MGT-491 QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH FOR MANAGEMENT OSMAN BIN SAIF

Summary of Yesterday’s Lecture Introduction Brief contents of the Course Our Course Objective What is knowledge and Theory? Why Research? What is research problem? Types of Research Characteristics of Research

Information based decision making Place of LITERATURE REVIEW – One of the essential preliminary tasks when you undertake a research study is to go through the existing literature in order to acquaint yourself with the available body of knowledge in your area of interest.

Place of LITERATURE REVIEW (Contd.) – The literature review is an integral part of the entire research process and makes a valuable contribution to almost every operational step. – In the initial stages of research it helps you to establish the theoratical roots of your study, clarify your ideas and develop your methodology.

Place of LITERATURE REVIEW (Contd.) – But later on the literature review serves to enhance and consolidate your knowledge base and helps you to integrate your findings with the existing body of knowledge.

Place of LITERATURE REVIEW (Contd.) Also an important responsibility in research is to compare your findings with those of others, it is here that the literature review plays an extremely important role.

Place of LITERATURE REVIEW (Contd.) It can be TIME CONSUMING, DAUNTING AND FRUSTRATING but also REWARDING. Following are the basic functions of literature review; – It provides a theoretical background to your study. – It establishes links between what you are proposing to examine and what has already been studdied.

Place of LITERATURE REVIEW (Contd.) Functions (Contd.); – It makes you able to show how your findings have contributed to the existing body of knowledge.

Place of LITERATURE REVIEW (Contd.) Basically it helps you; – Bring clarity and focus to your research problem – Improves you methodology – Broaden your knowledge base – Contextualize your findings

Procedure for Reviewing Literature There are four steps involved; 1.Search for existing literature in your area of study 2.Review the literature selected 3.Develop a theoretical framework 4.Develop a conceptual framework

Search for existing literature in your area of study To effectively search for literature in your field of inquiry; – Prepare a BIBLIOGRAPHY Two basic sources – Books » See Library Catalogues for selecting book of your interest area. – Journals » See abstract of articles, Indices of journals, citations, use internet sources / data bases.

Review the Literature Selected After selecting books and articles, read them CRITICALLY to pull together THEMES and ISSUES associated with your research problem. As you read along, develop a framework in your mind and slot down the information on paper.

Developing a Theoretical Framework The information obtained from different books and journals now need to be sorted under the main themes and theories, highlighting agreements and disagreements among the authors and identifying the unanswered questions or gaps.

Developing a Theoretical Framework (Contd.) You will also realize that the literature deals with a number of aspects that have a direct or indirect bearing on your research topic. Use these aspects as a basis for developing your theoretical framework.

Developing a Theoretical Framework (Contd.) Your review of literature should sort out the information, within this framework.

Developing a Theoretical Framework (Contd.) Literature pertinent to your study may deal with two types of information; 1.Universal 2.Specific In writing about such information you should start with the general information, gradually narrowing it down to the specific.

Develop a Conceptual Framework The conceptual framework stems from the theoretical framework and concentrates, usually, on one section of that theoretical framework which becomes the basis of your study.

Writing up the Literature Reviewed Steps – While reading the literature for theoretical background of your study, you will realize that certain themes have emerged. – List the main ones, converting them into subheadings.

Writing up the Literature Reviewed (Contd.) Steps (Contd.) – These subheadings should be precise, descriptive of the theme in question, and follow a logical progression. – Now under each subheadings, record the main findings with respect to the theme in question, highlighting the reason for and against an argument if they exist, and identifying gaps and issues.

The RESEARCH PROCESS An EIGHT Step Model; Formulating a Research problem Conceptualizing a research design Constructing an instrument for data collection Selecting a sample Writing a research proposal Collecting data Processing data Writing a research report

1.Formulating a Research problem Formulating a research problem is the first and most important step in the research process. A research problem identifies your destination; – It should tell what you intend to research.

1.Formulating a Research problem (Contd.) The more specific and clear you are the better, as everything that follows in the research process--- – Study design – Measurement procedures – Sampling strategy – Frame of analysis – Style of writing of report Is influenced by the way in which you formulate your research problem.

