Research Progress

Stage 1: How to identify research

questions
 Starting with the management
dilemma “Symptoms”:
 Cost increases
 Sales decrease
 Employee turnover rate increases
 Product defect rate increases
 Many anonymous letters complain
about the quality of service provided
by the company

 Management questions: What can

we do to improve the situation? What
 are the causes of these problems? Will
improving A, B, C, etc. improve the
situation?....
 Research questions: A research
hypothesis whose purpose is to answer
managerial questions
 Investigate questions: Questions
that researchers must answer to help
managers reach conclusions about
difficult problems
 Measurement questions: Questions
that the researcher asks research
participants to answer, observed
directly in the research

In a student research paper: A research

question should be:
• Small
• Specific
• Attainable
Stage 2: Research proposal
Budget:
• Rule-of-thumb
• Departmental area
• Task

Research contract
 • Stage 3: Research design
General design
• A large variety of methods, techniques,
procedures, and sampling plans
• Secondary data, case study, survey,
experiment, or simulation
• Survey: Via Mail, computer, phone,
Internet, or individual interviews, Collect
data once or many times, or divide into
special periods according to research
design,….
 Based on the characteristics of the
research question and the experience of
previous researchers to choose the
appropriate design
 Research design is the core of the
success of the research paper
Sample plan
Identify the research population
Determine if there are any specific
requirements or preferences for the actual
sample
Research actual sample: Part of the sample,
must be carefully selected to be relatively
representative of the sample
Pilot Testing
Target Audience: Experts, respondents, or
those who can provide feedback
Purpose: Ensure the questionnaire is
standardized before conducting the main
survey/experiment, avoiding errors and
waste
 Important!
Stage 4: Data collection
• Notes when collecting data to increase
validity and reliability with questionnaire
survey method:
• Short, easy-to-understand questionnaire
• Provide definitions of difficult concepts
• Change the order of questions
• Create “other options”
• Adjust the format to fit on an A4 sheet if
possible
• If using GG docs, online, the designer
needs to inform the person doing the
questionnaire about the number of
questions, the progress of the work, and
the expected time to complete the
questionnaire
 • Primary Data
• Secondary Data
• For example?
• Nature of data: Abstract, (difficult
to measure directly), elusive
(physical properties that change
over time/phenomenon)
• Collecting data requires quality: can
verify reliability (similar results over
times) and reflects validity (can
represent variables)
Stage 4: Data analysis and
interpretation
Stage 5: Writing a report
Chapter 5:The Role of Theory in
Research
What makes a good study?
• Clear objectives
• Detailed research process
• Follows ethical standards
• Limitations are fully stated
• “Correct” analysis
• Clear presentation
Reasonable conclusions are drawn based on
research results and theories
How to find a quality scientific article:
• What? Key term, search advanced
• When? The most updated
• How? And Where?
Website: Google.scholar.com/ web of
science
Scopus ranking/ SSCI ranking
• Guide to the categories of an article
Abstract
Introduction
Literature Review/ Background/
Hypothesis Development
Methods (Design, Sample, Analysis
technique, software...)
Results
Discussion
Limitations and Future research
directions
Conclusion
 • Instructions on how to view and read a
scientific article: Plagiarism, a list of
references is a MUST, consistent and
feasible)
• Some notes when choosing source
articles: Simulation feasibility:
Sample
Conceptual framework
Hypothesis: Yes/ no
Measures: Questionnaire, scale
Ways to make arguments
Argument from theory
• Deductive reasoning proceeds from
existing theory to observable behaviors
and events.

