| Learning objectives |
The aim of the master’s project is to demonstrate
the ability to conduct independently a qualified piece of research
within the field of tourism and hospitality. More specifically, to
achieve the grade 12, students have to meet the following learning
objectives with no or only minor mistakes:
- Demonstrate the ability to produce a qualified piece of
research within the tourism and hospitality field independently
that applies relevant methods and theories;
- Document in-depth knowledge of the subject of the thesis,
including the conditions and circumstances in which it is
embedded;
- Formulate a research question that has relevance to the
field;
- Motivate the choice of theory and/or other prior literature
used to address answer the research question;
- Motivate the choice of methodology used to address the research
question;
- Document the analysis through the selection and processing of
primary and secondary sources and/or the development of
instantiations of a problem solution;
- Discuss the quality of the analyzed sources or solutions,
including their appropriateness in terms of providing answers to
the research question;
- Explain and evaluate the overall coherence between: the
research question, the selection and use of theory, the applied
method, the analysis, the conclusion, and the generalizability of
the findings;
- Critically reflect on theoretical and practical aspects the
finding;
- To follow academic conventions in the written and oral
presentation.
|
| Examination |
|
Master's
Project:
|
| Exam
ECTS |
15 |
| Examination form |
Oral exam based on written product
In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product
must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The
grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and
the individual oral performance, see also the rules about
examination forms in the programme regulations. |
| Individual or group exam |
Oral group exam based on written group
product |
| Number of people in the group |
2 |
| Size of written product |
Max. 60 pages |
| Assignment type |
Master's project |
| Duration |
Written product to be submitted on specified date and
time.
30 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade,
and informing plus explaining the grade |
| Grading scale |
7-point grading scale |
| Examiner(s) |
Internal examiner and external examiner |
| Exam period |
Summer |
| Make-up exam/re-exam |
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
If the student has submitted their
thesis, but is ill at the oral defence, a new defence will be
arranged as soon as possible based on the thesis already submitted.
If the student receives a non-passing grade at the regular exam,
they have used an exam attempt.
|
Description of the exam
procedure
The exam form is an oral group exam based on a written project -
but can also be written individually. If written individually, the
project must be 30 pages max.
The examination time includes time for the examiner to discuss
and inform the student about their grades and it depends on the
number of students:
- If the thesis is written by one student, the oral exam is 30
minutes.
- If the thesis is written by two students, the oral exam is 60
minutes.
Students are expected to bring their thesis to the exam. Also,
they are allowed to bring notes and presentation material to the
exam.
The exam begins with a presentation by the students (max. 7
minutes for one student, 15 minutes for two students) followed by a
discussion between the students and the examiners.
The grade awarded will reflect a holistic assessment of the
academic content of the thesis, formal aspects (e.g., correct
spelling and referencing), and the oral performance. Emphasis will
be placed on the academic content of the thesis (see learning
objectives).
|
|
| Course content, structure and pedagogical
approach |
|
The master’s project is the final assignment required to
complete the study program. The project must be within the programs
profile and is to be motivated by a problem in tourism and
hospitality that is relevant to the study program. The problem is
to be addressed through acknowledged research methods and should
contain an empirical part as well.
Students identify a potential topic and develop their research
approach under the guidance of a supervisor. Finding a supervisor
is in the responsibility of the students (see my.cbs.dk). The
topic and research question then needs to be approved by the course
coordinator. Students embark on independent research
activities over multiple weeks in which they also successively
write up their work.
The supervisor can be used to give feedback at multiple stages
of this process, for example, on the topic delimitation, planned
methodology, thesis structure, as well as on drafts of individual
chapters of the thesis. Supervisors are not supposed to review
drafts of results and conclusion sections of the thesis before the
final hand-in deadline.
Two workshops will be offered to present and discuss the project
with academics and other students (for
peer-group-feedback).
|
| Description of the teaching methods |
The course includes two workshops and an
introductory event ("Master's Project Kick-Off") to
discuss potential ideas and to introduce to challenges of writing a
master’s project..
The workshops are at a later stage of the project, to present first
empirical findings by the students and to receive feedback from
academics and students.
The supervision process is described in the supervision plan, which
is agreed between the student(s) and the supervisor prior to the
commencement of the master’s project. |
| Feedback during the teaching period |
| The students will receive feedback at the two
workshops and from their supervisor at supervision meetings (in
person or online). The frequency of supervision meetings and their
content are agreed upon between students and their supervisor.
Students also receive feedback from their supervisor after the oral
exam. |
| Student workload |
| Attending class (kick-off and workshops) |
8 hours |
| Project (including supervision) |
356,5 hours |
| Oral exam (including exam preparation) |
48 hours |
| In total |
412,5 hours |
|
| Expected literature |
|
This course literature depends on the project chosen by the
student and needed to be identified by them. Additionally, we
recommend the following readings:
- Alvesson, M. & Sandberg, J. (2011). Generating research
questions through problematization. Academy of Management
Review, 36(2), 247-271.
- Byron, K., & Thatcher, S. M. (2016). Editors’ comments:
“What I know now that I wish I knew then”—Teaching theory and
theory building. Academy of Management Review, 41(1),
1-8.
- Kock, F., Assaf, A. G., & Tsionas, M. G. (2020). Developing
courageous research ideas. Journal of Travel Research,
59(6), 1140-1146.
- MacKenzie, S. B. (2003). The dangers of poor construct
conceptualization. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science,
31(3), 323-326.
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