Formulating Research Topic-Modern Research Methods-Lecture Slides, Slides of Research Methods for Managers

Download Formulating Research Topic-Modern Research Methods-Lecture Slides and more Slides Research Methods for Managers in PDF only on Docsity! Lecture -2 })) Formulating and clarifying the research topic “The formulation of the problem is often more essential than its solution” Albert Einstein” Docsity.com Appropriateness: is it worthwhile? » Will the examining institute's standards be met? » Does the topic contain issues with clear links to theory? » Are the research questions and objectives clearly stated? » Will the proposed research provide fresh insights into the topic? » Are the findings likely to be symmetrical? » Does the research topic match your career goals? Docsity.com And - (if relevant) Does the topic relate clearly to an idea you were given - possibly by your organisation ? Docsity.com Generating research ideas: Useful Techniques Rational thinking Creative thinking • examining your strength * keeping an ideas and interest notebook • looking at past project titles * exploring personal preferences using past projects * discussion * relevance tree * searching the literature: * brainstorming articles in academic journals reports books Docsity.com If you do not know where you are going, any road will take you there. 1 0 Docsity.com Write research questions That are: » Consistent with expected standards » Able to produce clear conclusions » Able to generate new insights » At the right level (not too difficult) » Not too descriptive (beware of research questions that are too easy or too difficult) Note: It is often a useful starting point in the writing of research questions to begin with one general focus research question that flows from your research idea; this may lead to several more detailed questions or the definition of research objectives. Docsity.com Examples of research ideas and their derived focus questions Table 2.2 Examples of research ideas and their derived focus research questions Docsity.com Assignment — 2 »»» The research topic: writing research questions and objectives Individual student’s assignment Read Case 2b (provided in folder on ‘Reading Materials’), study questions given at the end, think about the answers, compare your answers-in-mind with the ones provided on next page of the case, and be ready for making your contribution in your group meetings (next slide), as well as, in the discussions to be held in next class. (continues next slide) Docsity.com Assignment — 2 »»» The research topic: writing research questions and objectives Group’s assignment After participating in discussion on your topic in today’s class, you are in a position to revise, modify, change or improve your research topic. In your ‘Reading Materials’ folder, you are provided a lengthy list of research topics (Appendix 1: Example research project titles) to enable you to study and change your topic or improve the existing one. From today’s lecture, you have learnt how researchers can write research question(s) and research objectives. Continues on next slide Docsity.com Assignment — 2 »»» The research topic: writing research questions and objectives Group’s assignment - continues You are now in a position to write research questions and research objectives of your research topic. This is your next group assignment. Hold meetings of your group, finalize research topic, research question(s) and research objectives for your group assignment — Assignment 2. Be ready to defend your research objectives in next class (Bring a one or two slides for your group’s presentation in your next class). Docsity.com Respondent Number Gender Education 1 Female = 2 Primary = 1 2 Male = 1 Batchelor = 3 3 Male = 1 PhD = 5 4 Male = 1 Batchelor = 3 5 Female = 2 Matric = 2 6 Female = 2 Unedu.= 0 7 Male = 1 Primary = 1 8 Male = 1 Batchelor = 3 9 Male = 1 Matric = 2 10 Female = 2 Batchelor = 3 Docsity.com Analysis of the data 1. (a) Click ‘Analyze’ ….’Descriptive Statistics’…. ‘Frequencies’. (b) Check the output. 2. (a) Click ‘Analyze’ ….’Descriptive Statistics’…. ‘Crosstabs’. (b) Transfer ‘Gender’ to Rows box and ‘Educational Status’ to columns box, and click OK (b) Check the output. Docsity.com