Example:
Gravity makes things fall down.
 The apple falling on my head is the
symbol gravity
 I wish my lover would fall on my
head too!
Argument from evidence, observation
• nductive reasoning is to infer from
evidence and specific cases something
that applies to the majority.
 • For example: A class has 10 students.
Student A is good, student B is good,
student C,… are all good. If you are in
this class, you must be a good person
too.
Argument from evidence
• Why sales not increase during
promotional campaign?
• Retailers in the area did not have
enough stock to meet customer
demand during the promotion period
• A strike by employees delayed the
arrival of goods, making the
promotion ineffective
• A storm forced some retail stores in
the area to close for 10 days during
the promotion period
Theory development for research
What makes a good theory?
• Theory is the main factor for publishing a
new research paper.
• Theory is the reason why we do this
research
• Theory is not simply a summary of
previous research
• A good theory explains the relationships
between the factors/variables we study
• And explains why those relationships
might exist
• For example: Why do most hard-working
students achieve high results?
Why is emotional intelligence sometimes
more important than intelligence?
 Why are people who have recovered
from Covid less likely to get sick again and
more resilient than those who have been
vaccinated?
Traditional approach to writing the
theoretical part of a research paper
• Theory synthesizes concepts, based on
previous theories and research results
using data
• Three steps to write a theory section ...
• Define concepts and make
assumptions about their relationships
• Formulate measurable research
hypotheses and devise methods to
measure the concepts
Collect and analyze data to confirm the
research hypotheses
CHAPTER 6: Research design
Definition: Research design
• A clear plan of activities and timing
• A plan based on the research question
• A guide indicating how and where to
collect data
 • Indicates a theoretical framework for
analysis that shows the relationships
between the variables being studied
• Indicates an outline of procedures for
each research activity
Design in the Research Process

Classification by research question

Exploratory Research
• Loosely structured
• Expand understanding
• Provide insights
• Develop research hypotheses
Formal research
• The strict procedure
• Start with Research Hypotheses
• Answer the Research Question
According to data collection method

According to the aspect of time

According to the scope of the research
topic
Research using data
• Width
• Extrapolating from a sample
• Quantitative (numbers)
• Results that can be applied to a large
population
Study a specific case
• Depth
• Detail
• Qualitative (attributes)
• Multiple sources of information
Research environment
Purpose of the study

Purpose of the study

• Reporting: Synthesizing data
Gaining deeper understanding or
creating a general picture
 • Description: Concerned with
discovering who, what, where, when,
and how much
• Interpretation: Explaining relationships
between variables
• Prediction: Predicting a certain effect
on one variable by intervening in
another, holding all other indicators
constant
Descriptive research
Type Research method

The level of focus of  Exploratory

the research Research
question  Formal Research

Data collection  Control

method  Based on
communication

Researcher  Experimental
intervention in Research
variables  Deep Intervention

Purpose of the study  Report

 Description
 Interpretation
  Prediction

Time  Cross-sectional
 Longitudinal

Scope of research: In  1 case

depth/ or breadth  Based on data

Research  Real Environment

environment  Laboratory
 Simulation

Perceptions of  Real Action

research participant  Edited Action
Exploratory Research
• Useful when researchers lack concrete
ideas
• Researchers can develop more specific,
clear concepts, establish priorities,
develop practical definitions, and
improve the final research design
Both qualitative and quantitative
research are used but exploratory
research relies heavily on qualitative
research. Some of the commonly used
approaches are:
 • In-depth individual interviews
• Participant observation
• Videography, photography
• Psychological tests
• Case studies
• Expert interviews
• Document analysis
4 Types commonly used for exploratory
research

Secondary data analysis

• Finding Secondary Data Sources
• Company Data
 • Published Documents
 Secondary sources often provide the
foundation for research
Experience survey
• What is happening?
• What has been tried in the past with
success or failure?
• How have things changed?
• Who is involved in decisions?
• What areas are problematic?
Focus Group
• Group Discussion
• 6-10 members
• Led by a facilitator
• 90 minutes-2 hours
Two-stage Design
The first exploratory step is separated,
with the following objectives:
• Define the research question
• Develop the research design
Purpose of exploratory research
 • Establish the scope for which
management decisions can be made.
• Establish the key aspects of a research
assignment
• Identify a set of questions that can guide
the research design
• Conclude whether further research is
necessary or not possible.
• Know which research hypotheses can be
safely ignored
• Develop research hypotheses and
possible causes for management
problems
Descriptive research
• Describe a phenomenon or characteristic
related to a research sample
• Estimate the proportion of the sample
that has those characteristics
• Detect correlations between variables
Causal research

There are three basic types of causal

relationships:
- Symmetrical
 • Two variables fluctuate together but
there is no change in either variable if
the other variable changes
• For example: Less attendance at
school/work means less participation in
class/a company club. However, this
variation can be caused by
lifestyle/personality

