ENTREP 7049 - Entrepreneurship Research in Practice

North Terrace Campus - Trimester 2 - 2021

This course explores the world of entrepreneurship theory and focuses on the skills needed to read scholarly research papers and write within academic standards. We will examine how to construct and write academic arguments based upon the published empirical evidence, or theoretical and conceptual research of others. The course will cover selecting a research topic, defining the research question(s), preparing and organising a thesis structure, ethical considerations, referencing styles and formatting and how specifically to prepare a critical analysis and review of the current literature. At the end of this course, you will - Know how to select and prepare a research topic; - Be able to design a literature search strategy based upon key concepts; - Be able to cite and reference materials correctly; - Understand the structure of a research thesis; - Be able to engage with scholarly sub-topics or current debates in the entrepreneurship literature and - Produce an academic literature review paper.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ENTREP 7049
    Course Entrepreneurship Research in Practice
    Coordinating Unit Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation & Innov Centre
    Term Trimester 2
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Intensive
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Assessment Assignments
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Scott Gordon

    Program Director Contact Details: Postgraduate Entrepreneurship and Innovation
    Name: Associate Professor Stephen Zhang
    email: stephen.zhang@adelaide.edu.au

    Teaching Staff:
    Name: Dr Scott Gordon
    Researcher profile: https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/scott.gordon
    Email: scott.gordon@adelaide.edu.au
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
    1. Devise a framework to guide the development of an independent research project in an area of your interest within the field of entrepreneurship
    2. Select a relevant research topic, encompassing the question to be addressed, appropriate theories and potential approaches
    3. Design a literature search strategy based upon key concepts
    4. Apply skills to review, analyse, critique, cite, and reference research literature
    5. Express familiarity with the field of entrepreneurship research including it's history of development, the main knowledge areas and sub-topics and the current debates at the research frontier
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    2, 4 & 5
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1, 2 and 3
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    2 & 5
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    2, 3 & 4
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    3 & 5
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    4
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources

    Text book:

    Bui, Y. N. (2014). How to write a Master’s Thesis (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, California, USE: Sage Publications Inc.

    Also available through Google Books eVersion


    Journal Articles:
    A selection of readings will be assigned on the history of entrepreneurship research, entrepreneurship sub-topics, and current
    debates. Completion of all assigned readings is compulsory. See MyUni for details.

    Recommended Resources

    Additional Online Resources that may assist

    Davidsson, P. (2016) Researching Entrepreneurship: Conceptualization and Design (2 ed.). Springer International Publishing, Switzerland.

    Murray, R. (2011). How to write a Thesis, Open University Press, McGraw Hill Education, England.

    Whisker, G. (2008), The Postgraduate Research Handbook: Succeed with Your MA, MPhil, EdD and PhD, Palgrave MacMillan, New York, USA.

    Evans, D., Gruba, P. & Zobel, J. (2011), How To Write A Better Thesis, Melbourne University Publishing, Australia.

    Additional Print Resources
    The following authors and texts I have found useful in developing research approaches. While the dates may be a little old in some cases, more up to date editions by these authors are available.
    • Creswell, J. W. (1998). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design, Sage Publications, Inc., Thousand Oaks, California.
    • Denzin, N. K. & Lincoln, Y. S. (2003). The Landscape of Qualitative Research (2nd ed.). Sage Publications, California, USA.
    • Johnson, R. B. & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2004). Mixed Methods Research: A Research Paradigm Whose Time Has Come. Educational Researcher, 33(7), 14-26.
    • Neuman, W. L. (1994). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (2nd ed.). Massachusetts, USA: Allyn and Bacon.
    • Sharp, J. A. & Howard, K. (1996). The Management of a Student Research Project, England: Gower Publishing Ltd.
    • Yin, R. K. (1994). Case Study Research: Design and Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA.: Sage Publications, Inc.
    • Veal, A. J. (2005). Business Research Methods: A Managerial Approach, Australia: Pearson Education Australia.
    Online Resources
    Online resources will be discussed during the course

    Library Resources
    The University of Adelaide’s Barr Smith Library provides a range of learning resources including texts, journals, periodicals, magazines, and access to online databases and information services. It also offers a virtual library which is accessible via the University’s website. Access to the Library's electronic resources.

    Online Learning
    MyUni is the University of Adelaide's online learning environment. It is used to support traditional face-to-face lectures, tutorials and workshops at the University. MyUni provides access to various features including announcements, course materials, discussion boards and assessments for each online course of study.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course is offered in blended learning mode with the face-to-face component offered as intensives.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    As a guide, a 3 unit course comprises a total of 156 hours work (this includes face-to-face contact, any online components, and self directed study).
    Learning Activities Summary

    This is a draft schedule and session dates are a guide only. The timetable may be changed during the course delivery if necessary.

