number, and the following statement: ‘Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the degree of MSc in [programme title] (2017-2018).” (see page 14 for more details).

 

· Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements recognise any individuals or companies who have provided helpful ideas, data or resources.

 

· Abstract

The abstract should contain a brief description of the aims and objectives of the research and a short summary of the research approach and main findings. The abstract should be between 250-300 words.

 

· Contents

A list of the chapters and sections with page numbers should be included. Lists of tables and figures should be provided separately.

 

· Introduction

The introduction should ‘set the scene’ and context for your research. It should clearly identify the research topic and include a statement of the overall aim of the dissertation.

 

· The Literature Review

Throughout the programme you will have been encouraged to take a critical approach when reading literature. This approach should also be followed in your literature review. In addition to describing theories and reporting the findings contained in journal articles, book chapters etc., you should aim to be critically evaluating the information. The critical evaluation may provide a rationale for your own study. The literature review should be structured logically regarding the key themes and contributions with which you are engaging.

 

Some issues have received a great deal of attention from researchers whereas others have received far less, perhaps because the research origins are relatively recent or because they have simply been neglected. The number of research studies available to you therefore will depend on your research topic.

 

Where there are a large number of studies available to you, it is rarely necessary or desirable to review every single contribution to the literature. You should focus on those contributions which have been most influential or revealing and those that are most relevant to your own research.

 

· Research Objectives

Your research objectives should be stated clearly. There should be NO explanation of your research objectives as this should be apparent from the literature review.

 

· Research Methods

You should provide a detailed description of, and justification for, the research methods used in your study. This section should include sufficient information for the examiner to make an informed judgement about the appropriateness of your research design, its strengths and its limitations. Please bear in mind that you will not be expected to have developed a ‘perfect’ research design. The most important thing is that you reveal the steps you have taken in arriving at your findings. This section should include: –

 

· A consideration of broader methodological issues (e.g., epistemology and ontology);

· A justification of the research design (i.e., why it should be considered appropriate, and perhaps more appropriate than alternative approaches);

· A description of the methods, how they have been used and justification of the choices;

· A description of the sampling strategy;

· A consideration of any ethical implications of the research design throughout (e.g., can individuals be identified and, if so, should this be considered a matter for concern?).

 

If you have conducted a survey, you should provide information about the following: –

· The survey approach (e.g., postal survey, telephone survey, interviews);

· Questionnaire design;

· Sampling strategy;

· How your data have been analysed.

 

If you have taken a case study approach, you should provide information about the following: –

· How the cases were identified;

· How access was negotiated;

· The extent of access and any resulting implications for the study;

· What sort of information you collected and how it was collected;

· How your data have been analysed.

 

If you have drawn on secondary data, you should discuss: –

· The nature of the information;

· The reliability of the source;

· The manner in which concepts have been operationalised;

· Measurement issues;

· The strengths and limitations of the data.

 

The above lists should not be regarded as exhaustive. Additional information should be provided, as required. This section should also include relevant references in order to justify your approach.

 

· Findings

This section will include a presentation of your research findings. How the findings are presented will depend on your research approach. Where necessary, you should include tables and figures. The information in the tables and figures should be explained in the main text. All tables and figures should be numbered and given full explanatory titles. Tables containing less important information can be include in the appendices and should be referred to in the dissertation. If your approach has been mainly qualitative, you may include fewer tables and figures, although this will depend on how your data have been analysed.

 

· Discussion

Your discussion should not simply repeat or summarise your research findings. Its contents are dependent on the research objectives. Your discussion should identify how your study has contributed to academic theory and knowledge, i.e., have your findings confirmed or contradicted previous findings? You can use the discussion to consider the implications of your findings for marketing managers, policy makers etc. You may include a brief subsection on the limitations of your research. If your research has uncovered issues that would benefit from further study these may be discussed briefly in a subsection on future research.

 

· Appendices

These should be used for documents, data or additional explanations that provide further necessary information but are too lengthy to include in the main body of the dissertation, e.g., the final questionnaire. The appendices must be referred to in the text.

 

· References and bibliography

A reference list containing all the works included in the dissertation should be included. Make sure your references come from reliable sources. A bibliography can be included providing additional relevant sources of information that were read but not actually referred to in the dissertation.

