Background

MEL is a research-oriented MSc. It is therefore paramount to ensure that students approach the challenges offered by the maritime industry with a scientific attitude and well equipped with the latest tools and concepts available. For this reasons all MEL courses are rigorously built on the scientific expertise of MEL faculty and research methods are widely used and explained in all modules. In addition since 2005 MEL has introduced a course in Research Methodology and Thesis Proposal. Originally meant to equip the students with foundations of the scientific method to write an academically defensible thesis, the course has expanded to provide students with a wide range of concepts that are also helpful for the successful completion of the other modules and will be useful in their careers as maritime professionals.

The methods and approaches discussed in Research Methodology and Thesis Proposal constitute an important addition to the skills of our graduates. In particular the ability of identifying reliable information, elaborate this information with scientific rigour and produce quality analysis has become a requirement for professionals in all sectors. Professionals in all disciplines are faced regularly with the difficulties of finding reliable data sources or collecting meaningful data. The web has become a valuable and essential source of information, provided that this large availability of data is matched by the ability of the researcher or professional to navigate through it, assess its reliability and summarise and archive the data for later use or for the advantage of others.

As part of their Research Methodology classes, students are also required to spend considerable time in the library/internet on their Thesis Proposal project. Through the study/perusal of scientific journals and other literature/materials, students are expected to identify possible research areas for their thesis. They are thus also expected to draw up a Thesis Proposal which they finally present to students and staff. Often, their actual thesis results from such a Thesis Proposal.

Objectives

The course aims at providing the students with the essential tools of research design and thesis preparation. It illustrates the research process dwelling upon the ethical considerations involved in doing research. The course also explains the role and importance of the literature review; primary data collection and sampling; sources of data in the maritime sector and the advantages/difficulties of using secondary data; and questionnaire design. Particular attention is dedicated to practical examples of data collections in the MEL research domains.

Recommended reading

• J.F.Hair Jr, A.H.Money, P.Samouel and M.Page, "Research Methods for Business", Wiley and Sons, 2007.
• Paul Olivier "Writing Your Thesis", Sage Publications Ltd, 2004.
• K.T.Turabian "A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations" (7^th Edition), The University of Chicago Press, 2007.
• J.W.Creswell "Research Design, Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches" (2^nd Edition), Sage Publications Ltd, 2003.