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A presentation for students taking the OBUBS RAP . Please note : the best advice is to read and follow carefully guidance on the RAP provided on the ACCA website. The following slides provide further useful information. China: 2012
Nature and type of information required will be determined by choice of project topic and research report objectives set. Primary data : original data collected by researcher to answer a specific question. If primary data is required from staff within your chosen organisation ,then permission from a senior member of staff in that organisation MUST be obtained before you commence-as early as possible!!
2.Information gathering
If you need to collect primary data, the design of your research instruments (e.g. questionnaires, interviews) must be supported by relevant academic literature based on methods of research and the topic area. You also need to comment on: data collection methods e.g. focus groups, interviews, questionnaires sample size & outline of sampling strategy response rates and any problems arising eg nonresponses and their implications you MUST discuss ethical issues in data collection and how you resolved them
3. Information Gathering
Secondary data :data which is available and has been collected by others, which may be relevant to you in answering your research questions; e.g. books, journal articles, press articles , company annual reports. You MUST use relevant academic sources both to understand issues in the organisation studied, AND to support analysis /evaluation of information and ensure that research report objectives have been met.
Information gathered from the various sources used must be thoroughly analysed and evaluated, using relevant accounting /business concepts, theories, models etc in order to enable you to judge how well the objectives of your research report have been met.
The structure /framework guiding your research report: the overall research approach links what you are attempting to find out the methods you are using to gather the required information the analysis and evaluation carried out to answer your research questions conclusions / recommendations which ensure that your research report objectives have been met.
Problems with primary research/choice of topic : difficult to get access to information required; Poor /inadequate information sources poor / inadequate referencing; Research Report is descriptive rather than analytical; Skills and Learning statements do not address the 4 specific questions / describe events rather than reflect / evaluate on what they did /their own strengths and weaknesses/what they have learned from doing their RAP. How might this knowledge of the main causes of failure help you to pass?