Abstract
In 2007, the Higher Education Qualification Framework (HEQF) prescribed that all Bachelor
degrees and Bachelor Honours degrees at National Qualification Level (NQF) level 8 include
a research component worth 30 credits. The purpose of the research component is to prepare
students to conduct independent and authentic field-specific research at an Honours-level with
emphasis on discipline-specific research methodologies, data analysis and rigorous
interpretation of results.
Institutions have opted to present this research component in different ways depending on the
discipline. In the discipline of Economics, the Honours research component is usually
presented as a separate research module over one academic year and involves conducting and
reporting research under supervision. The research module includes 10 two-hour research
methodology lectures in the first semester so that students are provided with guidance on how
to conduct independent research...