 

· Ethics Form

You are required to complete and sign a copy of the MSc dissertation ethics checklist (pp. 19-20) and submit it with your research proposal which is one of the assignments for the Research Methods module. This form is to be completed by you based on discussion with your supervisor. The checklist will be signed by your dissertation supervisor where they agree it reflects the ethical conditions of your project. It will be returned to you (available in the MSc Programme Office) after review by the School’s Ethics Co-ordinator. Please ensure that you continue to review its appropriateness in the light of any changes to your research that impact on its accuracy. A new form should be completed and signed by your supervisor and resubmitted for review by the School’s Ethics Co-ordinator as soon as such changes are definite. The deadline for resubmitting the ethics form is the end of July (unless amendments are made subsequently, in which case a revised form must be completed, signed by you and your supervisor and submitted to the MSc Programmes Office without delay).

PLEASE NOTE: Your dissertation may not be submitted unless the ethics form is duly completed and signed.

 

 

Referencing Source Material

It is absolutely essential that you fully acknowledge all sources you have used to help develop your arguments, your evidence and reach conclusions in your research. There are several formats for referencing, but one of the most straightforward systems is known as the Harvard System. Examiners will check references for format and accuracy, so you must ensure that your details are correct and presented appropriately. If you wish to familiarise yourself with academic referencing styles you should look at academic journals for further examples in print. Journals such as International Marketing Review, Journal of Marketing Management and the European Journal of Marketing all use the Harvard system.

 

All citations in the text should consist solely of the author’s surname followed by the year of publication in brackets. Here are some examples: –

 

Example 1:

According to Zimbardo and Ruch (1979), religion affects our goals, decisions, motivations, purpose and satisfaction. In fact, it has been argued that religion plays an important role on how we live and experience life (Ellison and Cole, 1982) and that it continues to be a key force in individual behaviour (LaBarbera, 1987).

 

Example 2:

Similarly, evidence for the influence of religious beliefs on behaviour is found in areas such as parental attachment, clothing styles, eating and drinking, the use of cosmetics, social and political views and sexual behaviour (Poulson et al. 1998; Witkowski, 1999; Mattila et al. 2001; Diamond, 2002).

 

 

Avoiding Plagiarism

The University statement on plagiarism is as follows: –

 

‘Plagiarism is a form of cheating in which the student tries to pass off someone else’s work as his or her own. When it occurs it is usually found in dissertations, theses or assessed essays. Typically, substantial passages are ‘lifted’ verbatim from a particular source without proper attribution having been made. To avoid suspicion of plagiarism, students should make appropriate use of references and footnotes. If you are in any doubt as to what this requirement entails, you should consult your tutor or another relevant member of the academic staff. The University takes a very serious view of this particular kind of dishonesty and Boards of Examiners have discretion to adjust marks and results to reflect the amount of the plagiarism. Where the extent of the alleged dishonesty is such that punishment over and above the disallowance of work is called for, the matter is reported to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor’s Investigating Committee for Examination Irregularities.’

 

The University views plagiarism as a very serious offence. An attempt to present the work of someone else as your own may lead to your dissertation being awarded a mark of zero. Quotations should be used sparingly. If quotations are included, they must be placed in quotation marks and explicitly and fully referenced. Page numbers must be given. You may be penalised very severely if examiners find that you have included a section of a book, an article or a paper without appropriate referencing. If in doubt, please seek the advice of your supervisor.

 

Remember, supervisors and examiners are experts in the field and are familiar with a broad range of material. They are likely to recognise sourced material when they read it. The difference in style between one writer and another is usually very obvious. Therefore students are urged to take great care over the referencing of the material they use in their work to avoid suspicion of plagiarism.

 

Ethical Approval of Research Methods

It is absolutely essential that you verify your data collection tool with your supervisor to ensure that it meets the standards of the University of Birmingham code of ethical conduct for research. Any data collection using a tool (e.g., survey, questionnaire, interview, ethnography, etc.) that has not been explicitly checked for compliance to the code of ethical conduct and approved by your supervisor cannot, and absolutely must not, be used to collect data. Refer to your ethics checklist to make sure you fulfil the criteria in full. For further details on conducting research using human participants, a useful guide is available from the British Psychological Society at http://www.bps.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/code_of_human_research_ethics.pdf

 

 

Submission of Final Dissertation

 

· Presentation

We expect a very high quality of presentation. This goes beyond structure and quality of typing / reproduction, to also include the way in which you present data, charts, diagrams and illustrations. The quality of your English is also extremely important. You should allow ample time to correct your English before submission. Those students for whom English is a second language and who are experiencing difficulties with their written English can contact the Birmingham International Academy for help and advice. Your programme tutor or the Welfare tutor can give you further advice on this.

