Report of Research Project (10,000 words)
drshr1khe 
MBAMajorProjectLecture1-2020-21.pptMBA Major Project
Lecture 1
Dr Senaka Fernando
Learning Outcomes
Understand the structure of the MBA Major Project
Understand the introduction Chapter (Ch 1)
Understand Methods Chapter(Ch 2)
What is Research ?
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What is Research ?
- Research is an Original Contribution to Knowledge and practice
- You must show two things
- Identification of an unanswered question
- The Answer !
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Philosophical position in research -Ontology and Epistemology
Ontological position which deals with the fundamental nature of existence (what is there)
Reality (what is there to explore) – Organisational Conflict
( Example – Conflict between non-clinical managers and doctors )
- Managers – Organisational conflict is a deviant behaviour
- Doctors - Organisational conflict is good for the healthcare organisation. It creates opportunities for innovative ideas
- Nurses- We need some conflict, but too much conflict reduces the quality of our service
There is no ONE realty
Researcher’s ontological position - Multiple Realities
People are constructing realities
Ontological Position of the researcher
- How do you understand the reality (i.e. What is there)
- Reality (Organisational Conflict )–Multiple realities
- The researcher wants to understand these multiple realities
- The researcher uses –Qualitative Research Methods
Epistemology
- Qualitative research is expressed in words. It is used to understand concepts, thoughts or experiences (i.e. interpretations of reality ).
- This type of research enables you to gather in-depth insights on topics that are not well understood.
- Common qualitative methods include interviews with open-ended questions, observations described in words, and systematic reviews that explore the realty.
Qualitative Research
- Reality –Heart Attacks among Asians in the UK
Heart Attack =F(cholesterol level, blood pressure, weight )
One Reality
Example from medicine -Ontological Position of the researcher
- How do you understand the reality (i.e. what is there)
- The researcher uses “ counting and measuring”- Quantitative research methods
E.G. Measuring blood pressure, cholesterol level, weight
Epistemology
- Quantitative research is expressed in numbers and graphs.
- It is used to test or confirm theories and assumptions. This type of research can be used to establish generalizable facts about a topic.
- Common quantitative methods include experiments, observations recorded as numbers, and surveys with closed-ended questions
Quantitative Research Methods
- Reality – Service quality in healthcare (SQH)
- SQH = F (No of patients discharged/week, No of patients admitted without any delay/week, …..etc)
- Ontological position of the researcher - One Reality
- Epistemology - How do you understand the reality
- The researcher uses “ counting and measuring”- Quantitative research methods
Ontology and Epistemology –Example from healthcare management
Potential Major Project Themes
Organisational Culture
Leadership
Women in Leadership
Power and Conflict
Technology and health information systems
Strategic Management
Potential Major Project Themes
Groups in Organisations
Organisational Structure
Organisational Change
Organisational performance
Organisational Decision Making
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Organisational conflict
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What is a Postgraduate Dissertation or Major Project ?
Useful contribution to knowledge !
Readers will ask
what is the question here ?
is it a good question ?
is it adequately answered ?
is there a contribution to previous knowledge?
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Systematic literature reviews
The original aim of a narrative systematic review is to synthesise all the available, high quality evidence to answer the research question
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Steps of a Systematic Review
Identifying a research area
Formulating a research question
Locating and selecting studies
Critical appraisal of studies
Collecting Results
Analyzing Results
Answering Question by interpreting results
Improving and updating the existing knowledge
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Major project Structure
Abstract (Max word limit -300)
Chapter 1-Introduction (Max word limit-2500)
Chapter 2-Methods (Max word limit -1500)
Ch 3-Results and Chapter 4-Discussion (for Max word limit – 5000)
Ch 5-Conclusions (Max word limit -700)
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Abstract of the Major Project
What is already known on the topic (summary)
Research Question
Methods(summary)
Summary Answer
What this project has added to the existing knowledge (summary)
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Ch 1-Introduction
Introduce research topic area
Discuss the significance of research area
Background literature review
Develop research question
Tell the reader about the structure of the project (i.e. Signposting)
How do you develop Research question ?
