Introductory research project

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RMBLectureWeek2-HowtodotheResearchProposalPre-Lecture.pptx

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Outline:

* Research Proposal Structure

* Research Proposal

* Further Details

* References

Reading: Chapter 142 (Saunders et al, 2012, pp. 600-609); Read through all sections of Saunders et al (2012) quickly & See further useful sources in References Slides (of this and future lectures). See also Chapter 6 (Collis & Hussey, 2014, pp. 96-128 which includes some examples – although these are shorter than what we expect in RMB)

Lecture Week 2: The Proposal

Why are You Studying This? (cont’d…)

Research Methods for Business

Introductory Business Research Project

Enterprise Project

Critical Business Enquiry Project*

Operations and Supply Management

UMMDNX-15-2

Final Year Modules: e.g. Competing Through Quality

First Year Statistics Content

Applied Business Project *

Which of the following do YOU think is most beneficial?

It is a double weighted module

It prepares me for the Critical Business Enquiry Project

It prepares me for the Enterprise Project

It prepares me for the Work-Based Enquiry Project

It will help prepare me for my first graduate job

It will help prepare me for a Masters degree

Compare with ‘How to use this book’ (Saunders et al, 2012, p xviii & p 600)

Abstract (Exec Summary)

Introduction & Background

Methodology

Plans for Data Presentation, Plans for Data Analysis (& Interpretation)

Data Collection Methods

Population, Sampling Frame, Sampling Technique, Sample Size and Gaining Access

Aims & Objectives (Qual & Quants: link Lit Review to Data Collection, Analysis & Presentation)

Evaluation of Robustness (Why is this suitable for your research

Plans for combining analysis/results of Quant and Qual

*Ethical Issues and Tactics

Qualitative

Literature Review

(Brief) Philosophy Section

Quantitative

and (or)

as required, and

in either order

(see relevant lectures for detail)

Repeat for

Your Research Proposal Structure

(see Lecture Week 2 for more detail)

Timing Plan (Gantt Chart), Budgets, Limitations <*you could put the Ethics section here>

Reminder: Final year dissertations don’t have to be mixed methods

Here we have the generic research proposal structure (again) that can be used for the module’s main assessment – i.e. the proposal.

Throughout the lectures that cover the areas above, I’ll be highlighting the section (or sections) that shows what we will be concentrating on for that particular lecture.

Today we’ve creating an overview of the whole research proposal and a little bit wider to look also at the sections associated with a completed dissertation. As there is no one structure for all research proposals, different authors will have slightly different ideas as to the main sections of a proposal and what the sub-sections that make up those sections should consist of. Hopefully we can give you some guidance of what to do and hopefully it’ll be fairly clear.

Abstract (Exec Summary)

Introduction & Background

Methodology

Plans for Data Presentation, Plans for Data Analysis (& Interpretation)

Data Collection Methods

Population, Sampling Frame, Sampling Technique, Sample Size and Gaining Access

Aims & Objectives (Qual & Quants: link Lit Review to Data Collection, Analysis & Presentation)

Evaluation of Robustness (Why is this suitable for your research

Plans for combining analysis/results of Quant and Qual

*Ethical Issues and Tactics

Qualitative

Literature Review

(Brief) Philosophy Section

Quantitative

and (or)

as required, and

in either order

(see relevant lectures for detail)

Repeat for

Your Research Proposal Structure

Timing Plan (Gantt Chart), Budgets, Limitations <*you could put the Ethics section here>

Compare with ‘How to use this book’ (Saunders et al, 2012, p xviii & p 600)

T1 wk 3

L3 & L8

L4 & L9

L5 & L10

L6 & L7 (quantitative)

L11

Here we have the generic research proposal structure (again) that can be used for the module’s main assessment – i.e. the proposal. Throughout the lectures that cover the areas above, I’ll be highlighting the section (or sections) that shows what we will be concentrating on for that particular lecture.

