Edexcel Level4/ 5BTEC Higher National Certificate/ Diploma in Hospitality Management
Assignment Summary:
Assignment front sheet:
Qualification Unit number and title
Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Hospitality Management Unit 4: Research Project
Student name Assessor name
Alex Addo
Date issued Completion date Submitted on
26 January 2016 Deadline 24th of July 2016
Assignment title Research Project in tourism and hospitality management
Learner declaration
I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own and research sources are fully acknowledged.
Student signature: Date:
Unit Name: Research Project
Unit Number: 4
QCF Level: 5
Credit Value: 20
Assignment Submission Date: TASK 1 Deadline 21st of February 2016 (Research Proposal)
TASK 2 and 3 (Including Literature review) Deadline 24th of April 2016
Task 4 Deadline 26th of April 2016 (Individual presentation)
FINAL SUBMISSION: Sunday 24th July 2016
Assessor: Alex Addo
Mode of submission: LIVECAMPUS
Aim
This unit is designed to allow you to become confident in the use of research techniques and methods. It addresses the elements that make up formal research, including the proposal, a variety of methodologies, action planning, carrying out the research itself and presenting the findings. To complete the unit satisfactorily, you must understand the theory that underpins formal research.
Summary of Learning Outcomes
1. Understand how to formulate a research specification
2. Be able to implement the research project within agreed procedures and to specification
3. Be able to evaluate the research outcomes
4. Be able to present the research outcomes
Scenario:
The research project is a module which sort of captures all the previous efforts you have done during your studies and now it is the time where you demonstrate your skills you have acquired during this course. Therefore, for this assignment, you are provided with a freedom to choose an area of tourism and hospitality and create a topic that interests you and you are passionate about. You have to be mindful that this is a practically a small-scale project and therefore will require advice concerning the scale and scope of the area to be researched which should be done in co-operation with your teacher/supervisor
Please note, an example of a small-scale project can be a research on a traditional food of a community; a customer care of a particular hotel or a travel agent; or any hospitality topic of your choice from your previous modules on this course.
The study should incorporate predominantly primary research. The questions should be derived from secondary source of information. This secondary research should come from literature reviews of academic articles, journals and books involving exploration of current major issues for your chosen area. Therefore, you are required to provide responses to the tasks below step by step to be able to meet all the learning outcomes and assessment criteria of this project report.
Tasks:
Task Learning Outcome Assessment Criteria
1 LO1. Understand how to formulate a research specification LO 1
Research Proposal
a)
b) For this task you are required to fill in the proposal form which should contain the following tasks:
• Choose a topic for your research that is relevant to tourism and hospitality and identify your aim and objectives. (AC 1.1, 1.2)
• Write a brief literature review highlighting the key references in generating a primary research questions(AC 1.3)
• Produce a short research project specification that includes a short proposal for your research highlighting the research methods and a justification of your chosen methods. (AC.1.4, 1.5)
Please note that a proposal form will be handed to you in soft copy and the deadline for submitting that is 21st of February 2016.
After the proposal, you are required to work on literature review which should be around 1500 words and should be submitted together with the final report on 24th of July 2016
Deadline 21st of February 2016
2 LO2. Be able to implement the research within agreed procedures and to specification
LO2
Assignment.
Written report
a)
Match resources efficiently to the research question and objectives that you have setup in your research proposal and carry out a primary research which should be in conjunction with your topic and objectives. (AC 2.1 and 2.2)
For this task you need to do field research using the research methods you have selected in your proposal and you are required to provide evidence of research in your final report. This could be:
– Filled in questionnaires
– Interview recordings using different devices
– Photos during research etc. (AC 2.3)
After conducting primary research, a methodology chapter should be written which should include elements such as research design, research methodology, field research, data analysing techniques, ethical consideration. 1000 words.
Deadline 24th of April 2016
3 LO3. Be able to evaluate the research outcomes
LO3
Assignment.
Written report
a)
b)
After conducting primary research and methodology chapter, you now need to use appropriate research evaluation techniques to interpret and analyse the results that came out of your research. In this chapter (Findings and analysing data) you are required to use creativity in presenting and analysing data. (AC 3.1 and 3.2)
After analysing and presenting the results, you are now required to make recommendations and justify areas for further considerations (AC 3.3)
The word limit for the both tasks is 1500 words
Deadline 24th of April 2016
4
LO4. Be able to present the research outcomes LO4
(Individual Presentation)
a)
After the research is done, you now need to use an appropriate media format to present the outcome of the research orally in class. This will be individual presentation which should not be more than 15 minutes. This can be done in power points or any other ways that you think it is appropriate. (AC 4.1)
Evidence
For this learning outcome, all the notes and other materials including slides should be presented and submitted in class as evidence of your presentation preparation. The presentation will be video recorded and used as evidence.
