Business research can influence any part of the business, including marketing, operations, finance, and so on. It is therefore of great interest to corporations, public sector agencies, consulting firms, research institutes, independent researchers, non-profit organizations and non-governmental organizations.
This document is a comprehensive guide for young researchers wishing to pursue different forms of research. It presents the research, its different forms and its main stages of process. While the second chapter presents a step-by-step procedure for formulating a research problem, the third chapter concerns the review of the literature and its current practices. The document also presents research methodologies and research design, as well as measurement tools. While the seventh chapter is devoted to data management, the last part of this work details the practice of data analysis. In its most basic form, research involves collecting, analyzing and interpreting information to answer questions and creating a report summarizing some readily available data.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
1.1. Definition
1.2. Research: Process
1.3. Difference between research and non-research activity
1.4. Characteristics of Research
1.5. Objectives of Research
1.6. Motivation in Research
1.7. Types of Research
1.7.1. Application of research study
B. Applied research
1.7.2. Viewpoint of objectives
1.7.3. Inquiry Mode
1.8. The Research Process
2. FORMULATING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
2.1. Sources of research problems
2.2. Aspects of research study
2.3. Considerations in Selecting a Research Problem
2.4. Steps in Formulation of a Research Problem
3. REVIEWING THE LITERATURE
3.1. Overall Strategy
3.2. Types of Literature Review
3.3. Critical Evaluation
3.4. Thematic Structure
3.5. Common problems to avoid
4. METHODOLOGY AND ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK
5. RESEARCH DESIGN
6. DESIGNING MEASUREMENT TOOLS
6.1. Designing a questionnaire
6.2. Testing the tools
7. DATA MANAGEMENT
7.1. Data capture
7.2. The tools
7.3. Identifiers
7.4. Data Entry and Validation Schemes
7.5. Adding Comments to Cells
7.6. Saving and Protecting Files
7.7. Data Archiving
7.8. Backups
7.9. Storage and access
7.10. Data ownership
7.11. Data Management Strategy
8. DATA ANALYSIS
8.1. Analysis Objectives
8.2. Data analysis
8.2.1. Exploring and describing the data
8.2.2. Confirmatory Analysis
8.3. Regression
Research Objectives and Thematic Scope
The primary objective of this work is to provide a comprehensive, practical guide for post-secondary researchers to navigate the complexities of conducting academic and business research, from initial problem formulation to final data analysis and reporting.
- Foundations of research processes and definitions.
- Strategic approaches to formulating research problems and literature reviews.
- Methodological frameworks and research design.
- Practical techniques for questionnaire design and measurement tools.
- Best practices in data management, archiving, and statistical analysis.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1. Definition
According to Martin (2010), research refers to any gathering of data, information and facts for the advancement of knowledge or a process of steps used to collect and analyze information to improve our understanding of a subject or question. It consists of three steps: asking a question, collecting data to answer the question, and presenting an answer to the question (Pajares, 2007; Creswell,1994). A studious inquiry or examination; especially: investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws (The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary).
Other different definitions have been given by various authors such as careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge(Shruti,2015); a systematized effort to gain new knowledge (KKHSOU,2011); a movement from the known to the unknown ( Catherine and Jason Byrne, 2014); It is actually a voyage of discovery; A way of examining your practice (Dabell,2019) ; Habit of questioning what you do; Systematic examination of the observed information to find answers or way of thinking: examining critically the various aspects of your professional work or an art aided by skills of enquiry, experimental design, data collection, measurement and analysis, by interpretation, and by presentation. A further skill, that you can learn and develop, is creativity or invention (Ranjit Kumar 1999, 2005, 2011)
Research is, thus, an original contribution to the existing stock of knowledge making for its advancement (Christine &Jonathan, 2008). It is the pursuit of truth with the help of study, observation, comparison and experiment. In short, the search for knowledge through objective and systematic method of finding solution to a problem is research.
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH: Defines research as a systematic process for gathering information and introduces the core characteristics, objectives, and various research types.
2. FORMULATING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM: Outlines the crucial steps for identifying research topics, defining the scope, and establishing a manageable research focus.
3. REVIEWING THE LITERATURE: Explains the importance of a critical literature review in identifying current trends and building a theoretical foundation for the study.
4. METHODOLOGY AND ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK: Discusses the necessity of justifying the chosen research approach and ensuring that methods align with research objectives.
5. RESEARCH DESIGN: Details the conceptual structure required to conduct research efficiently, including considerations for data collection and sampling.
6. DESIGNING MEASUREMENT TOOLS: Provides practical guidance on questionnaire design and the importance of testing tools before the actual study.
7. DATA MANAGEMENT: Covers the technical and procedural aspects of data capture, documentation, archiving, ownership, and integrity.
8. DATA ANALYSIS: Describes the processes of transforming, plotting, and analyzing data, including descriptive and confirmatory techniques like regression and ANOVA.
Keywords
Research Methodology, Problem Formulation, Literature Review, Data Management, Data Analysis, Questionnaire Design, Scientific Research, Applied Research, Quantitative Research, Qualitative Research, Statistical Inference, Research Design, Data Archiving, Variable Analysis, Academic Research
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
This guide acts as a comprehensive manual for young or post-secondary researchers, providing a structured approach to the research process from inception to final report generation.
What are the primary themes covered in the book?
The book centers on defining research, formulating problems, conducting literature reviews, designing effective measurements, managing data, and performing both descriptive and confirmatory data analysis.
What is the ultimate goal of the research process described?
The goal is to provide researchers with a systematic framework to collect, analyze, and interpret information objectively to answer specific research questions and contribute to existing knowledge.
Which research methodologies are highlighted?
The text covers both quantitative and qualitative approaches, emphasizing the use of structured and unstructured inquiries, experimental design, and survey methods.
What topics are addressed in the main body regarding data?
The main body focuses extensively on the lifecycle of data, including capture, entry, validation, archiving, storage, ownership, and processing to ensure quality and integrity.
What are the fundamental keywords associated with this guide?
Key terms include research methodology, problem formulation, data management, data analysis, quantitative research, and research design.
Why is the "Critical Review" emphasized in chapter 3?
It is highlighted because a good review must do more than summarize; it must synthesize existing knowledge, identify limitations, and justify the current study through comparative critique.
How does the author suggest handling data outliers?
The author recommends using scatter plots to spot outliers early in the analysis, noting that these are data values falling outside the expected range.
What advice is given regarding questionnaire design?
The guide suggests keeping questions short and simple, avoiding leading or double-barreled questions, and ensuring that response categories in closed questions are comprehensive and do not overlap.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Dr. Sixbert SANGWA (Autor:in), 2019, Practical Research Methods. A Guide for Post-Secondary Researchers, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1024522
