MSc Research in the Social Sciences (Management)

This postgraduate taught programme brings together broad-based training in social science and business research methods and advanced discipline specific knowledge within the business and management field of your choice.

Course outline and modules

This course will equip you with the critical knowledge and skills required for effective social science research, while providing you with the opportunity to engage, through advanced research, with business and management practice.

Core learning will be delivered through six taught (15 credit) modules covering advanced training in research methods and skills. These include, research philosophy, research design, quantitative methods, qualitative methods, Econometrics, and Management Consultancy and is delivered by our cross-disciplinary experts from Aston Business School and the School of Languages and Social Sciences.

Two taught (15 credit) – option modules will also be chosen by students and these will focus on any business/management specialism that students are interested in. Our research expertise is embedded in our academic departments and research centres, the details of which can be found by following the various links below. Indeed, we strongly advise all those thinking of applying to the MSc Research in the Social Sciences to explore these departmental and research centre web pages so that you can better position your own research interests to fit with the current interests of the school and our academics.

Aston Business School Academic Departments/Schools:

• Accounting
• Economics, Finance and Entrepreneurship
• Aston Law School
• Marketing and Strategy
• Operations and Information Management
• Work and Organisation

Aston Business School Research Centres:

• Advanced Services Group
• Aston Centre for Growth
• Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME)
• Enterprise Research Centre
• Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Business Prosperity.

Finally, students will be required to complete a 15000 word Dissertation within the discipline of their choice – ie. the discipline identified in their two 15 credit option modules. Students will be allocated a dedicated supervisor to guide them through this research process until submission of the final thesis.

How will my skills develop?

The taught modules within this programme will provide students with a critical understanding of the core methodological debates and decisions facing business and management researchers. Modules will demand that students engage in these debates and reflect upon their own assumptions, preferences, biases and choices when it comes to designing and delivering a substantial research project.

The dissertation element of this programme provides students with the opportunity to put into practice this new knowledge and skills. As such, students will further develop applied research skills in:

• Critically evaluating existing knowledge
• Identifying gaps/contradictions within existing literature
• Clearly articulating research project aims, objectives and beneficiaries
• Designing a valid and reliable research project and reflecting on its limitations
• Implementing a range of data collection and analysis techniques, relevant to their discipline of study
• Engaging effectively with all stakeholders throughout the research process and beyond.