Research Phase III: conducting a research study

Step VI: collecting data Having formulated a research problem, developed a study design, constructed a research instrument and selected a sample, you then collect the data from which you will draw infer­ences and conclusions for your study. Many methods could be used to gather the required information. As a part of the research design,

The place of the literature review in research

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. Reviewing the literature can be time consuming, daunting and frustrat­ing, but it is also rewarding. The literature review is

How to review the literature

If you do not have a specific research problem, you should review the literature in your broad area of interest with the aim of gradually narrowing it down to what you want to find out about. After that the literature review should be focused around your research problem. There is a danger in reviewing

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Writing about the literature reviewed

Now, all that remains to be done is to write about the literature you have reviewed. As men­tioned in the beginning of this chapter, two of the broad functions of a literature review are (1) to provide a theoretical background to your study and (2) to enable you to contextualise your findings in relation

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The research problem in management research

Broadly speaking, any question that you want answered and any assumption or assertion that you want to challenge or investigate can become a research problem or a research topic for your study. However, it is important to remember that not all questions can be transformed into research problems and some may prove to be

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The importance of formulating a research problem

The formulation of a research problem is the first and most important step of the research pro­cess. It is like the identification of a destination before undertaking a journey. In the absence of a destination, it is impossible to identify the shortest — or indeed any — route. Similarly, in the absence of a

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Sources of research problems

This section is of particular relevance if you have not yet selected a research topic and do not know where to start. If you have already selected your topic or question, go to the next section. Most research in the humanities revolves around four Ps: people; problems; programmes; phenomena. In fact, a closer look

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Considerations in selecting a research problem

When selecting a research problem/topic there are a number of considerations to keep in mind which will help to ensure that your study will be manageable and that you remain motivated. These considerations are: Interest – Interest should be the most important consideration in selecting a research problem. A research endeavour is usually time

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Steps in formulating a research problem

The formulation of a research problem is the most crucial part of the research journey as the quality and relevance of your research project entirely depends upon it. As mentioned earlier, every step that constitutes the how part of the research journey (Figure 2.1) depends upon the way you formulated your research problem. Despite

The formulation of research objectives

Objectives are the goals you set out to attain in your study. Since these objectives inform a reader of what you want to achieve through the study, it is extremely important to word them clearly and specifically. Objectives should be listed under two headings: main objectives; subobjectives. The main objective is an overall statement

The study population of management research

So far we have focused on only one aspect of a study, the research problem. But every study in social sciences has a second aspect, the study population, from whom the required infor­mation to find answers to your research questions is obtained. As you narrow the research problem, similarly you need to decide very

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Establishing operational definitions in management research

In defining the problem you may use certain words or items that are difficult to measure and/or the understanding of which may vary from respondent to respondent. In a research study it is important to develop, define or establish a set of rules, indicators or yardsticks in order to establish clearly the meaning of

Formulating a research problem in qualitative research

The difference in qualitative and quantitative studies starts with the way you formulate your research problem. In quantitative research you strive to be as specific as possible, attempt to narrow the magnitude of your study and develop a framework within which you confine your search. On the other hand, in qualitative research, this specificity

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What is a variable?

Whether we accept it or not, we all make value judgements constantly in our daily lives: ‘This food is excellent’; ‘I could not sleep well last night’; ‘I do not like this’; and ‘I think this is wonderful’. These are all judgements based upon our own preferences, indicators or assessment. Because these explain feelings

The difference between a concept and a variable

Measurability is the main difference between a concept and a variable. Concepts are mental images or perceptions and therefore their meanings vary markedly from individual to indi­vidual, whereas variables are measurable, though, of course, with varying degrees of accuracy. A concept cannot be measured whereas a variable can be subjected to measurement by crude/

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Converting concepts into variables in management research

If you are using a concept in your study, you need to consider its operationalisation — that is, how it will be measured. In most cases, to operationalise a concept you first need to go through the process of identifying indicators — a set of criteria reflective of the concept — which can then

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Types of variable in management research

A variable can be classified in a number of ways. The classification developed here results from looking at variables in three different ways (see Figure 5.1): the causal relationship; the study design; the unit of measurement. 1. From the viewpoint of causal relationship In studies that attempt to investigate a causal relationship or association,

Types of measurement scale in management research

The frame into which we wish to make everything fit is one of our own construction; but we do not construct it at random, we construct it by measurement so to speak; and that is why we can fit the facts into it without altering their essential qualities. (Poincare 1952: xxv) Measurement is central

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The definition of a hypothesis in management research

The second important consideration in the formulation of a research problem in quantitative research is the construction of a hypothesis. Hypotheses bring clarity, specificity and focus to a research problem, but are not essential for a study. You can conduct a valid investigation without constructing a single formal hypothesis. On the other hand, within

The functions of a hypothesis in management research

While some researchers believe that to conduct a study requires a hypothesis, having a hypoth­esis is not essential as already mentioned. However, a hypothesis is important in terms of bring­ing clarity to the research problem. Specifically, a hypothesis serves the following functions: The formulation of a hypothesis provides a study with focus. It tells