Course Description

Course Objectives

Students will complete their thesis by identifying a unique research question, the literature review leading up to the question and hypothesis, the methods to answer the question and test the hypothesis. Students will carry out the proposed methods and discuss their results in the context of the literature. Students will demonstrate an ability to organize and express their ideas in accordance with accepted academic norms and ethics.

Key Concepts

Research Question The guiding inquiry that defines the focus, scope, and objectives of the study.
Literature Review A systematic synthesis of existing research and theories to contextualize the study and highlight knowledge gaps.
Theoretical Framework The set of theories and constructs that underpin the study, guiding the research design and analysis.
Research Methodology The overall strategy and procedures for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to address the research question.
Data Collection The systematic process of gathering primary or secondary information that is essential for testing hypotheses and answering research questions.
Data Analysis The techniques and processes used to organize, process, and interpret data, revealing patterns and supporting conclusions.
Hypothesis A testable, predictive statement derived from theory that the study aims to validate or refute through empirical research.
Validity and Reliability Validity ensures that the research measures what it is intended to, while reliability indicates the consistency of the measurements over time.
Research Ethics The principles that ensure the research is conducted with integrity, including informed consent, confidentiality, and responsible reporting.
Contribution to Knowledge The unique insights and new understanding that the thesis adds to the existing body of literature in Business Management.

Course Outline

Week	Topics
1	1.1 - Getting the research idea, selecting the topic and identifying the research questions (Students should consult the existing literature while working on this task). 1.2 - Preparing the Gantt chart showing the work plan for accomplishing the thesis on time.
2	2.1 - Selecting the topic, draft the research questions and draft the Abstract. Where possible, expected research results can be stated based on the existing literature and author's expectations.
3	3 - A draft introduction and a draft outline should be prepared. 3.1 - The introduction should include the main theoretical ground and the key research papers where the topic is based as well as a clear and short presentation of all the chapters in the Thesis (one paragraph per each chapter). 3.2 The Outline should have a formal structure as shown in the program's Thesis Writing Guideline and should address your structure of the Thesis.
4	4 - Conduct literature review (Search for papers/articles closely related to your research topic using and documenting key words).
5	5 - Draft Literature Review chapter. A minimum of 50 published research papers related to your topic is expected for this chapter. Literature review is a continuous process that should start even before week
6	6 - Develop methods and find your data. (Focus on Literature Review on Methodology and Data used in your topic).
7	7. Draft Data and Methodology chapter (Refer to Literature Review on Choosing the Methodology and your data).
8	8 - Conduct the research analysis, record results. Refine your thesis Outline, Abstract, Research Questions and Introduction based on your research findings. (During this week students may be requested to do a PRESENTATION to their supervisor and/or members of the department/faculty by showing even some preliminary analysis results if any. Students may get feedback by the department members for improving the thesis and may reflect the suggestions in consultation with their supervisor. If Students do not present their work and their supervisor is not satisfied with their progress done up to this phase, the supervisor may ask the student to continue working again for the prior tasks while waiving the possibility for submission during the current semester and therefore extending the thesis for next semester.
9	9 - Write up the results chapter by detailing the findings, interpreting the results both empirically and narratively and contrasting them with the existing literature.
10	10 - Write up the Conclusion, Recommendation and Discussion chapter by integrating the research questions and objectives with the analysis results and findings as well as by contrasting it with the existing literature (Try not to be repetitive when drafting conclusion).
11	11- Integrate chapters to complete the first draft. (Completing the first full draft of the thesis).
12	12 - Refine your draft by purifying the academic writing style and strictly following the program's Thesis Writing Guideline for the format of the Thesis. By the end of this week students need to submit the thesis to their supervisors by uploading the draft to Turnitin.
13	13 - Check all the final details and refine your draft while waiting for the final comments of the supervisor. (Note that: the supervisors may be on a busy schedule during the last weeks due to the exam period. The final comments should be of a simple nature not affecting the data, methodology, findings and the main structure of the thesis. You are supposed to continuously meet your supervisors and get their approval for each stage of the thesis as the supervisors should follow and approve your work in a timely manner. The supervisor may refuse to continue the supervision of your thesis at any stage after week 8 if you have not been engaged regularly during the first 8 weeks. At this point you may continue working but you cannot submit the thesis during this semester and therefore you will continue the thesis during next semester).
14	14 - Reflect the comments of the supervisor in your final draft. Upload your final version in Turnitin and make sure that the total similarity does not exceed 20% as well as the similarity with individual sources is not greater than 2%. (Note that: in case of any problem with plagiarism proved either through Turnitin results or through cross checking by the Scientific Committee of the Department, students will be subject of the Regulation on "Student Discipline" Article 8-m. If similarity results are within the accepted limits, the student gets the final approval by the supervisor and delivers three printed copies to the department for the jury members prior to the defense.

Learning Outcomes

Research Topic Development: Students will be able to identify and refine a research topic that is relevant, specific, and aligned with their academic and professional interests.
Systematic Literature Review: Students will conduct a comprehensive literature review, identifying gaps in existing research and synthesizing findings to support their thesis.
Research Question Formulation: Students will develop clear, researchable, and analytical research questions or hypotheses that guide their investigation.
Research Methodology Design: Students will design a detailed research methodology, including appropriate research design, data collection methods, and data analysis techniques.
Data Collection and Analysis: Students will effectively collect and analyze data using appropriate tools and techniques, ensuring the validity and reliability of their findings.
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Students will demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills by addressing research challenges and interpreting data to draw meaningful conclusions.
Academic Writing and Presentation: Students will produce a well-structured, coherent, and original thesis document, adhering to academic standards and formatting guidelines.
Ethical Research Practices: Students will apply ethical principles in their research, including obtaining necessary approvals, ensuring participant confidentiality, and avoiding plagiarism.
Communication Skills: Students will effectively communicate their research findings through written reports and oral presentations, engaging with their audience and responding to questions confidently.
Project Management: Students will develop project management skills by creating and following a Gantt chart, meeting deadlines, and managing their research project from inception to completion.

Assessment

Method	Qty	% Each
Project	8	12.5

Textbooks

Hammond, M. (2022). Writing a postgraduate thesis or dissertation: tools for success. Taylor & Francis.

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THESIS