Gathering and interpreting information is critical to business decision-making. Having a firm grasp of business research methods can enable managers and business leaders to make better decisions and to solve problems more effectively. Students taking this course will develop a firm grasp of research methods and the research process in the business context. In so doing, students will further develop their analytical awareness and an ability to communicate, as well as the ability to discriminate between good research and bad research.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

Upon successful completion of the requirements for this course, students will be able to:

1. define, explain and illustrate, from theoretical and practical perspectives, decision making concepts and processes in business settings;
2. describe and evaluate research concepts and methods in a business setting;
3. evaluate business research designs, including measurement and sampling methods; and,
4. prepare research proposals and write research reports.

Research-Led Teaching

This course introduces students to the latest scholarly research in the field. Lectures and activities will present problems that will be explored using a variety of theoretical approaches to foster critical thinking and applied learning. Students will be taught to formulate a decision-related research question, systematically acquire, appraise and aggregate published scientific evidence.

Field Trips

There are no field trips in this course.

Additional Course Costs

There are no additional class costs expected in this course.

Examination Material or equipment

The Take-home exams during the course will be conducted in Wattle. The final assessment is a short report that will be submitted through Turnitin on Wattle. There is no final examination for this course.

Required Resources

• There is not set textbook for this course. Readings, including journal articles and textbook extracts will be provided on the Wattle site for the course. It is highly desirable (but not required) that you bring an internet-connected device (smartphone, tablet or laptop) with Microsoft Excel to each session. It will be used for information search and solution development in the class discussion.
• Microsoft Excel will be used for a number of the tools and techniques used during the course. Excel is part of Microsoft Office. ANU staff and students can download a copy of Microsoft Office for free, for use on personal devices by visiting the Microsoft Office 365 Online Portal. Please refer to HERE for details. If this isn't possible, please let the Convener know.
• Students who are unable to install or access Excel should be able to use an alternative such as OpenOffice or LibreOffice Calc or Apple Numbers or the R statistical package.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Module 1. The Rational Choice Procedure model and Bounded Rationality. Multi-criteria Decision-making. Evidence-based Management: Asking, Acquiring and Appraising. Exploratory Data Analysis.	Tutorial time preference must be submitted on Wattle by the end of Week 1. Students will be notified of their tutorial time before the lecture on Monday of Week 2. Tutorials commence on Tuesday of Week 2.
2	Module 1. The Rational Choice Procedure model and Bounded Rationality. Multi-criteria Decision-making. Evidence-based Management: Asking, Acquiring and Appraising. Exploratory Data Analysis.	Friday: task write-up topic released for Take-home exam 1.
3	Module 1. The Rational Choice Procedure model and Bounded Rationality. Multi-criteria Decision-making. Evidence-based Management: Asking, Acquiring and Appraising. Exploratory Data Analysis.	Take-home exam 1 at 11.00am AEST (UTC+10:00) on Thursday 12 August: covers content from Module 1, weeks 1 to 3.
4	Module 2. The Analytic Hierarchy Process. Measurement for decision-marking, including of latent constructs. Asking, Acquiring and Appraising of scientific evidence. Exploratory Data Analysis.
5	Module 2. The Analytic Hierarchy Process. Measurement for decision-marking, including of latent constructs. Asking, Acquiring and Appraising of scientific evidence. Exploratory Data Analysis.	Friday: task write-up topic released for Take-home exam 2.
6	Module 3. Inference, sampling, accuracy, reliability and validity of measurements. Asking, Acquiring and Appraising of scientific evidence.	Take-home exam 2 at 11.00am AEST (UTC+10:00) on Thursday 2 September: covers material from Module 2, weeks 4 and 5 and pre-reading for Module 3.
7	Module 3. Inference, sampling, accuracy, reliability and validity of measurements. Asking, Acquiring and Appraising of scientific evidence.
8	Module 3. Inference, sampling, accuracy, reliability and validity of measurements. Asking, Acquiring and Appraising of scientific evidence.	Friday: task write-up topic released for Take-home exam 3.
9	Module 4. Evidence of causation and its relation to decision-making. Correlation, information and prediction. Experiments and interrupted time series. Quality Control. The nature and importance of qualitative evidence. Bayesian reasoning and aggregation. Asking, Acquiring and Appraising of scientific evidence. * Note switch to daylight savings time in Canberra this week.	Take-home exam 3 at 11.00am AEDT (UTC+11:00) on Thursday 7 October in week 9 covers material from Module 3, weeks 6, 7 and 8 and pre-reading for Module 4.
10	Module 4. Evidence of causation and its relation to decision-making. Correlation, information and prediction. Experiments and interrupted time series. Quality Control. The nature and importance of qualitative evidence. Bayesian reasoning and aggregation. Asking, Acquiring and Appraising of scientific evidence.
11	Module 4. Evidence of causation and its relation to decision-making. Correlation, information and prediction. Experiments and interrupted time series. Quality Control. The nature and importance of qualitative evidence. Bayesian reasoning and aggregation. Asking, Acquiring and Appraising of scientific evidence.	Friday: task write-up topic released for Take-home exam 4.
12	The Critically Appraised Topic. Application and Assessment (Evaluation) in the EBM Framework.	Take-home exam 4 at 11.00am AEDT (UTC+11:00) on Thursday 28 October in week 12 covers material from Module 4, weeks 9, 10 and 11 and pre-reading for week 12.
13	Final Assessment: Critically Appraised Topic	The Critically Appraised Topic report is due at 11.59pm AEDT (UTC+11:00) on Friday 5 November. This short report is the final, capstone assessment for the course.