Deadline 26th of April 2016
• form Group Log
• Peer review for group
Written reflection on their contributions
There will be only Research supervision & Tutorial in the 2nd TERM
FINAL SUBMISSION:
24th JULY 2016
Marking and Grading:
? Pass Assessment Criteria
To achieve PASS grade the student must meet all the learning outcomes mentioned below:
Outcomes Assessment Criteria for pass
To achieve each outcome a learner must demonstrate the ability to:
LO1. Understand how to formulate a research specification
1.1 formulate and record possible research project outline
specifications
1.2 identify the factors that contribute to the process of
research project selection
1.3 undertake a critical review of key references
1.4 produce a research project specification
1.5 provide an appropriate plan and procedures for the
agreed research specification
LO2. Be able to implement the research within agreed procedures and to specification
2.1 match resources efficiently to the research question or
hypothesis
2.2 undertake the proposed research investigation in
accordance with the agreed specification and
procedures
2.3 record and collate relevant data where appropriate
LO3. Be able to evaluate the research outcomes
3.1 use appropriate research evaluation techniques
3.2 interpret and analyse the results in terms of the original
research specification
3.3 make recommendations and justify areas for further
consideration
LO4. Be able to present the research outcomes
4.1 use an agreed format and appropriate media to present
the outcomes of the research to an audience
In addition to the above PASS criteria, this assignment gives you the opportunity to submit evidence in order to achieve the following MERIT
and DISTINCTION grades
Grade Descriptor
Indicative characteristic/s
Contextualisation
M1 Identify and find appropriate solutions An effective approach to assess the appropriate chosen research question for your report and explore definition; suitability; skills and knowledge to be gained; aims; objectives; terms of reference; duration; rationale for selection and so on.
In this part of the assignment, learners should show clear evidence of innovative approach to argument that is likely to be expected at this level. Focusing on the scenario below addressing the questions you should provide an effective approach to study and research has been applied in your discussion. You should address your participation creatively in terms of research and information , data collection and analysis, communications in terms of carrying out the action plan reviewing process; strategy Preparation: identifying ideas/topics/areas of investigation; research question(s); scope and feasibility; You should also address in a logical way the research design: type of research eg qualitative, quantitative, systematic, original; methodology; resources; statistical analyses; validity; reliability; control of variables.
(LO1, AC 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5)
M2 Select / design and apply appropriate methods / techniques Appropriate learning methods/techniques have been applied
Relevant theories and techniques have been evaluated There should be clear demonstration of good discussion that will display a full understanding of the subject matter in your writing. You should provide an innovative and rational approach to your discussion on implementation according to research design and method; test research hypotheses; considering test validity; reliability including data collection, data analysis and interpretation.
(LO2. AC 2,1 AC 2.2)
M3 Present and communicate appropriate findings Communication is appropriate for familiar and unfamiliar audiences and appropriate media have been used.
Range of sources of information from books, journals, articles, newspaper / data used in making the formal report
Information/ data used are synthesized and justified supported by relevant examples To achieve M3 there should be clear evidence of understanding of importance and being able to evaluate the outcomes of the research project: an overview of the success or failure of the research project planning, aims and objectives, evidence and findings, validity, reliability, benefits, difficulties, conclusion(s)
Future consideration: significance of research investigation; application of research results; implications; limitations of the investigation; improvements; recommendations for the future should be clearly apparent in your writing. Good display of originality in analysing the discussion should be evident in your presentation. It should be vividly evident in your presentation the findings of your research presentation. (LO3 and LO4)
Distinction Assessment Criteria
D1 Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions Conclusions have been arrived at through synthesis of ideas and have been justified
Self-criticism of approach has taken
To achieve D1
In this part of the assignment learners should show, clear evidence of stimulating and rigorous argument that are likely to be expected at this stage. Your proposal should be clear and well justified the chosen methods and the literature review should be written in a style that contains critical analysis and independent thinking. Also, address your participation creatively in terms of research and information, data collection and analysis, communications in terms of carrying out the action plan reviewing process; strategy including preparation: identifying ideas/topics/areas of investigation; research question(s); scope and feasibility.
You should provide a clear, creative and applicable discussion on the research design: type of research eg qualitative, quantitative, systematic, original; methodology; resources; statistical analyses; validity; reliability; control of variables. (Task1)
D2 Take responsibility for managing and organising activities Activities have been manage to a high standard.
Substantial activities or investigations have been planned, managed and organised.
The main areas specified in the assignment have been critically analysed in terms of theory and practical application supported by appropriate examples To achieve D2
In this part of the course work there should be clear evidence of extensive study from various academic resources and demonstration of understanding of implementation according to research design and method; test research hypotheses; considering test validity; reliability including data collection, data analysis and interpretation. Also, a clear justification of the chosen research methods and research design have been given and a sound coverage of field research is evident.
