Research Skills Essay
johnathan1993
lecture_3_research_problem__literature_review.pptxLECTURE 3: DEFINING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND CRITICALLY REVIEW RELATED LITERATURE By: Dr. Tao Zhang Email: [email protected]
RESEARCH SKILLS (SINGAPORE PROGRAMME)
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the lecture you are expected to understand how to:
Clarify the Research Topic
Source research ideas
Develop a statement of the research problem
Research Questions
Research Objectives
Developing a theoretical base via critically reviewing related literature
Figure 1.2 The research process
Source: © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2011
Defining your research problem clearly is the starting point of your research problem
Without clearly knowing this then you cannot plan how to research it
FORMULATING AND CLARIFYING THE RESEARCH TOPIC/PROBLEM
SO, WHERE DO I START??
Sources of Research Ideas
http://guides.robeson.edu/orientation
RATIONAL THINKING
Examining your own strengths and interests
Looking at past project titles e.g. dissertations
Discussions: with friends and tutors
Searching the literature: journals, reports, books
Examining staff research interests
Keeping a notebook of ideas
Brainstorming: problem-solving: List issues, problems and questions from the broad area.
Exploring personal preferences using past projects
CREATIVE THINKING
Idea-generating Techniques
P/S: Use both techniques
Examining own Strengths and weaknesses
Having some academic knowledge
Looking at those assignments for which you have received a good grade.
As part of your reading, you may be able to focus more precisely some ideas about which you wish to conduct your research
Past Projects and Dissertations
Dissertations; - Scan the university’s list of past project titles for anything that captures your imagination
Scan actual research projects - Beware of the quality of arguments, if need be discuss with supervisor.
A good way to also identify gaps
Past Literature
Different types of literature are of particular use for generating research ideas. (See Sharp et al, 2002)
Need to look at:
Articles in academic and professional journals;
Reports
Books
Sharp, J.A. et al (2002) The management of a student research project, 3rd edition, Aldershot: Gower
10
Examining Staff Research Interests
Visit the business school website and look at different staff research interests
Where possible read some of their work to get ideas
Beware of their philosophical leanings and methodological preferences before suggesting them as your supervisors
CREATIVE METHODS
Involves simply noting down any interesting research ideas as you think of them
Also note down what sparked off this idea
You can then pursue the idea using more rational thinking techniques later
Keeping a Notebook of Ideas
Brainstorming
Define your problem – that is, the sorts of ideas you are interested in – as precisely as possible.
Ask for suggestions, relating to the problem
Record all suggestions, observing the following rules: No suggestion should be criticized or evaluated in any way before all ideas have been considered.
Review all the suggestions and explore what is meant by each.
Analyze the list of suggestions and decide which appeal to to you most
Exploring personal preferences using past project
Select about six projects that you like
For each of these six projects, note down your first thoughts in response to three questions:
What appeals to you about the project?
What is good about the project?
Why is the project good?
Cont’d
Select three projects you do not like.
For each of these three projects that you do not like:
What do you dislike about the project?
What is bad about the project?
Why is the project bad?
This is a good way of knowing what you are really interested in an what is feasible or appropriate.
Attributes of a ‘Good’ Research Topic
| Capability (is it feasible?) | Appropriateness (worthwhile?) |
| Genuine interest about the topic | Appropriateness to the degree |
| Prior knowledge about the topic | Relevance to Career needs |
| Well-trodden area | Ethical issues |
| Ability to cope (depth and breadth) | Institutional standards |
| Resources (time, facilities, money, equipment) | Clear links to theory |
| Availability of information | Ability to make a contribution/fresh insights |
| Access Issues | Currency |
Choosing a Research Topic
Having considered different sources how do you come to your decision?
Some tips:
Have some idea of what you want to do.
Choose something that will sustain your interest throughout.
Being clear about your research topic will ensure your ability to choose the most appropriate research strategy and data collection and analysis techniques.
Exercise 1:
Read the PDF document attached on your canvas page – Brewery Research Problem
Work in groups of 5 and list down any research ideas that you get from this literature. Are these ideas feasible/appropriate?
DEFINING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
It is often necessary to refine your research idea in order to turn it into a research problem and then into your research project.
This is likely to involve searching for and evaluating relevant literature and informal discussion with experts etc.
Well constructed problem statements will convince your audience that the problem is real and worth investigating.
Statement of the Problem Cont’d
A persuasive problem statement consists of three parts:
the ideal,
the reality, and
the consequences for the target audience
1. Situating an ideal scenario
Describe the goals, desired state, or the values that your audience considers important and that are relevant to the problem.