 

· Word Limit

Your dissertation should contain a maximum of 12,000 words, not including the title page, acknowledgements, table of contents, list of tables, list of figures, appendices and the bibliography / reference section. Note that the references in the main body of the text (i.e., in-text citations) are included in the word limit. The abstract is included in the word count. Tables including text* are included in the word count. There is no 10% leeway for dissertations over 12,000 words. Any dissertation exceeding this length will be penalised by deducting 2.5% for every 500 words in excess of the limit.

 

· Layout

Your dissertation should adhere to the following.

· The dissertation should be typed (font: Arial size 12) and 1.5 spaced on A4 paper

· It may be in colour, OR in black and white, or a mixture of both

· It should have an abstract and a table of contents, but no index

· It may include acknowledgements – if you so wish

· It should follow accepted citing and referencing conventions, such as the Harvard System (copies of which are available in the Library) for in-text citing, quotations, reference lists and footnotes

· Tables and diagrams may be put in appendices, or in the text

· Footnotes should be kept to a minimum and be placed at the bottom of the relevant page

· Pages should be numbered

 

· Plagiarism Form

You are required to complete, and sign, a plagiarism form and insert this into your dissertation as the first page (before the title page). Please fill in one of the forms (pp. 21-24), as appropriate.

PLEASE NOTE: Your dissertation may not be submitted without this form.

 

· Title Page layout

 

· Ethics Form

You are required to complete the MSc dissertation ethics checklist (pp. 19-20). Please ensure the ethics form has been signed by yourself, your supervisor and the School Ethics Co-ordinator.

PLEASE NOTE: Your dissertation may not be submitted without this form.

 

· Submission

Your dissertation must be uploaded to Canvas before the 12 noon deadline. Failure to complete the dissertation submission process i.e. to upload to Canvas by 12 noon will result in late penalties being applied.

 

 

Absence during the Dissertation

The MSc Programme is full-time and although there are teaching breaks you will be expected to work in these breaks. They are not ‘holidays’. You are expected to complete your dissertation between June and early September, in Birmingham. Do not anticipate leaving the UK for more than two weeks to write the dissertation. If, however, your dissertation requires you to collect data from abroad and this is expected to take more than two weeks you should discuss this with your supervisor and if approved you should complete a Dissertation Absence Application Form (p. 29), which should be signed by your supervisor.

 

Applying for a Dissertation Deadline Extension

If you are having any problems with meeting the deadline for the dissertation let your supervisor, the Welfare Tutor and dissertation director (Dr. Tao Zhang) know. Do this as soon as possible and do not leave it to the last minute to tell us information that is relevant to your progress with the dissertation. In case of extreme events that affect your ability to observe the deadline such as illness or bereavement, you should fill in an “Application to Extend the Dissertation Submission Deadline (pp. 30-31)”. You will be asked to provide evidence such as a medical certificate.

 

Technical problems such as computer breakdowns, printer difficulties or memory stick errors will not be considered valid reasons for requesting a deadline extension, neither will problems encountered with proof-reading services.

 

 

Dissertation Result and Appeals

The examination board will meet in October / November to make final decisions on the assessment of dissertations and overall degree performance. Should you disagree with the recommendation of the examiners, a formal appeals procedure exists, details of which can be found on the University’s website.

 

 

Research Ethics and your Dissertation

 

What are Research Ethics?

· Birmingham Business School expects the research that its students and staff conduct to be carried out to a high ethical standard.

· The recent introduction of the ESRC’s (Economic and Social Research Council) Research Ethics Framework has further underlined that business schools need to ensure ethical practice among researchers.

· This means that any participants who give up their time to help in our research should be treated with the highest standards of consideration and respect.

· As researchers we have the responsibility to ensure that the physical, social and psychological well being of research participants is not adversely affected by the research.

· We should also be aware of the potential consequences of our work, and should guard against any possible harm for research participants.

 

Ethical Principles and Guidance

There are a number of ethical issues that can arise, or need to be considered when conducting any research project, and not all are obvious. For example, if you choose to study web chat rooms, are you going to disclose your presence or not (i.e., lurk)? This in itself raises ethical issues about manipulation of respondents, informed consent and so on.

 

The ESRC Research Ethics framework is an important benchmark of ‘good practice’, and university staff are expected to observe ESRC guidelines. The framework also underpins the research ethics procedures developed for student research projects and dissertations.

 

The ESRC’s six ethical principles are presented below as an illustration of some of the ethical issues you may need to consider in your research.

 

1. Research should be designed, reviewed and undertaken to ensure integrity and quality. Researchers should ensure from the beginning that they are committed to research that is accountable and of the highest quality.

