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RESEARCH METHOD

By

Abuzar Asra

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SESSION 3

RESEARCH PROCESS

(Chapter 4 of Sekaran, 2000)

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RESEARCH WHEEL (Rudestam and Newton, 2001)

Conceptualframework

Data Proposition Research questions/analysis hypotheses

Empirical Inductive observation Deductive

Data collection

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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

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BUILDING BLOCK OF SCIENCE(Umasekaran, 2000)

Building block of science

is

very similar to the research wheel

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RESEARCH PROCESS (2)

(5) Generation of hypotheses

(6) Research design

(7) Data collection, analysis and interpretation

(8) Induction: hypotheses substantiated? research questions answered?

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RESEARCH PROCESS (3)

(9) Report writing

(10) Report presentation

(11) Decision making

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1. OBSERVATION

Broad area of research identified, via

(i) observation, or

(ii) sensing of the phenomena

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2. PRELIMINARY DATA GATHERING

• INTERVIEWING

• LITERATURE SURVEY/REVIEW

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2.1. INTERVIEWING

Through discussion with various stakeholders, research issues can also be

obtained

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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“The literature review should show that all relevant documents, both published and unpublished, have been identified and analysed.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.

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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

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INFORMATION REQUIRED

- SUBJECT SPECIFIC

- RESEARCH METHODS

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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)

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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…………,”

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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?”

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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.”

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A STRATEGY

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EXAMPLES OF LITERATURE REVIEW

• Pages:

- 65-66 of Sekaran, 2000

- 115 of Sekaran, 2000

• Pages 62- 63 of Rudestam and Newton, 2001

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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

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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

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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

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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?

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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.

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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

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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 ACHROMATIC-CHROMATIC HTP

(do not use abbreviations in the title)