The research proposal is based on topics you have covered in the first year and last term: different ones for different clusters. Handed out in this lecture ideally… and you need to choose by start of NEXT week for library tutorials – 50% of marks (same as a whole other single weighted module!!!) – briefly cover here but far more detail in proposal lecture (L2 this week)

4000 words

analyse the existing academic and practitioner literature in the area, identify an aim and objectives, develop a strategy for sampling, collecting, analysing and interpreting data, and discuss the ethical and other limitations of your research.

Vital practise and feedback for final year projects

Need both qual itative and quant elements, so build over the course of the module, and get feedback in scheduled workshops

This is a very busy version of the usual proposal structure. We’ve added details of where we have covered the various parts within the lectures and tutorials (and sometimes the workshops). As you can see a large part of the module revolves around this proposal structure.

[Note: at the bottom of the screen, you’ll see a little box that highlights to where in the rest of this module, this slide links. I’ll be using similar boxes in other slides and lectures during this module]. continue through the proposal structure slide – showing which lectures and tutorials apply to which parts of the proposal – draw on these to help you make plans

Where to Start

* “Researchers need to use appropriate methods for collecting and analysing research data, and that they need to apply them rigorously. The general purpose of academic research is to investigate a research question with a view to generating knowledge. A research question is the speciﬁc question that the research is designed to investigate.” (Collis & Hussey, 2014, p2)

* The above is possibly the longest quote you’ll see this module!

* Each section should be linked (around your research question)

* Findings, conclusions and recommendations linked to analysis…

* …Analysis is often built on literature review and methodology…

* …Literature review / methodology based on aims/objectives…

Note: Collis & Hussey (2014, p108) suggest Introduction = 15%, Lit rev = 40%, Methodology = 40%, Outcomes/timetable = 5%

The Abstract / Executive Summary

* Two words about the abstract: “Short”. “Summary” (≈ 200 words)

* Summary should include (BRIEF) details about all the other parts mentioned in the proposal including findings; 1, 2 pages.

* It’s there to tell people whether it’s worth reading the whole paper

* It’s a short cut (Saunders et al, 2012, see page 601)

* Top Tip: When starting the literature review; read abstracts not the whole paper

* Include: research questions (and rationale), methods (and context), findings, conclusions (limitations, contribution to knowledge – the ‘So What?’ question) (Saunders et al 2012)

* It may be the last thing you write….

≈ means ‘approximately’.

Useful for your proposal AND your dissertation

Introduction / Background

* ≈ 200 words for your proposal.

* A further ≈ 75 words (for the Aims and Objectives)

* Sometimes similar content to Abstract – Sometimes written last.

* What’s the central issue of your research? (Saunders et al, 2013, see p603; See also Collis & Hussey, 2014, p109)

* Rationale for your research – ‘So What?’

* Aim / research question / objective

* Background details of organisation / context (referenced!)

- Could use company websites as a reference

* Contents of the rest of the research – similar to our proposal structure (See Slide 5)

Write an Abstract AND an Introduction!

See Notes for Engaging in Critical Business Enquiry and RMB L2wk2

Literature Review / Company Analysis

* ≈ 900 words for your proposal.

* Concerns existing theory

* Acts as ‘foundation stones’ along with methodology chapter

* Placed before methodology chapter (Saunders et al, 2013, p603)

* Puts research into context [‘Standing on the shoulders of giants’ – Sir Isaac Newton]

* Links to hypotheses / research questions (Saunders et al, 2013)

* Informs research approach and data collection

* Name to reflect content of chapter e.g. ‘Collaborative Alliances, SCM and Supplier Development : Innovating Outside the Organisation’(James, 2003)

* May be more than one chapter (Saunders et al, 2013)

Methodology [Note: Word counts for methodology; data collection, analysis, presentation etc. apply once for quantitative data, and once again for qualitative data]

* Research methods covering both quantitative and qualitative approaches in a mixed methods study.

Each section includes:

- Sampling plan (Collis & Hussey, 2014, p110), sampling frame, recruitment methods, incentives for response (≈ 200 words)

[Lots of students ignored sampling last year!]