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Research Questions
The research question (core/foundation)
concise statement of question
explain why question is worthwhile
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The Importance of Good Questions
A good research question:
Defines the investigation
Sets boundaries
Provides direction (e.g. reviewing research papers that use qualitative methods)
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Examples
What are the key organisational factors that negatively influence motivation of employees in healthcare sector in developed countries?
What are the Key organisational factors leading to motivation of employees in healthcare sector in developing countries ?
What are the key aspects of clinical leadership leading to successful implementation of health information systems ?
What are the most effective communication strategies for enhancing physicians’ acceptance of planned organisational change in healthcare organisations in the UK?
What are the organisational barriers that result in physicians showing resistance towards electronic medical records in the healthcare sector in USA
Bad research questions:
What are the factors that shape the motivation of employees in the healthcare sector?
Be Specific
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Boundaries
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From Interesting Topics to Researchable Questions
An ‘angle’ for your research can come from insights stemming from:
personal experience
theory
observations
contemporary issues
engagement with the literature
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Comprehensive Literature Review
Coherent synthesis of past and present research in the domain of study
Source: Dr Hazel Hall, Napier University
What are the main conclusions on previous research in this area?
What are the key areas of debate in this area?
Which aspects of this work are of most relevance to my study?
What are the key concepts in this area?
What have been the main research questions?
Where is existing knowledge “thin”?
How is this topic approached by others?
Where are the gaps in literature?
What are the main perspectives on this topic in previous research?
Do parallel literatures exist for this topic?
Which discussions?
Which sub-themes?
Which writers?
Which work is subject to challenge?
Who are these “others”?
Which existing work could be extended?
In which subject areas has the topic been studied?
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Narrowing and Clarifying
Narrowing, clarifying, and even redefining your questions is essential to the research process.
Developing the right ‘questions’ should be seen as an iterative process that is informed by reading and doing at all stages.
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Developing a line of argument for the research question
Let us take the following example:
What are the perceived organisational barriers to implementing healthcare information systems in community mental services?
Developing a line of argument for the research question
(1)Introduce your research area:
Healthcare information systems play significant role in healthcare services. Here you need to argue that they are better than paper based systems (e.g. efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare information systems)
(2) Argue that these systems can improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of the mental health services as well (focus on the boundary)
(3) Argue that these systems can improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of the community mental health services as well (more focus on the boundary)
Developing a line of argument for the research question
(4)Argue that although health information systems have potential to improve quality, effectiveness and efficiency of community mental health services, there are many barriers to implementing these systems
(5) Show that there are technological and organisational barriers
(6)Argue that many research/studies have been done on technological barriers
Argue that researching on organisational barriers are equally important but very few systematic review studies focus on organisational barriers(Gap in research –Significance of my research)
As a result my research will focus on organisational barriers and my research question is :
What are the perceived organisational barriers to implementing healthcare information systems in community mental services?
Comprehensive Literature Review
Coherent synthesis of past and present research in the domain of study
Source: Dr Hazel Hall, Napier University
What are the main conclusions on previous research in this area?
What are the key areas of debate in this area?
Which aspects of this work are of most relevance to my study?
What are the key concepts in this area?
What have been the main research questions?
Where is existing knowledge “thin”?
How is this topic approached by others?
Where are the gaps in literature?
What are the main perspectives on this topic in previous research?
Do parallel literatures exist for this topic?
Which discussions?
Which sub-themes?
Which writers?
Which work is subject to challenge?
Who are these “others”?
Which existing work could be extended?
In which subject areas has the topic been studied?
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Background literature review to Research Question
Broad Issue
Studies that Overlap with Your Research
Studies that are directly related to your investigation
Research Question
Background literature review
Critical Review of Literature
Authors
Kallis Morkel Tahir Villers
Claim 1
Claim 2
Claim 3
Compare Contrast Author’ ideas
Compare Contrast Author’ ideas
Compare Contrast Author’ ideas
Critical Reading and Questions
- Why am I reading this? (ie. what am I trying to find out?)
