Scientific research, business

research and scientific paper

Source: adapted after

http://www.tlu.ee/~arro/EBS%20Qualitative%20methods/2.%20lecture_formulating%20and%20clarifying%20the%20research%20topic%202012.ppt;
http://infotrac.thomsonlearning.com/infowrite/res_what.htm;

Believes versus Science

Belief is knowing something without needing evidence.
Eg. The Christian belief that there is a single God rather than
multiple gods or no God.
Science requires that beliefs be continuously tested against evidence from the
real world.
Eg. The knowledge that living things require water can be tested by
withholding water from a living thing to see if it can survive.

Scientific research
What is and what is not scientific research
NOT scientific research
Data collection without a clear purpose
Reassembling and reordering information without interpretation
Misuse of the term to give credibility to an idea, a product

Is scientific research
Data are collected systematically
The data are interpreted
The goal is clear

Business research
Business research
is a systematic inquiry that provides the needed information that
guides managers to make informed decisions to successfully deal
with problems.
The information provided could be the result of a careful analysis of
data gathered firsthand or of data that are already available (in the
company).

Types of business research

Applied research
Is to solve a current problem faced by the manager in the work
setting, demanding a timely solution.
2.Basic research (fundamental, pure)
Is to generate a body of knowledge by trying to comprehend how
certain problems that occur in organizations can be solved.
The findings of such research contribute to the building of knowledge in the
various functional areas of business.

Research paper is NOT

A research paper is not "about" a subject

A research paper should have a thesis -- a clear point of view. It is not simply a
generalized discussion of an issue.
A research paper is not a summary of everything you can find
Your goal is not to collect everything you can find out about a subject and summarize
it. Although you should review as much material as possible, you should select
sources that directly and indirectly support your thesis.
A research paper is not a list of quotes
The focus of your paper is your point of view, your commentary. Direct quotations,
facts, and statistics may be woven throughout your paper, but they should support
your position. Your commentary should do more than simply introduce or link
quotations.
A research paper does not support a pre-conceived point of view
Looking up facts that support what you already believe is not genuine research. You
should examine evidence then form an opinion.
A research paper does not present the ideas of others without documentation
Research papers must use documentation methods to prevent you from plagiarizing
sources. Do not borrow ideas, statistics, or facts without noting their original source.

Research paper IS

A research paper meets the needs of the assignment

Many instructors give specific requirements for research papers, detailing topics, use
of sources, and documentation methods.
Make sure you fully understand the scope of the assignment.
Keep the needs of the assignment in mind as you work on your paper. Constantly
refer to the instructor's guidelines to keep your research on track.
A research paper has a clear focus
The more narrow you make your subject, the easier your paper will be to write. It is
better to write about one character in a novel or a play than attempt to comment on
an entire work. It is easier to focus on one treatment for a single psychiatric disorder
than trying to address mental health.
A research paper has a clear thesis
A research paper must express a point of view, not simply report on the ideas of
others. The focus of the paper is not the views of others but your opinions and
interpretations.
A research paper comments on the quantity and quality of sources
A research paper does not simply summarize and present the ideas of others. A good
research paper distinguishes between reliable and biased sources, between
authoritative and questionable statistics, between fact and opinion.

How to find a question

...how the process of generating research topic
which is
- waterproof
- intriguing
- exiting
- manageable
- feasible
...should go?
...what are the parameters of a good question?

Attributes of a good research topic

practical considerations - requirements of your university
your capability have/develop the skills and competencies
to manage the research
excitement - your genuine interest
resources money, equipment, expert knowledge, time
accessibility of data especially when sensitive topics
linkage to the theory - previous theories give a context to
your topic; avoid you to discover well-known things
clarity of research questions and objectives will there be
new insights or not
practical considerations AGAIN - Congruence with your
career goals in the end, you will be, want it or not, kind of an
expert in the specific area you studied1

Generating and refining research

ideas
Generating research ideas: range of tips and
techniques
rational AND creative techniques
Using these techniques usually may have two
outcomes:
one or more possible project idea VERSUS
absolute panic

Rational techniques
examine your own strengths and interests look
back and look into the future
look at past project titles let your imagination
and attention to guide you; note down
discussion colleagues; friends; university
supervisors, tutors; practitioners; proffesionals
searching the literature academic and
professional journals; review articles

Creative techniques

keep a notebook of ideas short-time memory is

a ... (you fill the gap)
explore your personal preferences using past
projects
1) what appeals me about the project?
2) what is good about this project?
3) Why is the project good?
Find out aspects in projects you consider as excellent
and important to you
relevance trees or mind mapping
Brainstorming not only for solving, but also for
generating problems!

Relevance trees or mind mapping for example...

For refining research ideas...

... conduct a preliminary study literature,
experts, research context (e.g.,
organisation)
... topic from your organisation how to do
two things out of one?

Turning research ideas into research

projects
Good research question:
- sufficient to generate a project accepted by your
institution
- not too difficult you cant solve all the problems
in the world
- not too big demanding significant resources
- not too small irrelevant; not enough
substance
- not too hot sensitive topics no one wants to
talk to you
- will generate new insights

Phrasing a good research question

General focus research question:
Im interested in sustainable worldview of
companies
Following more detailed questions/ research
objectives:
I want to know, how the environmentally sensitive
or green image of a company affects their profit?
Going from more general level to the more specific
focus

...phrasing a good research question

Implications for future studies in scientific
articles and publications need only to
rephrase as a research question

Writing research objectives

General focus research question -> research objectives
...lead you to greater specifity than research questions;
are more precise;
require more rigorous thinking
RQ: how the environmentally sensitive image affects the
profit of a company?

->
RO: To determine the role that the environmental-friendly
image plays in customers decisions when choosing
between different products/companies
Research objectives ->
- what do you want to know;
- specify, where is the end point of your work;
- help you to understand that your question is answered

The importance of theory in writing research

questions and objectives
theory - a formulation regarding the cause and effect
relationships between two or more variables, which may
or may not been tested
- ...explain and predict
Often, researchers do not ask those questions that allow
to meaningfully conclude why the state of affair is as it is
in order to understand the mechanism of change, you
have to ask questions about this mechanism of change
- most studies stop where the starting point should be
Gathering of facts versus intelligence gathering
Why-questions go beyond description and require
analysis

If you want to do a research, you need to

answer four very simple questions
1.
2.

What do I want to find out?

Why I want to find it out? (Why is it
interesting?)
3. How will I found it out? (Maybe it is
already known?)
4. Are the answers to the three previous
questions in accord with each other?

Homework
Generate a research topic that is interesting
to you:
- phrase your central research question;
- phrase your research objective(s).
NB it is also ok if you follow the 4 questions on the
previous page!
-

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