- Asymmetrical
• Most researchers look for asymmetric
relationships
• We assume that the change in the
independent variable is responsible for
the change in the dependent variable
• The identification of the independent
and dependent variables is clear, but
sometimes the choice of variables is not.
Determining which is the
independent/dependent variable can be
based on the following assessment:
The degree of change in the variable.
With variables that are difficult to
influence such as age, social status,
 current production technology can
become independent variables
Order of occurrence between
variables: Independent variable
occurs before dependent variable

- Reciprocal
• This type of relationship occurs when
variables interact;
• For example, reading an advertisement
and using a product

Relationship Characterist For example

type ics of the
relationship

Stimulus- One  A change in

response event/change labor laws
causes a leads to an
change in increase in
another output.
 A change in
government
economic
policy restricts
 investment
decisions.
 A price
increase
causes sales
to fall.

Property- A trait that  Age and

disposition leads to a attitudes
certain desire towards
saving.
 Gender and
attitudes
towards social
issues.
 Social status
and attitudes
towards
taxation.

Disposition- A desire  Brand

behavior causes a attitudes and
particular product
behavior. purchases.
 Job
satisfaction
 and product
performance.
 Ethical values
and tax
evasion.

Property- A trait that  Family life

behavior causes a cycle stages
particular and furniture
behavior. purchasing
decisions.
 Age and
participation
in sports.

Causal evidence
There can be no other cause for B.
Order of events
Covariation between A and B
Questioning strategy
Qualitative, Quantitative, Mix
Data collection
Quantitative Qualitative Mixed
research research research
methods

  Research 
Experimen Papers Sequentia
tal  Phenomenolo l
 Non- gy 
experimen  Anthropology Simultane
tal design: ous
Survey  Grounded
Theory  Switch
example
 Case Studies
Mix Methods
 • Sequential
• Simultaneous
• Switch
Distinguish between qualitative and
quantitative

Focus of research
Qualitative
• Understanding
• Interpretive implications
Quantitative
• Description
• Explanation
Researcher participation
Qualitative
 • High
• Based on researcher involvement
Quantitative
• Less
Controlled
Research sample
Qualitative
• Non-probability
• Intentional
• Small sample
Quantitative
• Probability
• Large Sample
Qualitative research in business
• Job Analysis
• Developing Advertising Concepts
• Driving Productivity
• Developing New Products
• Managing Benefits
• Supply Chain Design
• Understanding Processes
 • Union Representation
• Market Segmentation
• Sales Analysis
Foundations of Qualitative Research

Qualitative research questions

• Grounded Discovery
• How? Why?
• Phenomenon
• The role of experience; its influence
on meaning and behavior
• Grounded theory
• Elements of experience, creating
theoretical models
 Qualitative research questions
• Narrative Inquiry
• Analyzing people's stories about
experiences, creating a common
story for a purpose
• Ethnography
• Using an ethnic group as a unit of
study
• Case study
• Using a program, event, process as a
unit of study
Qualitative research
Data collective tech
Data Source

Choose a qualitative research

method

Non-random sampling
Sampling in qualitative research
General Rule: Saturated point
Interviews should be continued until no new
insights are discovered.
Unstructured/structured interviews
• When deciding whether to use these two
methods, consider:
• Does the purpose of the study
suggest that we should conduct
these two methods?
 • Does this method help to find
individuals who can be approached
and get information from them?
• Are the questions to collect data
numerous, complex, open-ended?
• Is it necessary to diversify the order
and logic of the questions?
• Is it possible to probe the
interviewees' answers to explain
their own answers?
• Does the data collection process with
each individual need to take place
over a fairly long period of time?
Interviewer Responsibilities
• Suggesting • Prepare research
Topics and tools
Questions • Control the
• Controlling the stripping process
Interview • Analyze data
• Planning the • Find new points
Location and of knowledge
Equipment • Write a report
• Establishing
Sampling Criteria
• Recruiting
Interview
 Participants

Types of interviews
Unstructured
Semi-structured
Structured
Requirements of unstructured
interviews

The Interview Mode

 Individual and Group Interviews
Personal interview Group interview

Research Objectives  Explore a variety

 Explore Personal of attitudes,
Life in Depth opinions, and
behaviors
 Test a Survey
 Observe the
process of general
agreement and
disagreement

Concerns about the  Situations involving

research topic public concern
 Personal  Situations about
experiences in which little
detail, choice knowledge or
assumptions are
  Sensitive situations well understood
that may promote
anxiety

