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Chapter 2
Formulating and clarifying the research topic
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Learning outcomes
By the end of this chapter you should be able to: Generate ideas that will help in the choice of a suitable research topic; Identify the attributes of a good research topic; Turn research ideas into a research project that has clear research question (s) and objectives; Draft a research proposal
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Will the examining institute's standards be met? Does the 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?
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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And - (if relevant) Does the topic relate clearly to an idea you were given possibly by your organisation ?
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Rational thinking
Examining your own strengths and interests Looking at past project titles Discussion Searching the literature Scanning the media
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Creative thinking
Keeping a notebook of ideas Exploring personal preferences using past projects Relevance trees Brainstorming
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Discussion
Colleagues, friends, university tutors, practitioner and professional groups
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Relevance tree
You start with a broad concept from which you generate further (usually more specific) topics. Each of these topics forms a separate branch from which you can generate further, more detailed sub branches. As you proceed down the sub branches more ideas are generated and recorded. These can then be examined and a number selected and combined to provide a research idea
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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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; All suggestions, however wild, should be recorded and considered As many suggestions as possible should be recorded. Review all the suggestions and explore what is meant by each. Analyze the list of suggestions and decide which appeal to to you most as research ideas why.
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Goldilocks test
Clough and Nutbrown use what they call the Goldilocks test to decide if research questions are either too big two small too hot or just right/ Too big need significant funding Too small are likely to be insufficient substance Too hot maybe so because sensitivities that may be aroused as a result of doing the research . This may be because of the timing of the research or the many other reasons that may be upset key people who have a role to play. Just right are those just right for investigation at this time by this research in this setting
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Table 2.2 Examples of research ideas and their derived focus research questions
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Achievable: Are the targets you have set for yourself achievable given
all the possible constraints?
Realistic: Given all other demands upon your time, will you have the
time and energy to complete the research on time?
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In order to:
Explain phenomena Predict outcomes Analyse relationships Compare and generalise
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Theory
A formulation regarding the cause and effect relationship between two or more variables, which may or may not have been tested
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Timescale and Resources - (finance, data access, equipment) References include some key literature sources
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Summary: Chapter 2
The best research topics
Formulate and clarify the topic Meet the requirements of the examining body Use a variety of techniques when generating research ideas Are focused on clear questions based on relevant literature
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
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Summary: Chapter 2
The best research topics
Are theory dependent Have a proposal containing organised ideas