 

2. Research staff and subjects must be informed fully about the purpose, methods and intended possible uses of the research; what their participation in the research entails, and what risks, if any, are involved. This ESRC principle underpins the meaning of ‘informed consent’ and the need to disclose as much information as possible about the research so participants can make an informed decision about whether to take part. Valid consent implies 3 principles: –

a. Adequate information (hence, informed consent)

b. Voluntariness (i.e., no coercion, manipulation)

c. Competence and autonomy

 

If research subjects are not competent to give consent (e.g., children, learning disabilities), consent needs to be managed by proxies (e.g., parents, teachers, carers etc.).

 

Careful ethical considerations is needed where there is more than a minimal risk involved in the research such as in the situations below: –

 

· Vulnerable groups (e.g., disadvantaged, minorities, children etc.);

· Sensitive topics (e.g., workplace violence / bullying; sexual harassment; political views);

· Groups where gatekeeper permission required (e.g., access via head teacher; senior management);

· Deception or without full informed consent (e.g., covert filming in the workplace);

· Use of personal or confidential information;

· Subjects in stress, anxiety etc. (e.g., research into racial harassment).

 

3. Confidentiality of information supplied by research participants and the anonymity of respondents must be respected. Researchers must take steps to ensure research data and its sources remain confidential unless participants have consented to their disclosure (e.g., company names, employees identity).

 

Other issues to consider: –

 

a. Who gets to see the anonymised data? Will it be securely stored (including that on computers)?

 

b. Subjects can reveal information that could harm themselves or others, and / or disclose confidential information about others. How will this be dealt with by you?

 

c. Trust between the researcher and subject can lead to ‘over-disclosure’, i.e., you learn information that may be sensitive, even potentially illegal.

 

d. Publications of results can lead to identification of individuals, even if not named. It may be possible for someone reading your findings to work out which people or organisation(s) you are referring to unless you take care to anonymise effectively.

 

4. Research participants must participate in a voluntary way, free from any coercion. Participants have a right to refuse to participate or withdraw whenever and for whatever reason they wish.

 

5. Harm to participants must be avoided.

 

· Research should minimise harm or risk to social groups and individuals.

· Participants’ wellbeing or interests should not be damaged as a result of taking part in the research.

· Avoidance of harm extends to family, community, colleagues etc.

· You need to think about the way research is communicated and reported, particularly where material is sensitive, results could be misconstrued or used by a third party against the research participants (and researcher) themselves.

 

6. The independence of the research must be clear; any conflict of interest or partiality must be explicit. No undeclared conflict of interest (academic, personal or commercial). For example, if you conduct research on behalf of a firm, and you are also employed in another capacity by that firm, your interest should be declared. Contributions of collaborators, colleagues and others should be acknowledged.

 

 

Ethical Review Checklist

Every dissertation student is required to complete and sign the Ethical Review Checklist, provided at the end of these guidance notes, and which can be downloaded from Canvas, on the MSc Office ‘module’.

 

You should then take it to a meeting with your supervisor and make sure that any ethical issues arising are addressed.

 

Where potential risks are identified you need to consult with your supervisor and get further advice from them on how to proceed to reduce the risk and consult the various codes of ethics and guidelines for assistance.

 

Students must get their supervisors to sign the Ethical Review Checklist once completed.

 

 

Ethical Approval of Research Methods

It is absolutely essential that you verify your data collection tool with your supervisor to ensure that it meets the standards of the University of Birmingham code of ethical conduct for research. Any data collection using a tool (e.g., survey, questionnaire, interview, ethnography, etc.) that has not been explicitly checked for compliance to the code of ethical conduct and approved by your supervisor cannot, and absolutely must not, be used to collect data. Refer to your ethics checklist to make sure you fulfil the criteria in full. For further details on conducting research using human participants, a useful guide is available from the British Psychological Society at http://www.bps.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/code_of_human_research_ethics.pdf

 

Further reading:

 

Bell, E. and Bryman, A. (2006). The ethics of management research: An exploratory content analysis. British Journal of Management, 18(1), 66-77.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FORMS

 

 

MSc Dissertation Ethics Checklist

This form should be completed by the student and signed by the research supervisor BEFORE being submitted by the student with their research dissertation proposal. The MSc Office staff will then pass this form to the School Research Ethics Co-ordinator to be signed & returned to the student.

MSc Programme
Title of Project*
Name of Student and ID no.
Email Address
Name of Supervisor

* A title that is descriptive of the project is required

	QUESTION	YES	NO
1	Will the research project require the use of databases and internet resources?
2	Will all databases and internet resources be used within the terms and conditions specified by the source of the data?
3	Will you have access to confidential or personal records as part of your research?

