Chapter 1 Understanding Research Pointer

Understanding the research for post graduate students

1. Business Research: A practical guide for undergraduate and postgraduate student Chapter 1: Understanding Research Jill Husey and Roger Husey

2. Outline Definition and purpose of research Qualities of good researcher Type of research The research process Characteristics of a good research project

3. Definition Process of enquiry and investigation (thorough and rigorous) -> organized Systematical and methodical (coherent and logical route) -> using appropriate method to collect data and analyze Increase knowledge -> address specific problem = research problem

4. Purpose To review and synthesize existing knowledge To investigate some existing situation or problem To provide solutions to a problem To explore and analyses more general issues To construct or create a new procedure or system To explain a new phenomenon To generate new knowledge A combination of any or above

5. Qualities of a good researcher Perseverance

6. 1. Communication Skills Ability to communicate (written and verbally) your understanding of the research area Example: discussing your project with your supervisor, negotiating access to sources of data, conducting interviews, designing a questionnaires, leading a focus group, writing and presenting report

7. 2. Intellectual Skills Knowledge: ability to recall facts, nomenclature, practical techniques, laws, theories, computation Comprehension: ability to translate from one form to another; to interpret or deduce the significant of data, to solve simple problems relying on those abilities Application: ability to apply knowledge, experience, and skill to a new situation presented in a novel manner Analysis: ability to break down information into its various parts Synthesis: ability to build up information from other information Evaluation: ability to make quantitative or qualitative judgment; to set out a reasoned argument through a series of steps, usually of gradually increasing difficulty; to criticize constructively

8. 3. Information technology skills Access to computer Ability of basic IT skills (word processing, excel, statistical packages, database management, access to internet for references, End Note)

9. 4. Organizational skills Time management -> time tables of research

10. 5. Motivation Maintaining and increasing interest in your research

11. 6. Independence Empowered Self motivated Highly independent

12. Personal strengths and weaknesses Awareness of own strengths, weakness and values Clarity of thought Sensitivity of events and feelings Emotional resilience Flexibility Creativity

13. Individual Assessment on Qualities of Good researcher

14. Types of Research Purpose = reason why Process = way in which you collect and analyze data Logic = general to specific or vice versa Outcome = solve particular problem or make contribution to knowledge

15. P urpose of research Exploratory : Conduct a research problem or issue where there are very few or no earlier studies. Aim to look for pattern, ideas or hypotheses (not confirming or testing) -> through cases studies, observation or experience Hypotheses: idea or proposition which can be tested for causality or association by deducing logical consequences which can be tested against empirical evidence (data)

16. 2. Descriptive Describe phenomena as they exist to identify or obtain information on the characteristics of a particular issue or problem. Using quantitative or qualitative statistical techniques Goes further in examining a problem than exploratory research as to ascertain and describe significant issue

17. 3. Analytical/explanatory To analyzing and explaining (variables) why or how it is happening To understand phenomena by discovering and measuring causal relations among them 4. Predictive Aim to generalize from the analysis by predicting certain phenomena on the basis of hypothesized general relationships Provides how, why, and where answers to current events and also similar events in the future

18. Process of research Quantitative Objective in nature Concentrates on measuring phenomena (collecting, analyzing numerical data and applying statistical tests) Qualitative Subjective in nature Examining, reflecting on perception to gain and understanding of social and human activitie s

19. Logic of research Deductive a study which a conceptual and theoretical structure is developed and then tested by empirical observation -> particular instances are deduced from general inferences (general to particular) Inductive a study in which theory is developed from the observation of empirical reality -> general inferences are induced from particular instances (specific to general)

20. Outcome of research Basic Fundamental/pure research Research problem is less specific nature Conducted to improve our understanding of general issues without emphasis on its immediate application Applied Design to apply its findings to solving a specific, existing problem

21. The Research Process

22. Characteristics of a good research project Good literature review Sound primary research Logical structure Analytical Theory integrated Underpinned by conceptual framework Integration between methodology, literature, analysis, conclusions, etc