- What are the authors trying to do in writing this? (eg. report on research, review others’ work, develop theory, express particular views or opinions, criticise what is currently done, advise about what should be done in the future)
- What are the authors saying which is relevant to what I want to find out? (What is the essence of the message conveyed by the text? How does it relate to my interests/research area?)
Wallace and Wray (2011: 37-41)
How do you go about reading an academic text?
Critical Reading
Use parts of the text: abstract, contents, sub-headings, graphs, tables, introduction and conclusion
Skim to get the gist of the “argument” in the text
Read with a question (i.e. aim of your essay/dissertation) in mind
Your Decision: Relevant or Irreverent
What is an argument in an academic essay
In academic writing, an argument is usually a main idea, often called a “claim” or “thesis statement,” backed up with evidence that supports the idea.
In the majority of your university work, you need to make some sort of claim and use evidence to support it, and your ability to do this well will separate your work from those of students who see assignments as mere accumulations of facts and details
It's at the heart of your essay. It determines your structure, evidence, reasoning, quotations, introduction and conclusion.
Developing an argument -Example :Organisational Culture
...... A strong culture in this context usually implied one in which management’s values were uppermost, and any deviation from this pattern was considered dysfunctional to the whole (Deal & Kennedy, 1982;Peters & Waterman, 1982).
Making Argument-Example :Organisational Culture
However, researchers have increasingly questioned the prescription of a top management dominated organizational culture (see Meyerson & Martin, 1987; Ogbonna & Harris, 2002; Willmott, 1993). In this regard, scholars have criticized the managerial, unitarist perspective of earlier writers and have commonly argued that organizational cultures are frequently heterogeneous, comprising multiple layers of identities and several diverse communities (see Alvesson, 1993; Martin, 2002).
Morgan P I and Ogbonna E (2008) Subcultural dynamics in transformation: A multi-perspective study of healthcare professionals, Human Relations, Vol 61(1), 39-65
Argument
Using Organisational examples to enrich your argument
Work intensification
Times Higher Education(Grove 2016) reports that most academics feel overworked, exploited and ignored by their institutes and considerable number of academics are looking to leave their current jobs:
“I am constantly being asked to do more with less, which translates into longer and longer working hours. As a result, the level of compensation is completely incommensurate with the working hours reasonably needed in order to do everything that is demanded,”
(A lecturer at a Russell Group university)
- However, this fails to/does not appear to take account of ---
- Smith fails to fully acknowledge the importance of/need for ---
- A counter argument might be that ---
- This has been criticised/challenged by –
- Critics (Smith, 2008; Jones, 2009) have argued that ---
- The X approach/model would be/have been more appropriate/beneficial in this case/these circumstances.
- There are a number of limitations when following this approach/using this method/model.
Critical Writing – Useful Phrases (some examples)
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Good Question Checklist
Is the question right for me?
Will the question hold my interest?
Can I manage any potential biases/subjectivities I may have?
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Good Question Checklist
Is the question right for the field?
Will the findings be considered significant?
Will it make a contribution?
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Good Question Checklist
Is the question well articulated?
Are the terms well-defined?
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Good Question Checklist
Is the question doable?
Can information be collected in an attempt to answer the question?
Do I have the skills and expertise necessary to access this information? If not, can the skills be developed? (e.g. Library Data base skills)
Will I be able to get it all done within my time constraints?
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Good Question Checklist
Does the question get the tick of approval from those in the know?
Does my supervisor think I am on the right track?
Do ‘the research ’ shows my question is relevant/ important/ doable?
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Postgraduate Research ?
Useful contribution to knowledge !
Readers will ask
what is the question here ?
is it a good question ?
is it adequately answered ?
is there a contribution to previous knowledge?
