LV EN RU DE FR

Master Thesis

Course developer

Course abstract

A Master thesis is a research work performed independently by a master student, which confirms that the master student has acquired theoretical knowledge and methodical and organisational skills in business management branch and/or agri-food business inter-branches to the extent intended by the study programme. The master thesis indicates student’s ability to conduct research with elements of novelty or practical use and to independently make findings and draw conclusions.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

• In-depth, structured and analytical knowledge of management, organization and planning processes in the agricultural and /or food business - theoretical discussion of master's thesis, review of master's thesis, defense of master's thesis.
• Ability to independently select and apply research methods specific to the general, economic and business and/or agri-food sectors for the development of a Master thesis - practical research part of master's thesis, review of master's thesis, defense of master's thesis.
• Ability to integrate agri-food business management knowledge in line with the set goals applying creative and innovative approach and/or addressing specific challenges related with agri-food business management - practical research part of master's thesis, review of master's thesis, defense of master's thesis.

• Ability to critically assess the potential impact of research results on the agri-food and business environment, business (organization) and society - master's thesis, its conclusions and proposals, review of master's thesis, defense of master's thesis.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Kursa plāns/saturs / Course plan
1. Selection of Master thesis topic, its approval with supervisor and relevant Institute
2. Acquaintance with methodical instructions for elaboration and defense of Master thesis
3. Elaboration of Master thesis structure
4. Literature studies, analysis of theoretical sources and previous research
5. Development of research methodology
6. Acquisition, processing and analysis of empirical data
7. Drawing conclusions and proposals
8. Approbation of Master thesis and its submission for preliminary defense
9. Improvement and presentation of Master thesis
10. Submission of Master thesis to the Institute and peer review,

11. Defense of Master thesis in the Master's E

Requirements for awarding credit points

In scope of master’s thesis development, student has to independently perform a research work; the master thesis needs to be formatted according to the methodological guidelines and afterwards successfully defended by the student to the Master’s Examination Commission, which as a whole certifies the acquisition of theoretical knowledge, methodological and organizational skills and competences in the field of management science in the amount and quality intended by the study programme.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

During the semester:
1. Student critically evaluates the level of previously conducted research on the topic of the Master thesis, the theoretical sources of business management and / or agri-food branches as well as their interdisciplinary research findings.
2. Student selects and appropriately applies research methods specific to comprehensive science, economics and business and / or agri-food sector for the development of Master thesis.
3. Student interprets research results and proposes new knowledge and/or problem solving approaches in agricultural and/or food business management.
4. Student elaborates technical presentation of the Master thesis according to the requirements of the methodical instructions.
5. Student develops a reasoned and visually thoughtful presentation for introducing the public to his/her Master thesis results.

6. Student prepares answers on the reviewer's questions.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Master thesis is evaluated on a 10-point scale. The evaluation is determined by:
• compliance of the Master thesis with ESAF methodological guidelines for the development and presentation of the Master thesis;
• student’s ability to analyse, critically evaluate and use the findings of other authors;
• student’s ability to formulate conclusions and proposals according to the research and calculations performed

• originality, logic and reality of the proposals presented in th

Compulsory reading

1. Adams, J. Raeside, R. K., Hafiz T. A. Research Methods for Business and Social Science Students. [tiešsaiste] Second edition. New Delhi: Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd. 2014, [skatīts 17.02.2020.] Pieejams EBSCO datubāzē: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=784882&site=ehost-live&scope=site&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_C
Pieejama EBSCO datubāzē ar LLU IS lietotājkontu:
http://ezproxy.llu.lv:2103/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xww&AN=784882&site=ehost-live&scope=site
2. Mligo, E.S. Introduction to Research Methods and Report Writing: A Practical Guide for Students and Researchers in Social Sciences and the Humanities. [tiešsaiste] Eugene, Oregon: Resource Publications, 2016. [skatīts 17.02.2020.] Pieejams EBSCO datubāzē: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1228098&site=ehost-live&scope=site E-book.
Pieejama EBSCO datubāzē ar LLU IS lietotājkontu: http://ezproxy.llu.lv:2103/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xww&AN=1228098&site=ehost-live&scope=site
3. Salkind N. Exploring Research. 7th Edition – Upper Saddle River : Pearson Education, 2008, p.336.

Further reading

1. Belk W.R. Qualitative Consumer Research. [tiešsaiste] London : Emerald Publishing Limited, 2017. [skatīts 17.02.2020.] Pieejams EBSCO: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1508111&site=ehost-live&scope=site&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_Cover
E-book. Pieejama ar LLU IS lietotājkontu: http://ezproxy.llu.lv:2103/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xww&AN=1508111&site=ehost-live&scope=site
2. Collis J., Hussey R. Business Research. A Practical Guide for Undergraduate& Postgraduate Students, ISBN-13:978-1-4039-9247-5, London, 2009, p.376. .
3. Ghauri, P., Gronhaug, K. Research methods in Business studies, 4th edition. Prentice Hall 2010, p.288.
4. Toepoel V. Doing Surveys Online. Croydon : Sage Publications Ltd, 2016. 258 lpp.
5. Willoughby D. An Essential Guide to Business Statistics. UK : John Wiley $ Sons, 2015. 356 lpp. ISBN 978-1-118-71563-5.
6. Wolf C., Joye D., Smith T.W., Fu Yang-chih. The Sage Handbook of Survey Methodology. Croydon: Los Angeles: Sage Publications Ltd, 2016. 716 . lpp. ISBN : 978-1-4462-8266-3

Periodicals and other sources

1. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 17.02.2020.] Pieejams: http://www.fao.org/home/en/
2. The World Bank. [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 17.02.2020.] Pieejams: http://www.worldbank.org
3. The World Economic Forum. [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 17.02.2020.] Pieejams: http://reports.weforum.org/

Notes

Master thesis in academic master’s programme
“Agrifood Business Management”