Reference no: EM132442949 , Length: word count:3000

IMS 706 Research Methods and Proposal Assignment - Solent University, UK

Assessment Title - Research Proposal

Research Proposal Topic - Mental health, Hygiene and well being of seafarers: The case study of Andriaki Shipping and Hydroussa Navigation

Learning Outcomes - This assessment will enable students to demonstrate in full or in part the learning outcomes identified in the unit descriptors.

Knowledge and Understanding -

- Undertake an in-depth survey of existing knowledge and practice within a specialised subject area or field.

- Engage effectively with ideas, practices and methods at the forefront of the subject or profession and explore the boundaries of existing knowledge or current practice and potential developments.

Cognitive Skills -

- Independently and critically synthesise, analyse and evaluate complex information, ideas, data or propositions that may be incomplete or contradictory and that include aspects of new knowledge.

- Demonstrate initiative in designing approaches and methodologies to address complex problems, and show some originality in the solutions or conclusions reached and their justification.

Practical and Professional -

- Display expertise and autonomy in conducting research tasks to a professional or equivalent level.

Transferable and Key Skills -

- Work autonomously to produce research that meets the requirements and expectations of a professional organisation.

Research question - What is mental health?

Research aim  - The aim of this research is to further explore the means and procedures which the shipping companies and organizations could enhance or adopt-in order to improve seafarers' wellbeing on board vessels. The focus is on traditional Greek shipping company's tanker and dry bulk ship management companies.

Research questions - The research questions that have been formed are the following:

What means have the shipping companies adopted over the years in order to ensure seafarers' wellbeing?

How can the well-being of the seafarers can be improved?

How is the wellbeing, health and hygiene related to mental health?

Assessment Task -

All projects start with a plan; your final project should not be an exception. Therefore, you are tasked to design and write a research proposal related to a maritime subject (shipping, offshore drilling, port management, sea-borne logistics, ship safety/pollution prevention etc.) of your choice. Your work must be based on current events, industry trends or other important changes within the business and legislative environments; and must be supported by relevant academic and practitioner sources.

Your assignment for this unit is designed to be the launching point for your full dissertation. Your research proposal must thus outline how you propose to conduct the full research and what are your expected findings. The research proposal should contain the following sections:

Proposed Introduction -

Emergence of the research question

Importance of the research question/justification for the research project

Formal research aim

Formal research objectives (typically between 3-5)

Justification of the project structure, explaining how it will enable addressing the objectives

Proposed Literature Review -

References that have already been consulted, needed to help substantiate the justification of your research

Further references identified as useful, to be used once the literature review reaches its final form

Proposed Research Methodology

Research design (i.e. type of study)

Research approach (Deductive/Inductive)

Research strategy (Qualitative, Quantitative or combination thereof)

Sampling and methods of data collection

Methods of data analysis

Timetable for all of the above (preferably via GANTT chart)

Proposed Bibliography -

List of references actually used in your project proposal.

Further reading (remember to keep these two separate).

Choosing a Topic - The ideal topic combines an original idea of sufficient scope and depth with adequate supporting data. This data may be either primary (new) or secondary (existing) or both. Just because data is available should not be the main factor for considering a topic; at the same time some interesting projects may have to be rejected because data are inherently unavailable, or because of the impossibly high costs of their collection. In some cases, there may be alternative research locations and/or means of data collection - be creative!

Note - Need total 3000 words and use Harvard Reference style.