Reflection on Greenwich Employability Passport activities

The aim of this assessment based on the Passport’ is to give you an opportunity to learn from experiences outside your academic studies, which will enhance your value to a potential employer. The activity will be assessed in relation to how well you can demonstrate your learning and your ability to take on responsibility.
Reflective Report outline (400 words)

1. Describe what you did €“ this includes planning and setting up the activity and the activity itself
2. Describe any problems you faced and how you overcame them
3. Identify what transferrable skills you gained and how they will be of value to your employability
4. Evaluate what was good and what was bad about what you did and how you might improve
5. Scan into your work at this point a copy of the evidence as specified in the Passport- (Appendix 1)

Note: For the Employability passport activity. I did a volunteering in Congo. In a village called Luhwindja. I worked with orphan and an alphabet kid.

Note from Tony: I will put the Appendix later
Task 7 (450 words)

Research Question and Questionnaire Draft

This task aims to assess your ability to consider a general management problem and identify specific questions, which can be investigated precisely in order to develop a solution to the problem.

NB although you are working as a group, all the assignments you submit must be written individually ie Although they may contain similar information they must be written in your own words

For task 7 you must work as a group to carry out initial planning of the research. For your portfolio you need to present the following:

1 What is the management question you have chosen to investigate and why do you think it is an important question, which needs investigation?
€“ Management question: Is student absenteeism a sign of low moral or part of a deliberate strategy to optimise effort while at university?
2 State clearly and concisely the main research question which will be the basis of your research and up to four subsidiary questions, which you also will need to investigate.
(NB Subsidiary questions are not the questionnaire questions although they may be similar)
– Research question: How does the low level of morale affect absenteeism of students at University of Greenwich?
3 Draft up to ten questionnaire questions that will address the research question and could become part of the questionnaire you will use in your survey
Do not include demographic questions at this stage
You must use at least three of the following types of questionnaire questions which will be discussed in the lecture in week 19:
response questions €“ Likert-scale questions €“ Multiple choice €“ Verbal frequency scale €“ Semantic differential scale
1. €“ What is your gender?

Male Female

2. What course do you study?

_____________________________________

3. Type of course:

Undergraduate Postgraduate Vocational

4. Do you feel that absenteeism of you or fellow students in your course is affecting your experience of your studies?

Yes No

5. Is your absenteeism at university affected due to any of the following?
Job Parenting Care taking (e.g. senior family) Work experience Internship
None
Please state any other factors affecting you, but not on above list:
6. Answer this question using numbers from 1 to 5. 1 €“ being strongly agree and 5 €“ being strongly disagree.

My absenteeism has impact on low morale of other students

Absenteeism of students has negative impact on my morale.

7. What is your experience of living in university accommodation? Circle correct number. (If you live at home and travel, skip this question).

Good experience Terrible Experience
1 2 3 4 5

Does the experience of living in accommodation affect your absenteeism?

Yes No
8. What is your experience in living off the campus? Circle correct number. (If you live in accommodation, skip this question).

Good experience Terrible Experience
1 2 3 4 5

9. Does travel interfere with your attendance at lectures or tutorials?

It does severely Not at all
1 2 3 4 5

10. Is your presence at tutorials / lectures reflected by the quality of the lecturer?

Yes Not really

1 2 3 4 5

11. Do you attend lectures/tutorials, for the new ideas and concepts that it could provide?

Yes Not really

1 2 3 4 5
12. Is your timetable suitable towards your lifestyle?

Timetable is reasonable It does interfere with my lifestyle

1 2 3 4 5
13. Do you identify struggles with long timetable gaps’?

I do I don’t

1 2 3 4 5
14. Answer following questions using numbers in scale of 1-5.
1. Always 2. Often 3. Sometimes 4. Rarely 5. Never

a) Do you usually find it easy to skip lecture / tutorial if you have extracurricular activity?
b) Prior to the lecture, do you usually go through PowerPoint slides?
c) Do you research lecture content instead of going to one?
d) Do you physically go to the library?
e) If attendance affects your grade, are you more likely to attend your tutorial?
15. Do you access library content through computer?

