Week 4 and 5 design and writing a research proposal
- 1. Week 4 and 5 BUS8101 & BUS8102 Design the Research and Writing the Research Proposal
- 2. Approach to Your Business Research Project • Once you have identified your research paradigm, you can start designing your research by choosing the methodology and methods you will use to investigate your research question(s) • A methodology is an approach to the process of the research, encompassing a body of methods • A method is a technique for collecting and/or analysing data • Inductive versus Deductive 2
- 3. Main methodological issues 3 The main issues are Why collect certain data? What data you will collect? From where you will collect it? When you will collect it? How you will collect it? How you will analyse it? You need to consider the strengths and weaknesses of potential methods in order to justify your choice when writing your methodology chapter
- 4. Link between Paradigm and Methodology (See Understanding Mixed Method Approach Johnson & Onwuegbuzie, 2004) 4 A research paradigm ‘is a philosophical framework that guides how research should be conducted, based on people’s philosophies and their assumptions about the world and the nature of knowledge’ (Collis and Hussey, 2014, p. 43) Therefore, certain methodologies and their associated methods are used by researchers sharing the same philosophical assumptions about reality and what constitutes valid knowledge
- 5. Methodologies associated with the main paradigms Positivism Interpretivism Philosophical Issues Debates See Understanding Mixed Method Approach Johnson & Onwuegbuzie, 2004 5
- 6. Methodologies associated with positivism 6 • A variable is a characteristic of a phenomenon that can be observed or measured Experimental studies are used to investigate the relationship between variables where the independent variable (IV) is deliberately manipulated to observe the effect on the dependent variable (DV) • May be difficult to control the effect of confounding variables (eg change in behaviour due to being watched) Eg The relationship between noise level (IV) and productivity (DV) in an artificial or natural setting
- 7. Methodologies associated with positivism 7 Eg An analytical survey to investigate customer’s views on service quality and test relationships between certain variables Surveys are designed to collect primary or secondary data from a sample, with a view to generalizing the results to a population A population is a precisely defined body of people or objects under consideration for statistical purposes A sample is a subset of a population that represents the population
- 8. Methodologies associated with positivism 8 Cross-sectional studies are used to investigate variables or a group of subjects in different contexts over the same period of time A snapshot of the phenomena under study E.g. Data collected once from firms in a range of industries to study similarities and differences of economic characteristics
- 9. Methodologies associated with positivism • Longitudinal studies are used to investigate variables or a group of subjects over a long period of time • Investigate the same variables or the same group of people several times or continuously over the period (may be several years) • E.g. Primary or secondary data collected at regular intervals to reveal the relative stability of the phenomena under study using time series analysis 9
- 10. Methodologies associated with interpretivism 10 Hermeneutics is a methodology that focuses on the interpretation and understanding of text in the context of the underlying historical and social forces Requires constant reference to other parts of the text and to the historical and social context E.g. For interpreting historical documents for reasons behind legal judgements or statutes
- 11. Methodologies associated with interpretivism • Ethnography – The researcher uses socially acquired and shared knowledge to understand the observed patterns of human activity • Involves direct participation in the activities taking place and normally takes place over a long period of time • Provides a full or partial description of a group of people, generally through participant observation in a natural setting 11
- 12. Methodologies associated with interpretivism • Participative enquiry – The participants are involved as fully as possible in the study, which is conducted in their own group or organization • The research may even be initiated by a member of the group and the participants are involved in the data collection and analysis • The participants also determine the progress and direction of the research, thus enabling the researcher to develop questions and answers as a shared experience with a group as co-researchers 12
- 13. Methodologies associated with interpretivism 13 Action research is used to find an effective way of bringing about a conscious change in a partly controlled environment The main aim is for the researcher to enter into a situation, attempt to bring about change and to monitor the results E.g. A study aimed at improving communications between management and staff in an particular firm
- 14. Methodologies associated with interpretivism 14 According to Yin (2014), case study research is the preferred method if: Main research questions are ‘how ‘or ‘why’ questions Researcher has little/no control over behavioural events Focus of the study is a contemporary phenomenon Case studies are used to explore a single phenomenon (the case) in a natural setting using a variety of methods to obtain in-depth knowledge The case may be a particular business, group of workers, event, process, person or other phenomenon
- 15. Methodologies associated with interpretivism 15 FEMINIST STUDIES ARE USED TO INVESTIGATE AND SEEK UNDERSTANDING OF PHENOMENA FROM A FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE WHERE THE FOCUS IS ON THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN SOCIETY VIS À VIS MEN GENDER STUDIES ARE USED TO INVESTIGATE THE EXPERIENCES OF MEN AND WOMEN IN SOCIETY ETHNICITY STUDIES ARE USED TO INVESTIGATE THE EXPERIENCES OF ETHNIC GROUP(S) IN SOCIETY
- 16. Examples of a cohesive research design Research design Methodology: Survey Case study Sampling method: Stratified random sample Convenience sample Method of data collection: Self-completion questionnaire or content analysis Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews Method of data analysis: Statistics to test hypotheses Thematic analysis of interview transcripts • Choose a methodology and methods that reflect your paradigm and enable you to answer your research questions
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- 18. Review of the Literature • Your preliminary literature review should be an evaluation of the main studies and other items that are relevant to the research problem • Cite the key authors and develop a conceptual framework or theoretical framework by referring to the concepts/ theories in the literature • Conclude by explaining where your research fits into the gaps or deficiencies in the literature and state your main research question(s). 18
- 19. Methodology • This is where you describe and justify your research design • Identify your paradigm • Explain your choice of methodology and methods for selecting a sample or cases, and for collecting and analysing your research data – justify your choice by compare the strengths and weaknesses of with alternative methods • Explain the scope/delimitations of the research (e.g. the particular group of people, organizations, industry, geographical sector, period of time) • Discuss any limitations and how you will address ethical issues • Demonstrate that the study is feasible (e.g. you will have access to data, skills, any funding necessary and sufficient time) 19
- 20. Ensuring a cohesive approach • All students need to take a cohesive approach when designing the research • The research problem should dictate the focus of your preliminary literature review and this in turn should lead to your research question(s). • Your methodology should be chosen to enable you to investigate your research question(s) and your methods should be selected from those associated with your research paradigm. 20
- 21. 10 ways to get your proposal turned down (Adapted from Robson, 2011, p. 395) • Ignore the requirements/guidelines for your course • Obscure the purpose and the research problem • Write your literature review like a shopping list • Quote extensively or make unsupported assertions • Let some routine task or data trawl masquerade as research • Don’t worry about any theoretical framework – too fancy • Let the reader guess the details of your methodology • Make it clear you know what your findings will be • Write your own rules for referencing, spelling and grammar • Plan a timetable suitable for Superman/Wonder Woman 21
- 22. References Collins, J. and Hussey, R. (2014). Business research: A practical guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students. (4th edn.). New York: Palgrave, Macmillan Education. Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2016). Research Method for Business Students. (7th edn). Essex: Pearson. Zikmund, WG, Babin, BJ. Carr, JC. and Griffin, M. (2013). Business research methods, (9th ed.). Ohio: SouthWestern, Mason.