· If you have answered NO to question 2 or YES to question 3, please attach an explanation on a separate sheet.

		YES	NO
4	Will the research project involve asking people to participate in your research (e.g. for interviews or a survey)?
5	Will it involve the collection of primary data from research participants?
6	Will you have access to personal information that will allow you to identify research participants?
7	Could the research results be used to inflict harm to any person or the general public?
8	Will the publication of the results pose a risk of physical or psychological harm or distress to any person or the general public?

· If the answer to all of questions 4 to 8 above is NO, you can omit questions 9-20. Just tick box A or B as appropriate and sign.

		YES	NO	N/A
9	Will you describe the main research procedures to participants in advance so that they are informed about what to expect?
10	Will you tell participants that their participation is voluntary?
11	Will the consent of participants be obtained (this includes observational research)?
12	Will you tell participants that they may withdraw from research at any time and for any reason?
13	Will you tell participants that their data will be treated with full confidentiality and their anonymity protected?
14	Will participants be debriefed after the research is conducted (i.e. give them a brief explanation of the study)

· If you have ticked NO to any of questions 9-14, please give an explanation on a separate sheet. [note: N/A = not applicable] Continue answering questions 15 – 20.

 

		YES	NO	N/A
15	Will your project involve deliberately misleading participants in any way
16	Could the study induce psychological stress or anxiety beyond the risks encountered in the participants normal life?

 

· If you have ticked YES to question 15 or 16, please give a full explanation on a separate sheet. Continue with questions 17-20.

 

		YES	NO	N/A
17	Does your project involve discussions of sensitive topics affecting individual respondents, or people engaged in illegal activities (e.g. drug use)?
18	Does your project involve participants who are members of vulnerable groups e.g. school children (under 18 years of age), people with learning or communication difficulties, in custodial care etc…?
19	Does your project involve participants with whom you have a relationship (e.g. employer, employee, friend, colleague, family member, University staff or students in the same school as the researcher etc..)?
20	Does your project involve participants, as a group, who have particular cultural, religious or social beliefs that you should be sensitive to?

 

· If you have ticked YES to any of questions 17 to 20 above, please give a full explanation on a separate sheet.

 

There is an obligation on the researcher to bring to the attention of the School Research Ethics Co-ordinator any issues with ethical implications not clearly covered by the above checklist.

 

Please Tick either box A or box B below:

A. I consider that this project has no significant ethical implications to be brought before the School Research Ethics Co-ordinator.
B. I consider that this project may have ethical implications that should be brought before the School Research Ethics Co-ordinator.
If you tick box B above, please provide all further information listed below in a separate attachment 1. Title of project 2. Purpose of the project and its academic rationale 3. A clear but concise statement of any ethical considerations raised by the project and how you intend to deal with them. This form (signed, and including any attachments) should be submitted to the School Research Ethics Co-ordinator.

 

Signed	Print Name	Date
(MSc Researcher)
Signed	Print Name	Date
(Supervisor)

 

 

Signed	Print Name	Date
(School Research Ethics Co-ordinator)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MSc Marketing

2017-2018

 

Plagiarism declaration

 

I confirm that I have read and understood the regulations on plagiarism* and acknowledged the work of others that I have included in this dissertation.

 

 

 

Student’s full name: ………………………………………………………………………………….

 

Student’s ID number: ………………………………………………………………………………….

 

Student’s signature: ………………………………………………………………………………….

 

Title of dissertation: ………………………………………………………………………………….

 

………………………………………………………………………………….

 

 

 

Date: ………………………………………………………………………………….

 

 

*Plagiarism, in this context, is the reproduction of material from books and articles without acknowledgement. It is the act of passing off another person’s work as your own, copying a fellow student’s work or reproducing work submitted by a past student. Such actions are seen as a form of cheating and, as such, are penalised by examiners according to their extent and gravity.

 

You should not quote existing work without quotation works and appropriate reference. An attempt to present the work of someone else as your own may lead to your dissertation being awarded a mark of zero. You are required to state the full references of all sources that you use. If quotations are made, they must be explicitly and fully referenced, including stating the relevant page number(s). You will be penalised very severely if examiners find that you have presented a section of a book, an article or a paper without appropriate referencing. If you are not sure about how to quote an existing work, please ask for advice from your supervisor.

