Students
MQBS8920 – Business Research Methods II
2026 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor/Lecturer
Jun Yao
Contact via Email
Room 207, 4 Eastern Road
By appointment
Lecturer
Haiyan Jiang
Contact via Email
Room 315, 4 Eastern Road
By appointment
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to GradCertResMQBS, GradDipResMQBS
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit provides students with an introduction to business research tools. It presents the foundations of quantitative research and develops the students’ ability to evaluate a range of quantitative methods and to apply business research methods, tools and techniques. |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Critically assess and interpret the foundational theories underlying quantitative approaches and analyses within the context of business disciplines.
- ULO2: Evaluate a range of quantitative techniques to design appropriate and effective research methodologies for addressing specific research objectives.
- ULO3: Apply business research methods, tools and techniques to analyse and interpret data and effectively communicate the findings.
General Assessment Information
Late Submission Penalties
If you submit your assessment late, 5% of the total possible marks will be deducted for each day (including weekends), up to 7 days. Submissions more than 7 days late will receive a mark of 0.
Example 1 (out of 100):
If you score 85/100 but submit 20 hours late, you will lose 5 marks and receive 80/100.
Example 2 (out of 30):
If you score 27/30 but submit 20 hours late, you will lose 1.5 marks and receive 25.5/30.
Extensions
Automatic short extension: Some assessments are eligible for automatic short extension. You can only apply for an automatic short extension before the due date.
Special Consideration: If you need more time due to serious issues and for any assessments that are not eligible for Short Extension, you must apply for Special Consideration. Need help? Review the Special Consideration page for further details.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due | Groupwork/Individual | Short Extension | AI assisted? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Practice: Comparative Analysis of Business Research Methods | 50% | No | 01/05/2026 | Individual | No | Open AI |
| Skills Development: Research Analysis and Reporting | 50% | No | 12/06/2026 | Individual | No | Open AI |
Professional Practice: Comparative Analysis of Business Research Methods
Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 01/05/2026
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Open AI
The purpose of this assessment is for you to deepen your understanding of quantitative research methods in business by critically reviewing and comparing different methods.
You will select academic papers on the same or a similar topic within your discipline and compare the methods used and evaluate their appropriateness and effectiveness in addressing the research questions.
Skills in focus:
- Discipline knowledge
- Work readiness
- Critical thinking and problem solving
Deliverable: Written Report (details provided on iLearn)
Individual assessment
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Critically assess and interpret the foundational theories underlying quantitative approaches and analyses within the context of business disciplines.
- Evaluate a range of quantitative techniques to design appropriate and effective research methodologies for addressing specific research objectives.
Skills Development: Research Analysis and Reporting
Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 12/06/2026
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Open AI
The purpose of this assessment is for you to appriate quantitative research methods (tools and techniques) to analyse data and interpret.
You will be given a set of raw data in a general business discipline, and you will analyse the data using appropriate business research methods, then report and interpret the results.
Skills in focus:
- Discipline knowledge
- Work readiness
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Digital skills
Deliverable: Written Report (details provided on iLearn)
Individual assessment
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Evaluate a range of quantitative techniques to design appropriate and effective research methodologies for addressing specific research objectives.
- Apply business research methods, tools and techniques to analyse and interpret data and effectively communicate the findings.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.
3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.
Delivery and Resources
Please refer to iLearn for details.
Unit Schedule
Please refer to iLearn for details.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Complaints Resolution Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Academic Integrity
At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Academic Success
Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.
- Workshops
- Chat with a WriteWISE peer writing leader
- Access StudyWISE
- Upload an assignment to Studiosity
- Complete the Academic Integrity Module
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
- IT Support
- Accessibility and disability support with study
- Mental health support
- Safety support to respond to bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault
- Social support including information about finances, tenancy and legal issues
- Student Advocacy provides independent advice on MQ policies, procedures, and processes
Student Enquiries
Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Unit information based on version 2026.03 of the Handbook