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Systematic literature reviews
The original aim of a narrative systematic review was to synthesise all the available, high quality evidence to answer the research question
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Chapter 2-Methods
Tell the reader what you have done to collect and analyse data
Ethical Approval
Search Procedures
Quality Appraisal
Data Analysis
- I have passed Research Ethics Quiz
- I have completed the Stage 1 Research Ethics Application and my completed research ethics application indicates that this research does not need the ethical approval from the faculty or school ethic panel
Ethical Approval
Example Research Question:
What are the major organisational factors leading to motivation of employees in healthcare sector in deprived areas of Kenya ?
Search Procedures
Develop set of keywords : a research question/ background literature review allows keywords to be identified (e.g. Motivation of employees in health sector AND financial incentives)
Herzberg’s two-factor theory –Employee Motivation
Theory
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Search Procedures
(1) Identify databases
e.g. ProQuest, EBSCO, SSCI (social science citation index), Psychinfo, MedLine )
(3) Identify as many research studies as possible with the potential to answer the research question using keywords (Read the titles of the papers)
(4) Include qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research papers but exclude systematic reviews
Search Procedures
(5) Hand searching
These most commonly take the form of following up references in papers that are identified by previous methods (i.e. Reference chaining)
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
Use inclusion and exclusion criteria at this early stage is to weed out articles, based on two categories criteria:
whether the study’s content is applicable to the research question
Whether the study’s content satisfy the exclusion criteria
At this stage, the reviewer normally reads no more than the abstract of the articles to decide whether, for the purposes of the review, they are worth reading further or not.
Inclusion and Exclusion
Fink (2005, pp. 55-56) lists several criteria upon which studies can be reasonably included and excluded from consideration for practical purposes of limiting the scope of the study
Inclusion and Exclusion -Research question and topic area
(Fink 2005, pp. 55-56)
Content (topics or variables): The review must always be practically limited to studies that have bearing on its specific research question. (Dawson & Ferdig, 2006)
Example –Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria related to research question and topic area
Research Question:
What is the impact of clinical leadership on successful implementation of health information systems ?
Inclusion and Exclusion criteria:
The review included studies related to clinical leadership/involvement in health information systems programmes. The clinical leaders were defined as ....... The review excluded the studies that focus on the involvement of informal clinical leaders such as clinical champions, temporary project leaders,...
Inclusion and Exclusion –Language
(Fink 2005, pp. 55-56)
- Publication language: Reviewers can only review studies written in languages they can read, or for which they have access to scholarly databases (e.g. English)
Inclusion and Exclusion – Setting , Participants
(Fink 2005, pp. 55-56)
Setting: Perhaps only studies conducted in certain settings, such as healthcare institutions, or services (e.g. mental health) might be consider
Participants or subjects: Studies may be restricted to those that study subjects of a certain gender, work situation (for example, full-time medical professionals as opposed to medical students), age, or other pertinent criteria.
Inclusion and Exclusion –Research Design
(Fink 2005, pp. 55-56)
Research design or sampling methodology: Studies might be excluded based on not using a particular research design
Qualitative -include
Quantitative –include
Mixed Methods –include
Systematic reviews-exclude
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria is a very subjective part of the literature review
- There are no absolute rights and wrongs here; however, there are considerations of what is reasonable and justifiable
- On one hand, the screen must be broad enough to include a sufficient number of studies that can satisfactorily answer the research question
- On the other hand, the review must be practically manageable, considering the reviewers’ constraints of time, money, and personnel
- To a very large extent, it is the decisions made here that make the difference between a comprehensive and trustworthy literature review, and an unsatisfactory one
Quality Appraisal
Once all potentially eligible articles have been collected, the next step is to examine the articles more closely to assess their quality.
This quality appraisal serves two purposes:
First, in reviews where there is a minimum quality standard for acceptance, the quality appraisal becomes a second ―methodological‖ screen (Fink, 2005) to eliminate articles that do not meet the standard established by the reviewer.
