When a research work becomes a routine

On marking business dissertation reports for this centre, I notice that many students adopt the same topic, same theories and same research methods. In this case, students use SERVQUAL to evaluate service quality and the research  method is survey questionnaire. The quality of the reports is reasonable. The main problem is, research works become a standard exercise with a clear set of procedures to deal with a well defined concern and problem. The students will get reasonably good marks and it is also easy for me to do the marking.

The problem is, in this case, students do not learn how to use research skills in problem-solving, especially on soft and wicked problems in a dynamic real-life setting.  They miss the chance to develop intellectual skill and critical thinking.

In short, a research work becomes a routine; then, it is not a research work any more.