Yes No

16. From your point of view; how does absenteeism affects your learning experience?

 
4 What are your initial plans about how you will carry out the research eg where will you get data from?

Task 8 (600 words)

Literature review
This task aims to assess your ability to search successfully for relevant literature and to identify salient points, which enable you to develop a persuasive scholarly argument

For this task you must find three academic journal articles, which are relevant to the research topic you have identified in task 8. Using your critical reading skills read all your sources and write a short review of each article.
For each article set out your summary as follows
1 Write out the full Harvard reference for the journal article
2 Summarise the key points of the article which are relevant to your research topic
3 Explain why you think the article is valuable in helping you gain a better understanding of your management problem or research topic
.Then:
4 Write a brief summary of what you think are the most valuable point from the three articles which will help you plan your research
Task 9 (300 words)

Methodology and ethics test

This task assesses your understanding of the theoretical concepts of research methodology and research ethics gained from you reading and the lectures

During the seminar in Week 24 you will be tested on your understanding of concepts used in the design of research and the ethical issues, which must be taken into account when planning research. These concepts will be covered in the lecture in Week 23 and also in the reading for Week 23.
The test will last for 20 mins and consist of multiple-choice questions.
Your tutor will mark your test. When it is returned you must scan the paper and submit it as part of portfolio 2 (This is so that the paper is available for moderation and external examination)
Note from Tony: Task 9 : I put the scan at the end of this papper
Task 10 (650 words)
This task assesses your ability to draw together the results of a research project and present conclusions which help to solve management problems
For this task you will write an individual report based on the viva* you will have presented with your group during week 26. During the viva you will report on your research activity and your findings following the structure below
The group viva
You will have TEN minutes for the presentation and up to FIVE minutes for questions

Your presentation for the viva will be structured as follows:
1. State the management question you have chosen and why do you think it is important
2. State the research questions you identified which you derived from the management question
3. Describe three or four significant findings from the literature you have read that were most useful in helping you understand the context and background to the research
4. Describe the main features of your questionnaire and how you distributed it
5. Present the graphs or tables which summarise the quantitative data you collected and give your analysis of what the data are telling you ; (if there are too many graphs to present in the time, choose only the most significant)
6. Present your summary of any qualitative data you collected and your analysis of what the data are telling you
7. Give your conclusions about the management question you based your research on and any additional issues which your research finding have highlighted.

For item 5 above, use Excel to convert your quantitative data into charts. Use 2D or 3D columns
For item 6 give examples of significant statements or convert to qualitative data through a coding process €“ (as explained in the lecture and reading)

Writing up your individual research report

€¢ Your tutor will give you feedback on your presentation and an overall mark for your group.
€¢ Write up your report following the same structure as the presentation 1-7 above.
In 5 above you must, in addition, provide one copy of a completed questionnaire (place this at the end of your report)
€¢ Although you have worked on this as a group your report must be in your own words (except for group agreed documents such as research questions, questionnaire etc
€¢ You must include a scanned copy of one completed questionnaire at the end of your report

Note from Tony: For Task 10 look the powerpoint viva voce
Task 11 (300 words )
Draft dissertation proposal
This task assesses your understanding of the research process gained from this term’s management research project and your ability to apply it to your preparatory work for your 3rd year dissertation.

Note €“ Writing this proposal is an opportunity to think systematically about the topic you will choose for your dissertation. However, it is a draft’ and so can be changed as much as you want before you commit yourself to a tittle when you work with a supervisor next year

The draft proposal should include the following:
1. The general topic or problem you hope to investigate
2. The research question (and subsidiary questions) you will base your research on
3. Three examples of scholarly literature you will read as the basis of your literature review
4. A description of the research approach and research strategy you will use and why you chose
5. A brief description of any ethical issues or practical problems you will need to be aware of