Critical Literature Review topic of “Gender differences in the impact of social media on entrepreneurs”

Critical Literature Review topic of “Gender differences in the impact of social media on entrepreneurs”

Does gender impact how entrepreneurs use social media and its role in growing their business

Research question:

l How do entrepreneurs use social media?

l Do male and female entrepreneurs use social media differently?

l Do male and female entrepreneurs benefit differently from social media?

Assignment 2: Research Proposal

This is an individual assessment whereby students are required to develop a proposal for their proposed critical literature review / traditional dissertation / consultancy / internship topic.

Summative:

• The final research proposal is worth 50% of the overall module marks.
• Clear definition of your topic (15%)
• Your initial background reading and research on the topic (35%)
• Design of your research strategy (35%)
• Presentation – Structure, Writing Style, Referencing, Timeline (15%)
• Cover page: Student name, student number, supervisor name, programme, research topic and word count. Please indicate a critical literature review is being undertaken.
• Cover page: Student name, student number, supervisor name, programme, research topic and word count. Please indicate a traditional dissertation is being undertaken.

Please find below the recommended proposal outline that applies to your case. Please note there is some variance between the proposal formats.

1. Proposal for the Critical Literature Review

All students from each programme (MSc. Management, MSc. Marketing and MSc. International Business) have the option to undertake a Critical Literature Review) as part of the Academic Research Project. This is the recommended proposal outline for a Critical Literature Review proposal.

• [Failure to attach a cover page with all of the indicated information will result in a mark of zero]
• Introduction: context, topic to be addressed, outline of research question(s), aims and objectives, potential contribution of the research to literature and management practice, potential research problems and/or constraints (500 words approx.).
• Review of relevant literature: justification of topic chosen, bodies of literature being addressed, what is already known, gaps in what is already known. Your literature review must include multiple sources of peer-reviewed academic literature (1200 words approx.).
• Literature review strategy: how you intend going about answering the research question(s) and addressing the research objectives; clear indication on the sources of literature to be used (300 words approx.).
• Timeline (Gantt Chart)
• A bibliography/ reference list must be provided (not include in the word count)
• Please use the Harvard referencing system.
• [Failure to attach a cover page with all of the indicated information will result in a mark of zero]
• Introduction: context, topic to be addressed, outline of research question(s), aims and objectives, potential contribution of the research to literature and management practice, potential research problems and/or constraints (400 words approx.).
• Review of relevant literature: justification of topic chosen, bodies of literature being addressed, what is already known, gaps in what is already known, how the literature reviewed informs the design of the research. Your literature review must include multiple sources of peer-reviewed academic literature (800 words approx.).
• Methodology: how you intend going about answering the research question(s) and addressing the research objectives (800 words approx.). This should include:
  • Summary of ontological and epistemological assumptions underpinning proposed research
  • Summary of research approach and purpose
  • Detailed research design – methodology including proposed data collection method(s) and data analysis, strengths and potential weaknesses of proposed approach
  • Potential ethical issues
  • Timeline (Gantt Chart)
  • Possible resource requirements
• A bibliography/ reference list must be provided (not include in the word count)
• Please use the Harvard referencing system.

2. Proposal for a Traditional Dissertation

All students from each programme (MSc. Management, MSc. Marketing and MSc. International Business) have the option to undertake a traditional dissertation. This is the recommended proposal outline for a traditional dissertation proposal.

3. Proposal for a Consultancy

Only students from MSc. Management and MSc. International Business have the option to undertake a consultancy. This is the recommended proposal outline for a consultancy proposal.

• Cover page: Student name, student number, supervisor name, programme, research topic and word count. Please also indicate a consultancy is being undertaken.
• [Failure to attach a cover page with all of the indicated information will result in a mark of zero]
• Introduction: context, topic to be addressed, outline of research question(s), aims and objectives, potential contribution of the research to literature and management practice, potential research problems and/or constraints (400 words approx.).
• Review of relevant literature: justification of topic chosen, bodies of literature being addressed, what is already known, gaps in what is already known, how the literature reviewed informs the design of the research. This may include some industry reports but must also include relevant peer-reviewed academic literature (800 words approx.).
• Consultancy Project Process: how you intend to respond to the brief provided and address their specific queries (800 words approx.). This should include:
  • Light summary of ontological and epistemological assumptions underpinning proposed research
  • Summary of research approach and purpose
  • Outline the specific conceptual and methodological tools and techniques adopted.
  • Discuss why you selected the approach taken including proposed data collection method(s) (if applicable) and data analysis, strengths and potential weaknesses of proposed approach.
  • Potential ethical issues
  • Timeline (Gantt Chart)
  • Possible resource requirements
• A bibliography/ reference list must be provided (not include in the word count)
• Please use the Harvard referencing system.