(BUT)
Connect statements 1 and 2 using a term such as "but," "however,” "Unfortunately," or "in spite of";
2. Describing the Reality of the Situation
Describe a condition that prevents the goal, state, or value discussed in statement1 from being achieved or realized at the present time.
3. The Consequences for the Audience
Using specific details, show how the situation described contains little promise of improvement unless something is done.
Then emphasize the benefits of research by projecting the consequences of possible solutions as well.
Example
Read the introduction and problem statement section of the following paper:
Yu, Y. et al. (2016). Environmental catching-up, eco-innovation, and technological leadership in China's pilot ecological civilization zones, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, article in press
http:// dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2016.05.010
What problem does the paper investigate?
Research Questions
The proposed research is to pursue the possibility of making the possibility more like the ideal.
Research questions are then formulated to better refine the problem
In writing your research questions, you can identify a broad “what should be done about X?” type of question that responds to managerial or organizational issues and concerns.
Research Questions Cont’d
Research questions should neither be too easy nor too complex to achieve
Avoid using jargon as it reflects a lack of understanding of the real issues.
One may have an overriding research question and sub-questions that break down the main research problem
Predicting an outcome (does y happen under circumstances a and b?)
Explaining causes and consequences of a phenomenon (is y affected by x or is y a consequence of x?)
Evaluating a phenomenon (does y exhibit the benefits that it is claimed to have?)
Describing a phenomenon (what is y like or what forms does y assume?)
Developing good practice (how can we improve y?)
Empowerment (how can we enhance the lives of those we research?)
Types of Research Questions
(Denscombe, 2010)
26
Steps in selecting research questions: an example
Examples of RQs Derived from Research Ideas
| Research Idea | Research Questions |
| Advertising and Share Prices | How do TV advertising campaigns designed to boost the image of a company affect its share price? |
| Job Recruitment via the Internet | How effective is recruiting for new staff via the internet in comparison to traditional methods? |
| The Use of Aromas in Marketing | In what ways does the use of specific aromas in supermarkets affect buyer behaviour? |
| Internet Banking | What effect has the growth of internet banking had upon the uses customers make of branch facilities and why? |
Research Objectives
Use your general focus question as a base from which you write a set of research objectives.
Research objectives address the purpose of the research. They state what is being planned by the researcher.
They flow from the research question, giving specific, concrete, and achievable goals.
Objectives are evidence of researchers’ clear sense of purpose and direction.
Your research objectives must be reflected in your research design, data analysis, and results sections
Examples of Words to use/avoid in Objective Setting
Recommended
Identify Predict Measure
Establish Codify Test
Compare/contrast Relate Demonstrate
Avoid
Appreciate Learn Believe
Know Understand Find
Exercise:
In your groups of 5 and using the short case on ‘Brewery’ develop:
1) the ideal, 2) the reality, and 3) the consequences for the target audience
From the information collected by Steve on the brewing industry, suggest at least two possible research questions.
What criteria would you use to assess whether or not these research questions form the basis of a good research topic?
The Proposal
Describe the areas of inquiry you will use that could lead to solutions to the problem
how will you research the problem?
What sources of information, types of research (primary or secondary),or tools will you use to help you find solutions and make recommendations to resolve the clash?
Final Tips
Choose a topic that interests you
Ask yourself whether you can answer the research question
Read a lot, read thoroughly and appropriately.
Identify your strengths, weaknesses, interests, and personal development opportunities.
Don’t pre-commit to one idea, approach, research design, or data source.
Use opportunities to talk to others.
Research something that is likely to be interesting to others.
Start writing early.
Listen to your supervisor, but make your own choices.
Reflecting on the Assignment
You are to develop a research problem around the issues of ‘customer satisfaction’ with specific focus in the Singapore context.
Ensure that you provide some background information of the context and highlight the main debates and gaps around this issue, clearly indicating how your study would address these.
See the module outline some resources to consult
What is a literature review?
An overview of research on a given topic that brings the reader up to date with current debates in a certain area of interest.
Features of such an overview:
Describe, summarize and organize the literature
Evaluate literature (higher-order critical thinking)
▪ Identify patterns and trends in literature
▪ Synthesize/integrate literature (higher-order critical thinking)
The Literature Review Cont’d
A literature review should allow you explore the following:
What is already known about this area?
Which concepts and theories are relevant?
Which research methods and strategies have been used in this area?
Are there any controversies?
Are there any inconsistencies in findings?
Are there unanswered questions?