Second, in all Systematic Reviews , there needs to be some scoring of the methodological quality of the articles included in the study, since the quality of the final review depends very much on the quality of the primary studies
Now you read the full paper
Quality Appraisal Criteria (Dixon-Woods et al 2006)
Are the aims and objectives of the research clearly stated? {score -1}
Is the research design clearly specified and appropriate for the aims and objectives of the research? {score -1}
Do the researchers provide a clear account of the process by which their findings were produced? {score -1}
Do the researchers display enough data to support their interpretations and conclusions? {score -1}
Is the method of analysis appropriate and adequately explicated? {score -1}
Rating the Studies according to the quality criteria:
A= 5 (satisfying all criteria)
B= 4 (satisfying 4 criteria)
C= 3 (satisfying 3 criteria)
D= 2 (satisfying 2 criteria)
E= 1(satisfying 1 criteria)
F= 0 (satisfying 0 criteria)
Paper Selections
Initial Screening using databases (e.g. 1,000 citations)
Screening of titles and abstracts using inclusion and exclusion criteria (e.g. 43 papers)
Full text reading meeting inclusion and quality criteria (e.g. 31 papers)
Studies for Final Systematic Review
Screening using inclusion and exclusion criteria
+ Quality Appraisal
Studies for Final Review
Methods -Data Analysis
Explain how you analysed the results generated from the review of studies
Thematic analysis
Research Questions (example)
What are the major organisational factors leading to motivation of employees in healthcare sector in deprived areas of Kenya ?
Results-Summary
| Study | Type | How Identified | Aims & Objectives of the Study | Data Collection and analysis methods | Quality Rating | Main Findings |
| Ojakaa et al (2014) | Empirical and Qualitative | Electronic Data-base EBSCO | Investigate factors influencing motivation and retention of HCWs at primary health care facilities in three different settings in Kenya | B | ||
| Smith (2008) | Empirical and Qualitative | Hand Search | Investigating the quality of working life in healthcare organisations in Kenya | B | ||
Data Analysis
Begin with detailed inspection of the key findings related to your research question in the papers, gradually identifying recurring themes (e.g. many authors highlight the importance of “quality of leadership of line manager”)
A theme represents a level of patterned response or meaning from the data that is related to the research questions at hand.
Data Analysis
Then generate initial themes that help to explain the phenomena being study (e.g. motivation of employees in healthcare sector in deprived areas of Kenya)
The theory on employee motivation could help you labeling the themes
Initial themes -Example
Look at the quality of their arguments/claims, depth of their arguments
| Initial Themes | Studies included in your review |
| Performance related pay | David (2013), Alison (2008), Davidson (2012), Caves (2011), Carnal ( 2015) |
| Training | Smith (2014), Parker (2008), Newton and Kelly (2014), Carnal ( 2015) |
| Quality of working life | Markus (2018), Newton (2001), Smith (2014), Brown (2017), Carvel(2018) |
| Organisational Structure | Kotter (2018) X |
Data Synthesis
Combine initial themes into overarching themes that accurately depict the data. It is important in developing themes that the researcher describes exactly what the themes mean,
Data Synthesis
| Initial Themes | Final Themes |
| Performance related pay | |
| Employee benefits such as pensions and sick pay | Financial Rewards |
| Achievement | |
| Recognition of contribution | |
| Scope to use the developed skills | Non Financial Rewards |
| Training | |
| Quality leadership of the line manager | |
| Job design and role development | |
| Meaningful work | Work Environment |
| Quality of working life |
Now you have written about methods (i.e. Ch 2 Methods)
References
- Fink A (2005), Conducting Research Literature Reviews: From the Internet to Paper, Thousand Oaks, sage
- Dawson K & Ferdig R E (2006) Commentary: Expanding Notion of Acceptable Research Evidence in Educational Technology: a Response to Schrum et al. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education ,6(1), 133-142
- Singh G , Haddad K M & Chow C W (2007) Are Articles in Top Management Journals Necessarily of Higher Quality? Journal of Management Inquiry, 16(4), 319
- Dixon-Woods et al (2006), Conducting a Critical Interpretive Synthesis of the literature on access to healthcare by vulnerable groups , BMC Medical Research Methodology , 6;35 pp1-13
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