4. Proposal for a Marketing Internship

Only students from MSc. Marketing have the option to undertake an internship. This is the recommended proposal outline for an internship.

• Cover page: Student name, student number, supervisor name, programme, research topic and word count. Please indicate an internship is being undertaken.
• [Failure to attach a cover page with all of the indicated information will result in a mark of zero]
• Introduction: context, topic to be addressed (as detailed by the company), outline of research question(s), aims and objectives, potential contribution of the research to literature and management practice, potential research problems and/or constraints (400 words approx.).
• Review of relevant literature: justification of topic chosen, bodies of literature being addressed, what is already known, gaps in what is already known, how the literature reviewed informs the design of the research. This may include some industry reports but must also include relevant peer-reviewed academic literature (800 words approx.).
• Methodology: how you intend going about answering the research question(s) and addressing the research objectives (800 words approx.). This should include:
  • Light summary of ontological and epistemological assumptions underpinning proposed research
  • Summary of research approach and purpose –
  • Detailed research design – methodology including proposed data collection method(s) and data analysis, strengths and potential weaknesses of proposed approach (this must be Action Research)
  • Potential ethical issues
  • Timeline (Gantt Chart)
  • Possible resource requirements
• A bibliography/ reference list must be provided (not include in the word count)
• Please use the Harvard referencing system.

All proposals

The proposals will be assessed using the conceptual equivalents scale for postgraduate students (see below). The incorporation of relevant literature and theory will be vital to a high quality assignment.

AN IMPORTANT POINT TO NOTE IS THAT WHILE THE PROPOSAL PROVIDES A FOUNDATION FOR YOUR DISSERTATION IDEA, THESE ARE TWO SEPARATE AND GRADED PIECES OF WORK AND THEREFORE MUST BE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT.

Word Count

The word count should be indicated on the coversheet of the assignment. The expected word count is 2000 words (+ or – 10% rule applies), excluding the title page, timeline (Gantt Chart), appendices and references list. If the proposal is longer than 2200 words, you will be penalised.

Formatting

The proposal must be word processed. Please use size 12 font (Calibri/Arial Narrow/Times New Roman), 1.5 line spacing. Please ensure that the text is professionally laid out and you have proof-read in advance of submission.

Submission Details

Each student needs to submit the research proposal by 23:59, 4^th of May 2021, through CANVAS.

The research proposal must be submitted online in a word document format only. Failure to submit the online copy through CANVAS by the submission deadline will be viewed as late submission (and with penalties to be applied until addressed). Submission of an incorrect format will not be considered as a submission until the correct format, i.e. a word document, is uploaded.

Academic Integrity/Plagiarism

Plagiarism is regarded as one of the most serious academic related offences. In broad terms, plagiarism in the action of submitting work which is not your own work as if it was your own work. In lay terms, it is regarded as academic theft. Plagiarism generally takes one of three forms (though other forms may occur)

If you are in any doubt of what may amount to plagiarism, contact the module coordinator before submitting work.

We will use Turnitin as an originality checking software. Turnitin an online service that enables institutions and staff to carry out electronic comparison of students’ work against electronic sources and other students’ work. The system produces an “originality report” which shows the text in the student’s assignment which matches electronic sources.

Feedback

Queen’s University policy is that students are provided with feedback within 3 working weeks of submission of their coursework.

Late Submission Penalties

In accordance with University regulations, work that is submitted after the official deadline will have 5 percentage points per working day, or part thereof, deducted from the final mark. This excludes days that the University is officially closed. Work that is submitted five or more working days after the deadline will be given a mark of zero. Late submission will incur the penalties indicated.