Dissertation Proposal Form

(all msC MARKETING & aLL iNTERNATIONAL MARKETING STUDENTS, AND ONLY STUDENTS FROM mSC MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS WHO DO NOT WANT TO DO A COMPANY TOPIC)

 

 

STUDEnT ID:______________Full NAME: _______________________________

 

PROGRAMME OF STUDY: _____________________________________________

 

DISSERTATION TITLE: _______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Purpose of the study: overall research objective, question (maximum 250 words)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

If the research interests of our staff inspired you, please list the staff members here (in order of preference)*:

 

1) ____________________ 2) ____________________ 3) ____________________

 

 

 

Student signature: ________________________________ Date: _______________

 

Please submit to the MSc Programmes Office, 1st Floor, the Alan Walters Building, by 12:00 noon on 13th February, 2018 .

 

 

 

*We will do our best to match your dissertation topic to a supervisor’s research interest, but we cannot guarantee that you will be allocated a certain supervisor.

 

 

 

Project Application Form &

Dissertation Topic Application Form

2017 – 2018

(To be completed by all Strategic Marketing & Consultancy students, and eligible and interested Marketing Communications students).

 

Please ensure that Part 1 and Part 2 of this form are completed so that in the event of the application for a project not being successful, we can still allocate you to a supervisor so you can complete a standard academic dissertation.

 

 

MSc Programme: _________________________________________________________________

 

Student ID: __________________

 

 

Part 1: Project Application

 

Please rank your choice of projects in order of preference (where a company has offered more than one project, select only ONE project from that company): –

 

 

1……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

2……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

3……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

4……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

5……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

 

Please explain why you would like to be considered for your 1st choice of project (e.g. previous work experience/ an interest in the subject area)

.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

Please tick this box to confirm that you have attached your CV.

Part 2: Dissertation Topic Application Form

 

DISSERTATION TITLE: _______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Purpose of the study: overall research objective, question (maximum 250 words)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

If the research interests of our staff inspired you, please list the staff members here (in order of preference)*:

 

1) ____________________ 2) ____________________ 3) ____________________

 

 

 

Student signature: ________________________________ Date: _______________

 

 

If you have any questions regarding the projects please email [email protected]

If you have any questions regarding the academic dissertation please email [email protected]

 

Please ensure that this form is submitted to the MSc Programme Office by 12:00 noon on 13th February 2018.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*We will do our best to match your dissertation topic to a supervisor’s research interest, but we cannot guarantee that you will be allocated a certain supervisor.

Supervision Process Feedback Form

 

 

Student ID number:_________________________

 

Supervisor:__________________________________________________________________

 

 

Please answer the following questions and submit together with your dissertation, to the MSc Office.

 

This form will not be seen by your supervisor; it is used solely for the purpose of monitoring the quality of the supervision process.

 

1. Was your supervisor available to answer your questions? (in person, by telephone, email, skype etc)	|_| YES	|_| NO
1. Was your supervisor available to meet with you?	|_| YES	|_| NO
1. How much time did you spend with your supervisor in total[footnoteRef:1]? (in person, by telephone, skype etc) [1: Please note that you are entitled up to 5 hours in total.]	……………. hours (approx.)
1. Was your supervisor helpful in narrowing down your topic (if you needed the help)?	|_| YES	|_| NO
1. Did the supervisor give you prompt feedback on draft chapters (i.e. within 14 days) ?	|_| YES	|_| NO
1. Did your supervisor give specific feedback to help you improve your work?	|_| YES	|_| NO
1. Was your supervisor helpful in guiding / advising on your research?	|_| YES	|_| NO

 

 

 

If you answered NO to any of the questions above, or if you have any other comments related to the supervision process, please use the space below to give us more details. (Equally, if you were happy with the supervision, please share your thoughts with us)

 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Date: _____________________

 

Signature of student:________________________________hare it with us:

to any of the questions above, please give us more details. Equally, if you were happy with the supervision,

 

Dissertation Absence Application Form

For absences of more than two weeks (from June to September)

 

 

Student name: _____________________________________________________________

 

ID Number: __________________

 

Date of proposed absence, below:

 

From: _________________________ To: _________________________

 

 

Reasons for proposed absence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research title:

 

 

Research aim:

 

 

 

Detailed research objectives:

 

 

 

 

 

Detailed proposed research methodology:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steps for delivering primary fieldwork and related activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supervisor’s signature (Please only sign if you support the absence): …………………………………

 

Please note that if your reason for absence is not solely connected with your dissertation (other than that supported by personal extenuating circumstances) your supervisory support may become restricted. Maximum absence one month.