36
The Literature Review
A literature review can hence be:
An analysis of relevant theories;
a search for relevant information;
a way of learning about the subject;
a help in finding dissertation topics and research methods;
an important component of a dissertation or report.
Academic journal articles are a premier source for a literature review.
Adapted from Bruce (1994)
37
What a literature review is not:
A “laundry list” of everything written on a topic/summary of all that one has read on that area
Lacks organization (flow)
Lacks synthesis of literature
Lacks critical evaluation of literature
Detail of each journal article separately (no analysis or synthesis)
Why write a literature review?
You need to know what is already known about your research area;
You can learn about different theoretical and methodological approaches to your research area;
It may help you to develop an analytic/theoretical framework;
It may lead you to consider including variables in your research of which you might not have thought;
It may reveal gaps and suggest further research questions;
Providing the reader with the intellectual context
It is required for your dissertation!
39
The Literature Review Process
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill 2011
Stages of the literature review process
Understand the topic in question (areas of interest)
Set and define the parameters
Brainstorm a list of search terms related to your topic and then search for sources - The broadness or narrowness of your search terms will affect the number of results returned!
Identify the ‘core’ literature
Note the cyclical process
Other Necessary First Steps
Identify the databases and search engines
Record searches
Prioritize among your sources - note what works researchers identify as ‘classic,’ ‘landmark, ’‘pioneering,’ or ‘path-breaking?’
“Filter” your set of sources: Review abstracts, introductions, conclusions
This may help in understanding (quickly) if the source is relevant to your analytical review of the literature of the topic
Ways to Identify Key Papers
How to search the literature
Read books and articles you know, or are recommended by your supervisor.
Keep notes based on your reading.
Note the keywords used.
Note other literature which might be interesting later.
Generate your own keywords.
44
Searching for books and articles
Start with module reading-lists
Consult the references and bibliographies of recommended textbooks
Use the library
to find out what is available
to find out the institution’s subscriptions to on-line databases
Use electronic databases, e.g.:
SSCI (Social Sciences Citation Index) (wok.mimas.ac.uk),
ABI/INFORM (proquest.com)
EBSCO (epnet.com)
Use key words and define search parameters
45
Identifying Search Engines/Databases
Warning: Using Internet Sources
Search engines find sites but do not evaluate them.
Dictionaries and encyclopaedias are fine for basic definitions, but little else.
Rely on academic sites (usually.ac or .edu), government sites (.gov), not-for-profit institutions (.org), in that order. (NOT wikipedia!)
Download and save all material found on the Internet. Sites are dynamic and you may not find the data a second time.
47
Evaluating the Literature
Key questions to answer in your reading and notetaking:
What is the source’s topic (focus), research questions, methodology, and central results? (Summary)
How is this source related to my literature review topic?
Does it support or contradict my literature review topic?(Synthesis and Organization)
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the research in
the source? Are there biases or flaws?
How important or influential is this source? (Evaluation)
Key Questions Cont’d
How is the source related to other research on the same
topic (or very similar topic)?
Does it employ a different methodology (approach to collecting data)?
Does it pertain to a different population, region, time span?
What are the points of agreement or disagreement between the source and other research on the same topic?(Synthesis)
By so-doing you can identify gaps in the literature and begin to determine how your study will make contributions.
Taking a critical perspective
| Information to extract and use! | ||
| Dependability | Who has carried out the research? Is it sponsored or funded by a body with a vested interest? | Is it worth using? |
| Currency | When was the data collected? Is the information or theory likely to have been updated? | Is it worth using? |
| Literature Review | What theory (ies) has been used? Is it relevant? Can you use it? What information could be used in your lit review? Does the information support or contradict your arguments? | Include but further criticism required |
| Objective | Are the research questions sufficiently close to your own to make the article relevant to your research | |
| Results | What has been found that can be useful to your study? | Include but further criticism required |
| Discussion | What has been found that can be useful for your study? What recommendations have been made for future research? | Include but further criticism required |
| References | What other useful citations are there? Are the sources quoted reliable? | Use to look for further info |
Two main approaches to a literature review
Systematic review:
Very extensive search of the specific research field;
Grouping of sources into categories:
very relevant, based on good research,
very relevant, weak research,
low relevance, or too general;
Giving a step-by-step report on the search method used, decisions taken and derived conclusions.