Participants  Participants have

 Participants may similar
be stuck or backgrounds or are
pressed for time, not so different
often individuals of that they create
high social status discomfort

 Participant with in-  Participants can

depth skills articulate ideas
 Participants can
provide multiple
perspectives on an
issue
Group interview
• Dyads:
• Triads:
• Mini-Groups:
• Small Groups (Focus Group)
• Supergroups:
Determine the number of people in the
group
Group Interview Modes
Face-to-Face
Teleconference
Online
Videoconference
Qualitative data analysis
Data Collection, Raw Data Conversion
• Audio Recording
• “Tape-transcription” Convert to
written language, to computer files
• Includes interview content, notes,
additional observations by the
interviewer, paraphrasing (rewriting)
interviewee expressions
Data analysis strategy
• Discovering “Themes”
• Start with the big picture and list the
“themes” that emerge
• Recurring events
• Coding qualitative data
• Converting data into manageable
forms
• Usually using notes and
sorting/putting them into the same
categories
• Predetermined categories vs.
Emergent categories, found
through interviews
Why themes?
• The best way to write a qualitative
report is to provide detailed information
about a few topics rather than providing
general information about many
different topics
• Themes can be referred to as
Categories
 • These can be concepts, theories, or
names that the researcher “sees”
through the data
Types of topics
• Normal: Topics that the researcher
expects
• Unexpected: Topics that are
unexpected and not expected
• Difficult to classify: Topics that include
ideas that do not easily fit into a certain
topic or that overlap with many other
topics
Types of main and subtopics
Observational study
Research design
Data Collection
Look
Listen
Touch
Smell
Read
Observation classification
Non-Behavioral
• Physical State Analysis
• Analysis of a Process or Action
Archive Analysis
Behavioral
• Nonverbal
Can be observed with the naked eye or with
assistive devices
Non-behavioral observation
Storage Analysis
Physical Condition Analysis
Physical Process Analysis
Case Study
Study a specific case
 • The essence of a case study is to try to
clarify a decision/set of decisions:
 Why was that decision made
How was that decision made
What were the results?
• A case study is a study of a problem or
phenomenon placed in a specific context
• Case study research is one of the most
flexible research designs, as it can draw
data from a variety of sources:
• Document analysis,
• Surveys,
• Participant and non-participant
observation, and
• Action research
The usefulness of case study research
Case studies can be:
• Exploratory
• Explanatory
• Descriptive
Case studies are used to:
• Provide description
 • Test theory
Generate theory
Types of case studies
• Most common: To clarify a theory
• Exception: To prove a hypothesis true or
false by selecting at least 1 uncommon
case
• Important case: To use a case to show
the limitations of existing
research/theories that are working.
Criticism of Case Studies
• Lack of typicality
• It is easy to confuse case study research
with “teaching” case studies.
• Provides little basis for scientific
generalizations.
• Many case studies take a long time to
conduct.
Focus of research
Case studies are classified based on the
focus of the research, including the following
main types:
• Individual studies
 • Community studies
• Social groups
• Organizations and businesses
Events, roles, interactions
Case study
• Tables and plans are used frequently
• Find data sources
• Plan data collection
Review regularly
Action Research
• Action research is “learning by doing” – a
group of people identify a problem, do
something to solve it, evaluate whether
their efforts were successful, and then
do it again if they weren’t.
• That’s the core of the action research
approach. Another thing that sets it
apart is that we engage in it every day.
Steps to conduct Action Research
• Identify the problem, research question
• Conduct research on existing documents
• Find a solution
 • Implement a solution and collect data
• Analyze the results
• Report the results
• Take action
Research method
• Describe the research sample and data
collection process
• Identify the instrument, test, interview,
questionnaire, survey…
• How will you measure?
• What about the reliability and accuracy
of the data?
• How will you analyze the data?
Data Collection
• Measurement tools need to be identified
and developed
• You can collect data by interviewing or
observing
• If you are conducting a survey, you need
to identify the measurement tools that
will be used: Questionnaires, or tests
Counter-argument about action
research
 • One advantage of action research is that
it is related to practice
• Disadvantage: It is often difficult to do
both research and practical action
What makes a good research?
• Contribution to Practice
• Contribution to Research/Science