 

To be returned to the MSc Programme Office ASAP.

 

 

Registry, Academic Services

Application for an Extension to your Dissertation Submission Deadline

For Students on Postgraduate Masters or Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Programmes

 

This form should only be used if:

· The dissertation module has been started and an extension to the submission deadline is required. (Please refer to the procedure for applying for a Leave of Absence from your studies if your circumstances will prevent you from starting the dissertation module at the normal time)

· An extension to the submission deadline will mean that final completion of your programme will exceed the normal period of registration. For example, for a Full-time Masters programme the normal registration period is 12 months and a Part-time Masters programme is 24 months. (Please consult your Department/School for clarification regarding programme length)

· The extension will not be (or has not been) considered through the usual extenuating circumstances procedures prior to the meeting of the Board of Examiners.

 

Please note that if your extension to dissertation submission is accepted you will be considered to be an External student once your normal period of registration expires. As an External student you will no longer be a fully registered student and will not have full access to the University’s facilities.

 

It may be possible for you to repeat the dissertation module as an internal student subject to the approval of your School or Department. As a result you will be a fully registered student and have full access to University facilities. Please however be aware that you would be required to re-register via www.my.bham.ac.uk and pay tuition fees. The tuition fee will be calculated pro-rata on the number of credits for the dissertation module.

 

Please complete this form and return it to your School or Department.

 

After approval, it is your responsibility to ensure that the form is handed in to the Student Information Team in the Student Hub, Aston Webb C Block, OR posted to Taught Student Administration, Registry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT.

 

The Taught Student Administration team will then process your application and will contact you via email.

 

Mode of attendance: (e.g. full-time, part-time)

Email address: (for confirmation of status change)

Programme of study:

Year of study: (e.g. year 1)

Name:

ID number:

 

 

 

What is your current dissertation submission deadline?

 

 

 

 

 

Please state the length of extension required.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please provide details about the progress you have made with your work (i.e. how many chapters of the dissertation are complete, etc.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reasons for requesting an extension to your dissertation submission deadline

Please note that appropriate third party documentary evidence will need to be provided to your School/Department with this application.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student Visa:

 

Do you currently hold a Student Visa?

 

Yes  No  Not Applicable 

 

If yes, please provide the following details:

 

Visa Number……………………………………………… Visa Expiry Date………………………

 

 

IMPORTANT

If you are a visa national student the change to being an External student or repeating the dissertation module will affect the status of your student visa. All UK institutions are now legally required to report any changes to an international student’s registration status to UK Visas and Immigration. You are strongly advised to seek further advice from the International Students Advisory Service (ISAS) prior to submitting your request.  You should log an enquiry at www.studenthelp.bham.ac.uk  When you email us tell the ISAS all the key elements of your enquiry and include a scan of your current visa.   When your enquiry has been received the ISAS will send you an email outlining next steps.

 

Should you decide not to take immigration advice from this specialist service, please be advised that you do so at entirely your own risk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DECLARATION: I understand the implications of requesting an extension to my dissertation as an external student.

 

 

Date:

Signature of student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please tick here if you wish to apply to repeat the dissertation module as an internal student:

 

 

DECLARATION: I understand the implications of requesting to repeat the dissertation module and that I will be required to pay a further pro-rata tuition fee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature of student:

Date:

 

 

 

 

 

 

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

 

To be completed by School/Department

 

This application must have the full support of the School.

 

 

On behalf of the School/Department I hereby:

 

 

 

The student’s dissertation submission date will now be _______________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments including reasons for rejecting application as applicable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name (please print):

Position:

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

Signed:

 

 

 

 

 

Please forward this form to Taught Student Administration as soon as possible.

 

 

 

 

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Research Interests – Internal Supervisors

 

Member of staff	Research interests
Akamavi, Raphael	Product / service innovation with co-creation/co-production, co-destruction, NPD /NSD process. Disruptive innovation and Institutional innovation. Service quality, Customer satisfaction, CRM. Ritual consumption, service consumption experience. Social capital and Networks. Organisational performance etc.
Bailey, Chelsea	Consumer Behaviour Authenticity Narrative Transportation Tourism/Heritage Tourism
Bates, Joanne	Teaching and Learning through Social Media Teaching and Learning through VLE Public Relations Digital Marketing
Foster, Mark	Broadcasting, Media and Public Relations
	Web2.0 and social media in marketing
	Corporate Communications
Gregory-Smith, Diana	Consumer psychology, Sustainable and ethical behaviour Social/health marketing
Prof. Goulding, Christina	The development and application of qualitative methodologies, in particular grounded theory
	Critical marketing, consumer behaviour and consumption
Hyde, Peter	Music Industry Management
	Marketing in the New Economy
	International/Domestic Marketing Management
Istanbulluoglu, Doga	Consumer Complaining Behaviour (both online and offline)
	Complaint handling strategies
	Word-of-mouth
	Online communities
	Social media – Social Networking
	Netnography
Jones, Rosalind	Marketing in SMEs
	Entrepreneurial Marketing
	Marketing of Software Technologies and Innovations
	Strategic Orientation (market, innovation and entrepreneurial orientation)
	Marketing Strategy
	Tourism & Hospitality in SMEs
	Networks and Relationship Marketing
	Business to Business Contexts