(Tranfield et al, 2003:209)
51
Approaches to a literature review cont’d
2. Narrative Review:
Limited search for the most interesting contributions
Concentration on connections between sources located and research questions
Revision of research questions in the light of readings
52
Systematic vs. narrative review
Narrative:
Intrepretivist
“Quality” focus
Theory emerges from the search
Identifying the discourse is the research goal
Systematic:
Positivist
“Quantity” focus
Theory informs the search
Synthesis is the research goal
Suggestions on how to Summarize papers
| Paper | Nature and Context of Paper | Main Focus | Conceptual Contribution | Gaps Identified |
| Epp and Price (2011) Journal of Marketing, Vol. 75 (March) | Empirical Paper; Family Network | Resource integration and value creation | Considering resource integration from a family network perspective as opposed to B2B settings considered in the literature; tie to ‘identity goals’ as configuring value | The notion of ‘solutions’ needs to be re-examined from a different context (e.g. of resource deprivation) |
Deriving Hypotheses from the Literature
A hypothesis is ‘informed speculation which is set up to be tested, about the possible relationships between two or more variables.
Hypotheses are therefore deductively derived from the literature
The researcher must specify how data can be collected in relation to the concepts that make up the hypothesis, and how the hypotheses are to be tested (quantitative)
Bryman and Bell, 2015: pg. 92
Hypothesis Exercise – Discussion
Reading the paper on Canvas and understand how we can develop some hypotheses and present them in a diagram
Research Gaps for Qualitative Studies
Hypotheses are not commonly used for qualitative studies.
Instead gaps are identified using words that specify whether the study: discovers, seeks to understand, explores or describes the experiences.
Use of non-directional wording in the question - describing, rather than relating variables
Research questions may be derived from these gaps
These are under continual review and reformulation - evolve and change during study.
Examples
Epp, A. M., & Price, L. L. (2011). Designing solutions around customer network identity goals. Journal of Marketing, 75(2), 36-54.
Can you formulate research questions from the gaps identified here?
Mechanics of writing
The literature review must flow
Linkage I: Continually link your discussion of the literature back to your literature review topic
Linkage II: Link studies to one another; stress relatedness to the literature review topic
Use direct quotations sparingly - paraphrase what you read
Figure 3.2 Literature review structures: Bryman and Bell (2011)
The Inverted Triangle
Checklist: Evaluating the STRUCTURE of your Literature Review
Clear title
Does your review start at a more general level before narrowing down?
Is your literature organised thematically around the ideas contained in the research being reviewed rather than the researchers?
Are your arguments coherent and cohesive?
Have you used sub headings within the literature review to help guide your reader?
Does your literature review lead your reader into subsequent sections of your dissertation?
Does the way you have structured your literature review draw your readers attention to those issues which are going to be the focus of your research?
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill 2012
Plagiarism
Plagiarism means pretending that we wrote what others actually wrote.
Plagiarism is always a crime, since it destroys the foundations of the research edifice.
Institutions vary in terms of the seriousness with which they view the offence.
Punishment can range from resubmission to expulsion.
Referencing your work
A source is usually referenced in two parts:
1) the citation, in your text at the point of use;
2) full publication details, in a reference list, or bibliography, at the end of your dissertation or report.
There are two main referencing conventions:
1) the author-date system, of which the Harvard system is most used;
2) the footnote system.
P/S: In Birmingham you are required to use the Harvard referencing style
64
Turnitin Example
CONCLUSIONS
Checklist: Evaluating whether your Literature Review is CRITICAL
Have you ….
made reasoned judgements about the value and relevance of others’ research to your own?
assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the previous research reviewed?
justified your arguments by correctly referencing published research?
included references to research which are counter to your own opinion?
distinguished clearly between facts and opinions?
highlighted those areas where new research (yours) is needed to provide fresh insights and taken these into account in your arguments?
shown how your research question relates to previous research?
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill 2012
Checklist: Evaluating the CONTENT of your Literature Review
Does the literature covered relate clearly to your research questions or objectives?
Have you covered the most relevant and significant theories of recognised experts in the area?
Have you included up to date literature?
Have you referenced all the literature used in the format prescribed by the assessment criteria?
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill 2012
QUESTIONS?
Reading
Bryman A. and Bell E., 2011, Ch 4.Getting Started Reviewing the Literature, Business Research Methods, Oxford
Saunders M., Lewis P and Thornhill A., 2012, Ch 2 Formulating and clarifying the research topic and Ch. 3. Critically reviewing the literature, Research methods for business students, Sixth Edition, FT
Cresswell J.W. Ch 2 Review of the Literature, Research Design, Third Edition – this chapter is about how the search for secondary data can be used to write up your literature review
Wilson J. 2010, Ch. 2 Developing a research topic, Essentials of Business Research, Sage