(Task 2)
D3 Demonstrate convergent /lateral / creative thinking Convergent and lateral thinking have been applied
The main areas specified in the assignment have been critically analysed in terms of theory and practical application supported by appropriate examples To achieve D3 learner needs to demonstrate convergent, lateral, creative thinking on the subject matter in their writing. Exceptional display of originality in your discussion should be evident in your formal presentation. It should be evident in your writing the mechanisms for exceptional display of originality in evaluating the outcomes of the research project: an overview of the success or failure of the research project planning, aims and objectives, evidence and findings, validity, reliability, benefits, difficulties, conclusion(s).
It should be vividly evident in your writing the coherent, logical development of future consideration: significance of research investigation; application of research results; implications; limitations of the investigation; improvements; recommendations for the future should be clearly apparent in your writing. The above also apply to presentation of the information in a class demonstrating excellent presentation skills and choosing the appropriate method to deliver the presentation (Task 3&4)
Submission Guidelines:
Your submission should be in a report style with approximately 5000 words in total
Excellent Formatting:
• Preferred writing styles Arial, Verdana, and Times New Roman
• Line spacing 1.5, Font Size 12
• Consistency in Heading Scheme, bullets and numbering
• Consistency in top, bottom and left, right margins
• Alphabetical Harvard referencing and bibliography
Report Structure
1. Title Page
2. Contents Page
3. Executive Summary
4. Introduction
5. Literature Review
6. Methodology
7. Results and Analysis
8. Conclusion and recommendations
9. Bibliography
10. Appendices
*For Late Submission policy, please refer to your student course handbook available on Live Campus.
Plagiarism Rules and Regulations
No plagiarism is accepted in assignments and students are advised to do the referencing correctly according to the Harvard Referencing System.
o Reduce your plagiarism by not sharing assignments and doing in text citations of sources used, using the Harvard referencing method
o Three formal academic warnings will result in your admission being cancelled with the college – which will mean that you will be reported to the home office, you will not be refunded and you will have to go back to your home country.
What is Turnitin? Turnitin is the software that EThames uses to calculate the similarity of your assignment to any other document submitted in the same system all over the world.
What happens when you submit an assignment on Turnitin? You submit your assignment on Turnitin by submitting it on Livecampus on the assignment submission link. Your assignment is then compared with all of the assignments for all the different units submitted on Livecampus as well as assignments submitted by other students in other colleges and books and documents all over the world. The report generated is not the final report. The final report will only be generated after the final deadline which would mean that once the submission link closes and once every student submitted assignments at EThames for the specific unit, only then the final report will be generated. This means that if you have shared your assignment with anybody and they have submitted part of it or the full assignment the initial report your friend got would’ve indicated the similarity, but your report would’ve remained unchanged. This is because the report is refreshed every time that you upload your assignment and then finally after the deadline. After the deadline their plagiarism will be high as well as your own.
What can you do to avoid getting a high Turnitin score? • Do not copy pieces of work from any book or website. It needs to be rewritten in your own words and proper in text citation should be done according to the Harvard referencing method
• Do not share your assignment with any friend, not even to assist them
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is passing off the work of others as your own. This constitutes academic theft and is a serious matter which is penalised in assignment marking. Plagiarism is the submission of an item of assessment containing elements of work produced by another person(s) in such a way that it could be assumed to be the student’s own work. Examples of plagiarism are:
• the verbatim copying of another person’s work without acknowledgement
• the close paraphrasing of another person’s work by simply changing a few words or altering the order of presentation without acknowledgement
• the unacknowledged quotation of phrases from another person’s work and/or the presentation of another person’s idea(s) as one’s own.
Copying or close paraphrasing with occasional acknowledgement of the source may also be deemed to be plagiarism if the absence of quotation marks implies that the phraseology is the student’s own.
Plagiarised work may belong to another student or be from a published source such as a book, report, journal or material available on the internet.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is passing off the work of others as your own. This constitutes academic theft and is a serious matter which is penalised in assignment marking.
Plagiarism is the submission of an item of assessment containing elements of work produced by another person(s) in such a way that it could be assumed to be the student’s own work. Examples of plagiarism are:
• the verbatim copying of another person’s work without acknowledgement
• the close paraphrasing of another person’s work by simply changing a few words or altering the order of presentation without acknowledgement
• the unacknowledged quotation of phrases from another person’s work and/or the presentation of another person’s idea(s) as one’s own.
Copying or close paraphrasing with occasional acknowledgement of the source may also be deemed to be plagiarism if the absence of quotation marks implies that the phraseology is the student’s own.
Plagiarised work may belong to another student or be from a published source such as a book, report, journal or material available on the internet.