Tutorial Registration

Lecture for this course will be delivered in dual delivery mode and tutorials online via zoom. Students will be able to register their tutorial time preferences through Wattle during week 1 of the course. Students will be assigned by the Convener to tutorials before the Monday of week 2.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Take-home Exam 1 (20%)	20 %	12/08/2021	25/08/2021	1,2,3,4
Take-home Exam 2 (20%)	20 %	02/09/2021	30/09/2021	1,2,3,4
Take-home Exam 3 (20%)	20 %	07/10/2021	22/10/2021	1,2,3,4
Take-home exam 4 (20%)	20 %	28/10/2021	02/12/2021	1,2,3,4
Critically Appraised Topic (20%)	20 %	05/11/2021	02/12/2021	1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Students are encouraged to participate in lectures and tutorials. In particular students are encouraged to have their video on during Zoom sessions, and to make good use of the chat function for Q&A and running commentary.

Examination(s)

There is no final examination in this course.

Assessment Task 1

Take-home Exam 1 (20%)

Assessments will be discussed in the Week 1 lecture.

This open-book Take-home Exam will be conducted online from 11.00am to 1.00pm AEST on Thursday 12 August 2021. It will contain three types of question:

1.    Review questions: Questions based on the material covered in the immediate previous module.

2.    Pre-reading questions: Questions based on the required readings for the current module.

3.    Task write-up: In the previous week (before Friday 5pm) you will have been given a task that you can carry out, write up concisely and paste into your Test. 

Late submission of this assessment is not permitted.

The Test will be conducted on Wattle.

Feedback by 25 August.

Assessment Task 2

Take-home Exam 2 (20%)

This open-book Test will be conducted online from 11.00am to 1.00pm AEST Thursday 2 September 2021. It will contain three types of question:

1.    Review questions: Questions based on the material covered in the immediate previous module.

2.    Pre-reading questions: Questions based on the required readings for the current module.

3.    Task write-up: In the previous week (before Friday 5pm) you will have been given a task that you can carry out, write up concisely and paste into your Test. 

Late submission of this assessment is not permitted.

The Test will be conducted on Wattle.

Feedback by 30 September (after the mid-semester break).

Assessment Task 3

Take-home Exam 3 (20%)

This open-book Test will be conducted online from 11.00am to 1.00pm AEDT Thursday 7 October 2021. Note the change to daylight savings time in Canberra. It will contain three types of question:

1.    Review questions: Questions based on the material covered in the immediate previous module.

2.    Pre-reading questions: Questions based on the required readings for the current module.

3.    Task write-up: In the previous week (before Friday 5pm) you will have been given a task that you can carry out, write up concisely and paste into your Test. 

Late submission of this assessment is not permitted.

The Test will be conducted on Wattle.

Feedback by 22 October.

Assessment Task 4

Take-home exam 4 (20%)

This open-book Test will be conducted online from 11.00am to 1.00pm AEDT Thursday 28 October 2021.

1.    Review questions: Questions based on the material covered in the immediate previous module.

2.    Pre-reading questions: Questions based on the required readings for the current module.

3.    Task write-up: In the previous week (before Friday 5pm) you will have been given a task that you can carry out, write up concisely and paste into your Test. 

Late submission of this assessment is not permitted.

The Test will be conducted on Wattle.

Feedback by 2 December.

Assessment Task 5

Critically Appraised Topic (20%)

This is the final assessment for the course. Due Friday, 5 November 2021, 11:59pm AEDT.

Details, training and guidance for this assessment will be provided throughout the course. The deliverable is a short (less than 1000 words including tables and references), focused, highly structured document summarising the scientific evidence on a narrow topic.

“The rating scale (“rubric”) to be used for marking this assessment will be provided on Wattle together with a detailed Assessment Brief by Week 7.

Late submission of this assessment is not permitted.

Submission is through Turnitin.

Feedback by Monday 2 December, 2021.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations. None of the assessments in this course may be submitted late.

All requests for extensions to assessment in RSM courses must be submitted to the RSM School Office with a completed application form and supporting documentation. The RSM Extension Application Form and further information on this process can be found at https://www.rsm.anu.edu.au/education/education-programs/notices-for-students/extension-application-procedure/

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

All assignments will be marked and where appropriate feedback will be provided via the course Wattle site.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Unless specified otherwise in the assignment requirements, resubmissions are permitted up until the due date and time, but not allowed afterwards.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students