1. RESEARCH METHOD By
Abuzar Asra

2. RESEARCH PROCESS (Chapter 4 of Sekaran, 2000)
SESSION 3
RESEARCH PROCESS
(Chapter 4 of Sekaran, 2000)

3. RESEARCH WHEEL (Rudestam and Newton, 2001)
Conceptual
framework
Data Proposition Research questions/
analysis hypotheses
Empirical
Inductive observation Deductive
Data collection

4. Observation: broad area of research interest identified
RESEARCH PROCESS (1)
Observation: broad area of research interest identified
Preliminary data gathering: interviewing and literature survey
Problem definition: research problem delineated
(4) Theoretical framework: variables clearly identified

5. BUILDING BLOCK OF SCIENCE (Umasekaran, 2000)is
very similar to the research wheel

6. (5) Generation of hypotheses (6) Research design
RESEARCH PROCESS (2)
(5) Generation of hypotheses
(6) Research design
(7) Data collection, analysis and interpretation
(8) Induction: hypotheses substantiated? research questions answered?

7. Report writing Report presentation Decision making
RESEARCH PROCESS (3)
Report writing
Report presentation
Decision making

8. 1. OBSERVATION Broad area of research identified, via observation, or
sensing of the phenomena

9. 2. PRELIMINARY DATA GATHERING
INTERVIEWING
LITERATURE SURVEY/REVIEW

10. 2.1. INTERVIEWING
Through discussion with various stakeholders, research issues can also be obtained

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“The literature review should show that all relevant documents, both published and unpublished, have been identified and analysed.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

12. 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

13. SUBJECT SPECIFIC RESEARCH METHODS
INFORMATION REQUIRED
SUBJECT SPECIFIC
RESEARCH METHODS

14. 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Identify and access published and unpublished materials on the topics of interest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)

15. Write up the literature review
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…………,”

16. 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?”

17. STEPS REQUIRED (4) Inform what you have done, and
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.”

18. A STRATEGY

19. EXAMPLES OF LITERATURE REVIEW
Pages:
65-66 of Sekaran, 2000
- 115 of Sekaran, 2000
Pages of Rudestam and Newton, 2001

20. Choose your own research interest
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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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?

24. 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.

25. 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

26. Examples of problematic titles:
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 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)