 

 

Member of staff	Research interests
Leek, Sheena	Consumer confusion especially in high tech product areas Branding in the business to business context Network pictures Social capital Healthy eating – labelling, use of convenience food
Magrizos, Solon	Corporate Social Responsibility Ethical Consumers and the attitude-behaviour gap Small and Medium Enterprises Social Enterprises Co-creation Consumer Scepticism
Montano, Sarah	Services marketing
	Retail marketing; Retail in Emerging Markets
	The service environment (servicescape) and the retail environment (retailtainment)
	Qualitative research
	Content analysis
	Celebrity endorsement
Pressey, Andrew	Business to Business Marketing
	Interface between marketing and anti-competition law/antitrust
	Psychology of the individual in virtual worlds
Sambrook, Cristina	Cross Cultural Communication & Management
	International Marketing Strategy
	Personal Branding
	Good Governance
Shiu, Eric	Innovation
	Creativity
	Product
	Marketing research
Prof. Szmigin, Isabelle	Consumer Behaviour and issues related to consumption, including ethical consumption
	Young people and alcohol consumption
	I am particular interested to supervise those wishing to do qualitative research.
	The representation of food and issues around marketing and obesity
	Complaining behaviour
	Older consumers
	Online communities
Talwar, Rohit	Consumer experiences in new contexts Contemporary art consumption Marketing and consumption in the digital age

 

 

 

 

Member of staff	Research interests
Toral, Inci	Marketing Strategy Market Creation Emerging Markets e/m-Marketing Retailing Inter-organisational Collaborations
Zhang, Tao	Complexity science and agent-based modelling for the energy market
	Strategic marketing
	Consumer Behaviour
	Innovation Management
	Energy Markets
	Simulation and Modelling

 

 

PLEASE NOTE: Availability of staff for supervision may change due to institutional or personal factors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research Interests – External Supervisors

 

Member of staff	Research interests
Navdeep Athwal	Online branding and social media marketing
	Luxury consumption and marketing
	Fashion consumption and marketing
Paulo Mora-Avila	Cross cultural marketing Branding Digital marketing communications
Ben Marder	Social  media marketing – or internet related stuff
Martin Hingley	Generally qualitative Relationship Marketing Agri-food/ drinks sectors Supply Chain Management B2B relationships SME and micro business networks CSR
Carlos Ferreira	Online marketing Advertising on social media Consumers’ avoidance of advertising on social media Consumers’ perception of the legitimacy of adverts, campaigns or organisations.
Emma Neale	Marketing Strategy Marketing Communications Buyer Behaviour
David Solomons	Any international marketing subjects which have a cross cultural implication As a psychotherapist (amongst other things!) Any subject which deals with the psychology of marketing One of my academic subjects is in behavioural psychology, therefore any subject dealing with the ‘impulsion to buy’
Nikoletta Siamagka	International consumer behaviour Cross-cultural/national consumer research Consumer-brand relationships in the context of brand failures
Nikki Young	Branding, Strategic Marketing, Consumer Behaviour and Marcomms

 

 

 

 

 

 

Member of staff	Research interests
Sumanta Barua	Consumer experience, Protest Art and Culture
Nasir Salari	Marketing and Innovation
Nina Michaelidou	Consumer behaviour, decision making, personality, attitudes, perceptions, motives Brand Image, brand equity Social media advertising, usage and motives Social Marketing and ethics.
Len Tiu Wright	International marketing, Marketing communications, E-marketing and qualitative marketing research
Achilleas Boukis	Consumer-brand relationship Customer experiences in retail settings Customer-employee interactions Customer participation in CSR programs
Danae Manika	Any quantitative consumer behaviour topic. Preference would be on health and environmental behaviour change topics

 

 

PLEASE NOTE: Availability of staff for supervision may change due to institutional or personal factors.

 

 

 

 

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