    Topic
    Content Activities
    1 Introduction and the Research Problem Draft a research topic and question
    2 Reading & Reviewing The Literature Conduct a literature search on key terms related to your research topic
    3 Choosing Interesting Research Topics: Writing an Introduction Develop the key issues that shape your research topic
    4 Literature Analysis & Critique: Writing a
    Literature Review; History & Future of Entrepreneurship Research
    Accelerating Academic Language Development
    5 Research Ethics; Formatting and Referencing,
    Setting up Styles
    Correctly cite and reference original works in APA style.
    6 Entrepreneurship Research Sub-Topics Prepare a research synthesis on a key article related to your research topic
    7 Making an Impact: Writing a Discussion &
    Conclusion
    Develop the storyline and trace the thread of your Literature Review
    8 Current Debates in Entrepreneurship Research Presentation on individual research topics
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    #AssessmentLengthWeightingLearning Outcomes
    1 Literature Search & Selection Max 1000 words 10% 2, 3 & 5
    2 Literature Analysis Min 1500 words 30% 3 & 4
    3 Research Project Literature Review Max 5000 words 60% 1, 3 & 5
    Total 100%
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Students should attend all classes in order to pass the course. There is considerable experiential learning during classes that build your knowledge and thus enable you to be successful in this course.

    Course results may be subject to moderation by the Assessment Review Committee.
    Assessment Detail
    Literature Search & Selection
    You are required to give a brief descriptive overview of your selected research project topic, including an elaboration of the research question(s) you expect to address. Design a literature search strategy based around this research topic and present a summary of your search terms / strings, and your overall approach including the particular databases used. Execute your selected literature search strategy, then summarise and assess the quality of the results received.

    Literature Analysis
    Prepare an analysis and critique of a current debate or sub-topic in contemporary entrepreneurship research. Present your finding to the class, and lead discussion of your research stream. For your selected topic five journal articles are assigned (as per course reading list) as a starting point to discuss elements of this research stream. For each topic the articles - cover some core areas of research activity and relevant results; common threads and may represent a partial accumulation of research based knowledge; or they might highlight a divergence in argued positions Please review these articles and discuss the reasons for (and the veracity of) any divergent claims made by these authors regarding their debated topic; or identify and elaborate on areas where of research foci and findings converge or are in agreement.

    Based on your review and analysis of these articles, you are required to take a position – either on one side or the other of a debate, or be able to conceptualise and draw connections between papers. Please motivate your response based on the literature and provide support using other scholarly resources. Discuss any limitations of, or conditions for your findings. As part of leading the discussion during teaching intensive two you will be expected to either present your ideas to class across each of the original five papers that seed your specific topic or select one of these particular papers to focus on present as if your own.

    Research Project Literature Review
    Prepare a research topic literature review in two parts. The first part develops the rationale for your future research project and research question framing its relevance and importance to particular stakeholders. The second part details the basis of academic literature that grounds your research question in theory. All reference material must be correctly cited and referenced in APA style.

    The Research Project Literature Review will include the project’s aims and rationale and provide a literature review.

    Scope: This assessment item is designed to be a major contribution to your Master’s Research Project and as such should be scoped to provide an appropriate platform to anchor discussions with your supervisors. It is also likely that as the Research develops there will be later modifications to the work presented at this time.
    Submission

    All text based assignments must be submitted via MyUni:

    • Assignment Submission: Assignments should not be emailed to the instructor; they must be lodged via the MyUni Course site (unless specified to do both).
    • Cover Sheet: Please include in the assignment a completed University of Adelaide Assessment Cover Sheet (found in MyUni, under Modules) providing details of yourself and your team members (if applicable), your assignment, the course, date submitted, etc. as well as the declaration signed by you that this is your (your team’s) work. Note that the declaration on any electronically submitted assignment will be deemed to have the same authority as a signed declaration.
    • Backup Copy of Assignments: You are advised to keep a copy of your assignments in case the submitted copy goes missing. Please ensure that all assignment pages are numbered. If your assignment contains confidential information, you should discuss any concerns with the Course Lecturer prior to submission.
    • Assessment extensions request: An application for Assessment Extension should be made before the due date of the assignment to the Course Lecturer. Normally, extensions will only be granted for a maximum of two weeks from the original assignment submission date. Extensions will only be granted in cases of genuine medical, compassionate or extenuating circumstances. See sections 3 and 7a) i. in particular on assessment extensions in the Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment (MACA) Policy.
    • Failure to submit: Failure to submit an assignment on time or by the agreed extension deadline may result in penalties and may incur a fail grade. Note that a late penalty of 5% of the total available marks for that assessment item will be incurred each day an assignment is handed in late (Unless otherwise stated in 'Assessment Related Requirements' or 'Assessment Detail' above). Assignments handed in after 14 days from the due submission date will fail even if a 100% mark is granted for the work.
    • Resubmission: of an assignment after reworking it to obtain a better mark will not normally be accepted. Approval for resubmission will only be granted on medical or compassionate grounds.
    • Appealing a mark or grade: If you are dissatisfied with your mark or grade, you may request a review or re-mark. There must be academic or procedural reasons for your request, so you can’t simply request a re-mark because you are disappointed with your result. For more information on the process see Assessment Grievance: Appealing a mark or grade
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

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