- Outline of data collection methods for each approach, survey / question design, how data recorded – any material needed (≈ 800 words)

See RMB Lectures 1wk7, 1 wk8, 1wk4, 1wk5 & 2wk3-9

Methodology (Checklist)

* The reader uses this to judge the reliability & validity of your methods (Saunders et al, 2012)

* Participants: How many? / Characteristics? / How selected? (See Lecture 1wk7) / Non-returns? (Saunders et al, 2012, p605)

* Methods: What type? / If original, how were they created? / How is data analysed? (Saunders et al, 2012)

* Processes: Who collected data? / How were they trained? / Validity & Reliability (See Lecture 1wk9) / Context (company, sector, time, country)? / Instructions? / How many surveys, interviews? / How long were the surveys, interviews? (Saunders et al, 2012)

See RMB Lectures 1wk7, 1wk8, 1wk4, 1wk5 & lecture 2wk3-9

Research Proposal Structure

Compare with ‘How to use this book’ (Saunders et al, 2012, p xviii & p 600)

Abstract (Exec Summary)

Introduction & Background

Methodology

Plans for Data Presentation, Plans for Data Analysis (& Interpretation)

Data Collection Methods

Population, Sampling Frame, Sampling Technique, Sample Size and Gaining Access

Aims & Objectives (Qual & Quants: link Lit Review to Data Collection, Analysis & Presentation)

Evaluation of Robustness (Why is this suitable for your research

Plans for combining analysis/results of Quant and Qual

*Ethical Issues and Tactics

Qualitative

Literature Review

(Brief) Philosophy Section

Quantitative

and (or)

as required, and

in either order

(see relevant lectures for detail)

Repeat for

Timing Plan (Gantt Chart), Budgets, Limitations <*you could put the Ethics section here>

Reminder: Final year dissertations don’t have to be mixed methods

One Minute Break

Proposal: Data Presentation / Findings

* Plans for data presentation (for quantitative data see Lecture 1wk9), coding (for quantitative data see Lecture 1wk9), analysis (for quantitative data see lectures 2wk3-2wk8), interpretation (for quantitative and qualitative data) (≈ 300 words for quantitative, ≈ 300 words for qualitative)

* Primary data – data that you’ve collected yourself

* Secondary data – data that already exists

* The academic literature that you include in the literature review is not secondary data, it is linked to THEORY

* Question: What are the benefits of A) Primary data? B) Secondary data?

* Consideration of ethical issues (see Lecture 1wk1) arising from the research and how you would address these (≈ 300 words quant AND for qual)

See RMB Lectures 1wk9, 1wk6 & 1wk11; Links to your proposal; more focused towards dissertation

Proposal: Data Presentation / Findings

Research Approaches

Theory

Data

Research Approaches

The relationship between theory and data

Induction

Theory building

Generalisations

Hypotheses

Deduction

Theory testing

(Adapted from Bryman & Bell, 2011, pp. 11-14; Saunders et al, 2012, pp. 144-146)

See RMB Lectures 1wk2, 1wk7 & 2wk2

Discussion and Conclusions

[More applicable to your full dissertation than the proposal]

* Gives some reflective thought on the research

* Helps to answer the ‘So What?’ question (Saunders et al, 2012, p605)

* Contribution: developing theories, methodology, companies

* Interpreting the results you presented in previous chapter

* Description of any limitations of the research; + what have you done to address these limitations (≈ 150 words)

* Proposed time frame for the research, ideally using Gantt chart (≈ 150 words; See also Project Management Lecture in ‘Managing Business Processes’ / see next slide)

* Link your findings back to the aims and objectives. Questions: Have you achieved your aims and objectives? Have you proved your hypothesis or answered your research question?

See RMB Lectures 1wk11 & 1wk12; More focused towards your dissertation

Gantt Chart (E.g. The first stage of a final year student’s Work-Based Enquiry Project)

2018 / 2019

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

DEC

1 Deciding on methodology / topic

2 (Ongoing) Literature Review

3 Design data collection methods

4 Carry out data collection

PLANNED

ACTUAL

“Present” Date

OCT

NOV

JAN

FEB

Typical time scales: UG / Masters dissertation - 6 months or more; MPhil - 2 years; PhD - 3+ years (full time); Research projects – at least a year (See Meyer, 1992 – 7 years!).

