Business Communication Research Class 1 : What is Research? Leena Louhiala-Salminen, Spring 2013

Business Communication Research 1.What is research? 2.Conducting research 3. Research perspectives

What is research? Consider : 1) An article in the business section of the Helsingin Sanomat on the challenges involved in implementing a new strategy in a multinational corporate context. Three top executives have been interviewed about strategy implementation processes in their organizations; all talk about the significance of communication overall, and emphasize face-to-face contact on the one hand but also well-planned utilization of the new media on the other hand.

What is research? Consider : 2) An article in The Journal of Business Communication. The writer has used interviews as his main method, and he concludes by highlighting the importance of communication in the implementation of a new corporate strategy. The findings suggest that the role of face-to-face interaction is still crucial in creating shared understanding and action. However, the significance of new media also emerges.

What is research? = creating scientific knowledge Scientific knowledge vs. other knowledge? – Scientific knowledge achieved by systematic and organized use of scientific methods – Scientific knowledge achieved in processes that strictly follow the rules of the scientific community (eg peer review, criticism, explicitness)

What is research? Scientific reasoning: previous, related studies used as a basis explicit presentation of the research framework concepts used systematically and consistently methodological rules observed trustworthiness issues (eg reliability and validity) explicitly discussed

Conducting research 1) Explore the area of interest 2) Draft a Research Plan 3) Implement the plan

Conducting research 1) Explore the area of interest a. Decide on a general, wide area b. Read, discuss, interview, find out c. Narrow your topic, focus on a more specific area d. Get to know earlier studies, theories and concepts in the specific area

Conducting research 2) Draft a Research Plan a. Motivate the plan, define your niche b. Specify research problems c. Choose the methods d. Plan data collection

Conducting research Why write a plan ? gets you started helps you to focus on the essentials helps you to manage the process as a whole helps you to keep the timing boosts the process, doesn’t limit it (= subject to changes throughout the process)

Conducting research 3) Implement the Plan a. Collect data b. Analyze data c. Write the report

Research perspectives Ontological considerations ontology = what exists ? What is the nature of social entities ? Are social entities objective, do they exist externally to social actors? = objectivism vs. Are social entities produced and constructed by social actors?= constructionism

Research perspectives Epistemological considerations epistemology = what is acceptable knowledge? Can the social world be studied according to principles of natural sciences? = positivism Should the social world be studied differently from the views in natural sciences? = interpretivism

Research perspectives Positivism only phenomena confirmed by the senses can be knowledge hypotheses created and tested  laws science is value free, objective

Research perspectives Interpretivism Research procedure reflects the distinctiveness of humans and their actions Understanding human behaviour (vs explaining) Researcher needs to grasp the subjective meaning of social action

Research perspectives Quantitative research emphasizes measurement, numbers important tests theories sees the world as an external, objective reality

Research perspectives Qualitative research emphasizes words (text and talk) generates theoretical insights sees the world as a constantly shifting emergent property of individuals’ creation