1.Formulating a Research problem (Contd.) Hence, you should give it considerable and careful thought at this stage. The main function of formulating a research problem is to decide what you want to find out about.

1.Formulating a Research problem (Contd.) It is extremely important to evaluate the research problem in the light of the financial resources available, time available, your own research expertise and your research supervisor’s expertise and knowledge in the field of study.

2.Conceptualizing a Research design An extremely important feature of research is the use of appropriate methods. The main function of a research design is to explain how you will find answers to your research questions.

2.Conceptualizing a Research design (Contd.) The research design sets out the logic of your inquiry. A research design should include the following; – The study design – Logistical arrangement for measurement procedures – Sampling strategy – Frame of analysis – Time frame

2.Conceptualizing a Research design (Contd.) Select or develop the design that is most suited to your study. Your must have strong reasons for selecting a particular design, You must be able to justify your selection, You should be aware of its strengths, weakness and limitations.

3. Constructing an Instrument for Data Collection Anything that becomes a means of collecting information for your study is called a research Tool or Instrument. Example; – Observation forms – Interviews – Questionnaires

3.Constructing an Instrument for Data Collection (Contd.) It is the first practical step for carrying out a study. For primary data, either choose an existing instrument or develop a new one. For secondary data, develop a form to extract data.

3.Constructing an Instrument for Data Collection (Contd.) Field testing also known as pre testing is an integral part of instrument construction. As a rule, the field test should not be carried out on the sample of your study but on a similar population.

4. Selecting a sample The accuracy of your findings largely depends upon the way you select your sample. The basic objective of any sampling design is to minimize, within the limitation of cost, the gap between the values obtained from your sample and those prevalent in the population.

4. Selecting a sample (Contd.) Sampling theory is guided by two principles: 1.The avoidance of bias in the selection of a sample 2.The attainment of maximum precision for a given outlay resources.

4. Selecting a sample (Contd.) There are three categories of sampling design; 1.Random / Probability sampling design 2.Non random / Probability sampling design 3.Mixed sampling design

5. Writing a Research Proposal Broadly a research proposal’s main function is to detail the operational plan for obtaining answers to your questions. This overall plan tells the reader about your research problem and how you are planning to investigate.

5. Writing a Research Proposal (Contd.) A research proposal must tell; – What you are proposing to do – How you plan to proceed – Why you selected the proposed startegy

5. Writing a Research Proposal (Contd.) Therefore a Research proposal should contain; – Statement of objective – List of hypothesis – Study design – Research instrument – Sampling design – Data processing procedures – Outline of proposed chapters for report – Research problems and limitation – Time frame

6. Collecting Data At this stage you actually collect the data but the question is how? Either through – Interviews – Questionnaires – Focused group discussions

7. Processing data The way you analyze information you collected largely depends upon two things – Type of Information Descriptive Quantitative Qualitative – The way you want to communicate your findings to your readers

7. Processing data (Contd.) Qualitative data; – A report can be written on the basis of field notes, or manual content analysis Quantitative data; – Frequency distribution – Cross tabulation – Statistical procedures

8. Writing a Report It is the most difficult step of the research process. This report informs the world; – What you have done – What you have discovered – What conclusions you have drawn from your findings

8. Writing a Report (Contd.) If you are clear about the whole process, you will be clear about the way you want to write your report. Your report should be written in an academic style and be divided into different chapters and or selections based upon the main themes of your study.

Summary of Todays Lecture Place of literature review in research Procedure for reviewing literature – Search for existing literature – Review the literature selected – Develop a theoretical framework – Develop a conceptual framework – Writing up the literature reviewed

Summary of Todays Lecture (Contd.) The Research Process;- An Eight step MODEL 1.Formulating a Research problem 2.Conceptualizing a research design 3.Constructing an instrument for data collection 4.Selecting a sample 5.Writing a research proposal 6.Collecting data 7.Processing data 8.Writing a research report

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