(See also Collis & Hussey, 2014, p36, pp. 111-112)

References / Appendices

See UWE (2013); Tutorials 2wk2 and 2wk3; Appendices more focused towards your Dissertation

* Use UWE Harvard referencing (See UWE, 2013 in references slide of this lecture for link)

* Reference academic literature / literature on methodology and how to do research / background data / websites / data on which you draw upon for your findings and analysis / tables, figures, diagrams, quotes

* Add page numbers to quotes, tables, figures, diagrams.

* Appendices to include some details of your data collection methods [Keep to a minimum; approach differs across different outputs] (Collis & Hussey, 2014, p310)

- E.g. Blank questionnaires, interview questions (but perhaps not the interview transcript; perhaps include an UWE ethics form)

* Start as you go along (whether you do them ‘manually’ or using ‘Refworks’ or other systems. Question: Why have I suggested that?

Further RMB Research Proposal Details

See RMB Lecture 2wk2

* Deadline: 2pm 8th January 2019.

* 1.5 Spacing; 12 size font, justify text (CTRL + J); Don’t add your name!

* 2,000-2,500 word Maximum; No 10% addition!

* Electronic submission through Blackboard; MS Word

* Use headings & subheadings

* Use diagrams, charts or images where they help support your argument

* Be spell-chequed and remember to gramatically right in a correct way, and that. (*)

* The word count includes (but is not limited to) everything in the main body of the text listed here: abstract, text, headings, tables, citations, quotes, lists, acronyms and numbers expressed as digits or in words. It does NOT include the contents page, the references section or the appendices.

* Although focused on Qualitative research, a useful way of judging academic research. Does the research:

- Achieve what it sets out to achieve?

- Achieve those aims in the way it set out to?

- Use data collection methods that match their paradigm / methodology / research approach?

- Link their literature to the aims, methods, findings and recommendations of the research? (Tracy, 2010, p215)

* Is it consistent?

- e.g. Hypothesis testing isn’t carried out with a few interviews. Answering ‘Why?’ or ‘How?’ questions, isn’t easily done with quantitative data collection.

See RMB Lectures 1wk4, 1wk5, 1wk6

Checklist: Meaningful Coherence (or Does the research proposal ‘tie together’?)

References

* About.com, (2008). Celebrity Pool Shooters – Actor Tom Cruise [online] Available from: http://billiards.about.com/od/celebrityshooters/p/09_05_18cruise.htm [Accessed October 1st 2008]

* bbc.co.uk (2013) _53272367_rooneypromo.jpg [online] Available from: http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/53272000/jpg/_53272637_rooneypromo.jpg [Accessed December 5th 2013]

* bizschooljournals.com (2013) Archive ¦ International Guide to Academic Journal Quality [online] Available from: http://www.bizschooljournals.com/node/4 [Accessed December 6th 2013]

* Collis, J. & Hussey, R. (2014) Business Research: A Practical Guide for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students [4th Ed] Basingstoke, Palgrave.

* James, P.C. (2003) Supplier Development, Actors and Regional Development – The Case of Wales and the South West of England. PhD Thesis.

* Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornill, A., 2012. Research Methods for Business Students. 6th ed. Harlow, Pearson.

* Thomas, S., (2013) 1488289_10151885011361220_1865248550_n.jpg [online] Available from: https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/q71/s720x720/1488289_10151885011361220_1865248550_n.jpg [Accessed December 5th 2013]

* Tracy, S.J. (2010) Qualitative quality: Eight ‘big-tent’ criteria for excellent qualitative research. Qualitative Inquiry. 16(10), 837-851.

* UWE (2013) UWE Harvard – UWE Bristol: Study Skills [online] Available from: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/studysupport/studyskills/referencing/uweharvard.aspx [Accessed December 5th 2013]

* Van Maanen, J. (1995) Style as theory. Organization Science. 6 (1), pp. 133-143.

* Wordle, (2013) Wordle – Untitled. [online] Available from: http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/7116393/Untitled [Accessed September 30th 2013]

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