RESEARCH METHOD
By
Abuzar Asra
1
SESSION 3
RESEARCH PROCESS
(Chapter 4 of Sekaran, 2000)
2
RESEARCH WHEEL
(Rudestam and Newton, 2001)
Conceptual
framework
Data
Proposition
analysis
Inductive
Research questions/
hypotheses
Empirical
observation
Deductive
Data collection
3
RESEARCH PROCESS (1)
(1)
Observation: broad area of research interest
identified
(2)
Preliminary data gathering: interviewing and
literature survey
(3)
Problem definition: research problem delineated
(4) Theoretical framework: variables clearly identified
4
BUILDING BLOCK OF SCIENCE
(Umasekaran, 2000)
Building block of science
is
very similar to the research wheel
5
RESEARCH PROCESS (2)
(5)
Generation of hypotheses
(6)
Research design
(7)
Data collection, analysis and interpretation
(8)
Induction:
hypotheses
questions answered?
substantiated?
research
6
RESEARCH PROCESS (3)
(9)
Report writing
(10) Report presentation
(11) Decision making
7
1. OBSERVATION
Broad area of research identified, via
(i) observation, or
(i) sensing of the phenomena
8
2. PRELIMINARY DATA GATHERING
•
INTERVIEWING
•
LITERATURE SURVEY/REVIEW
9
2.1. INTERVIEWING
Through discussion with various
stakeholders, research issues can also be
obtained
10
2.2. LITERATURE REVIEW
“The
literature review should show that all relevant
documents, both published and unpublished, have been
identified and analysed. This means demonstrating that all
the main concepts, theories, theorists and methodological
approaches relevant to the topic have been identified,
understood and critically evaluated” (Hart, 2001)
References:
Hart, C. (2001). Doing a Literature Review: Releasing the Social
Science Research Imagination. SAGE Publications Ltd., London.
11
PURPOSES
• Identify and highlight the important variables
• Document the significant findings from earlier
research, the foundation on which the theoretical
framework for the current investigation can be
based and hypotheses developed
12
INFORMATION REQUIRED
-
SUBJECT SPECIFIC
-
RESEARCH METHODS
13
STEPS REQUIRED (1)
•
Identify and access published and
unpublished materials on the topics of interest
•
Extract
systematically
the
relevant
information (on the problem, the design details of
the study, and the ultimate findings)
14
STEPS REQUIRED (2)
•
Write up the literature review
 Selective
 Relevant studies need to be critiqued, rather than reported
Not a laundry list,
with sentences of paragraphs beginning with the words:
“Smith found……….,”
“Jones concluded………..,”
“Anderson stated…………,”
15
STEPS REQUIRED (3)

Primary task:
- build an argument

Not a compilation of facts and feelings,
but a coherent argument leading to the description of a
proposed study

A good question to ask yourself repeatedly in a review of
literature:
“Where are you going with this?”
16
STEPS REQUIRED (4)
2 tasks:


Inform what you have done, and
Conclude, based on the available materials
At the end of the literature review, the reader should be able to
conclude that:
“Yes, of course, this is the exact study that needs to be done at
this time to move knowledge in this field a little further along.”
17
A STRATEGY
18
EXAMPLES OF LITERATURE REVIEW
•
Pages:
- 65-66 of Sekaran, 2000
- 115 of Sekaran, 2000
•
Pages 62- 63 of Rudestam and Newton, 2001
19
Exercise 1
•
Choose your own research interest
•
Find around 10 articles or studies related to
your research interest
•
Write a short literature review using the above
documents
20
3. PROBLEM DEFINITION/STATEMENT (1)
A clear, precise, and succint statement
of the question or issue that is to be
investigated with the goal of finding an
anwer or solution
21
3. PROBLEM DEFINITION/STATEMENT (2)
Examples:
Applied research:
• Existing business problems
• Situations need improvement
Pure/basic research
•
•
Clarity of some areas for theory building
Answer a research interest empirically
22
3. PROBLEM DEFINITION/STATEMENT (3)
Examples:
•
To what extent has the new advertising campaign been successful in
creating high-quality, customer-centered corporate image that it was
intended to produce?
•
Is the effect of participative budgeting on performance moderated by
control systems?
•
What are the components of quality of life?
•
What are specific factors to be considered in creating a data
warehouse for a manufacturing company?
23
3. TOPIC TITLE
Guide:
•
Include all necessary key words to correctly and fully
convey the content of the study
•
Delete all words that are redundant or do not
contribute to the essential meaning
•
Order the words to reflect accurately the meaning you
intend.
24
3. TOPIC TITLE
Examples of problematic titles:
•
A STUDY OF INFORMATION PROCESSING DEFICITS OF THE
AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY
( The phrase ‘A STUDY OF” is redundant and unnecessary. Delete!)
•
THE EFFECT OF SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN TESTIFYING IN COURT
( The word order makes it unclear who is being affected by the
testimony. An alternative:
THE EFFECT OF TESTIFYING IN COURT ON SEXUALLY ABUSED
CHILDREN
25
3. TOPIC TITLE
Examples of problematic titles:
•
AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF THE INTERRELATIONSHIP OF LONLINESS,
OBESITY, AND OTHER SELECTED VARIABLES WITHIN TWO OF OBESITY
SUBGROUPS AND A CONTROL GROUP
(much too long and cumbersome. Try to reduce to 12-15 key words,
e.g. THE ROLE OF LONELINESS IN OBESITY SUBGROUPS.)
•
PREDICTING ACTING-OUT BEHAVIOR FROM THE ACHROMATICCHROMATIC HTP
(do not use abbreviations in the title)
26