WRITING UP

BUSINESS
RESEARCH
Presented by: Biz.Nerds
 First bit of Advice
Start Early Be Persuasive
• For better understanding of • Convince the readers about
overall phenomena credibility of the conclusion
including research question • Creating interest in readers’
mind
• Submitting early drifts
• Persuading readers about
• Avoiding Procrastination findings and conclusion which
are significant and plausible
Get Feedback
• Trying to get as much
feedback as possible
• Supervisor is naturally the
main source of feedback,
enough time should be
given to him
 Structure of Writing a Research
Title Page
Examining institution’s rule about what should be entered

Acknowledgement
Acknowledging the supervisor and others who helped to complete the research

List of Contents
Institutional recommendation should be followed

Abstract
A brief summary of the dissertation. If institution doesn’t require this component, journal
articles should be followed
 Structure of Writing a Research
Introduction
 Research should explain what he is writing and why it is important

 Researcher should use theoretical approach or perspective used in research in general terms and
why they are used

 The research question should be outlined. In qualitative research, the question will be more open
ended than quantitative research. A totally open-ended research focus is risky, can lead up to
collection of too much data, while writing up can result in lack of focus

 Opening sentence is most difficult of all. Becker (1986) advises strongly against ‘vacuous’ and
‘evasive’ opening sentences. He says evasiveness occurs because of concern of giving away the
plot. Readers should be given a quick and clear indication. Example: Using the sentence ‘This study
deals with problem of career’ rather than just ‘career’
 Structure of Writing a Research
Literature Review
IMPACT OF SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES IN THE CHANGING MINDSET OF YOUTH ON SOCIAL ISSUES - A STUDY OF DELHI-NCR YOUTH- (Jain, Gupta and
Anand, 2012)

Lot of literature is available now days on the social networking sites and their impact on the youth of any nation, children, adolescence
and families as during the last 5 years, usage of such sites has increased among preadolescents and adolescents. According to a latest
poll, 22% of teenagers log in more than 10 times a day on to their favorite social media site, and more than half percentage of
adolescents log more than once a day (Steyer James, 2009). Infact research also states that parents need to be aware of the type;
content and nature of social media sites as maximum of them are not suitable for children and adolescents. So, Pediatricians are now
playing a vital role to help families understand these sites and their usage so as to monitor for potential problems with sexting,
cyberbullying, Facebook depression, and exposure to inappropriate content’ (Keeffe, G.S. 2012). Social media sites allow many tasks that
were not possible offline as making new friends, staying connected with friends and family, exchanging ideas and sharing pictures.
Participation in social media offers adolescents deeper benefits that extend into their view of community, self, and the world. (Boyd, D.
2007) Today many parents are IT literate and use technology suitably well, comfortably and feel capable with the online sites that their
children and adolescents are using. But some parents find it problematic to relate to their techno-savvy youngsters online. Such parents
gradually lack an idea and connectivity with these new forms of socialization that play a vital role in their kid's lives.(Palfrey J & Gasser U,
2010). Out of 75% of teenagers owning cell phones, 25% use them for social media, 24% use them for instant messaging and 54% use
them for texting (Hinduja S. & Patchin J., 2007). Youths and adolescents are at some risk as they navigate and experiment with social
media because of their limited capacity for self-regulation and susceptibility to peer pressure. There are frequent online expressions of
offline behaviors, as clique-forming, bullying, and sexual experimentation according to a recent research (Lenheart A., 2009). James
Bennett in 2010 examined the link between organizational culture and social networking so as to predict whether social networking tools
are capable of reshaping and revitalizing and the brand and culture of an organization, which in turn can lead to enhanced levels of
employee productivity and satisfaction. As the adoption of these SNS such as Facebook is increasing by diverse populations, the benefits
provided by them have made us better off as a society and as individuals, and that, as they continue to be, we will see an increase in
their utility. Positive outcomes from these technologies as jobs found through LinkedIn or political activities organized via Facebook is
well-known, but now a growing corpus of research on social networks sites supports this view too.(Sumiti Sehgal, 2010). Social
networking sites have both negative and positive impact on the education of the youth. (S. Kuppuswammy, 2010).
 Structure of Writing a Research
Research Method

• Procedure used • Describe & Defend the Choices those are

• Sampling Approach
• Nature of Questionnaire
• Problems of Non-response
• How the researcher approached
• How the Researched Proceeded
with Analysis
made
• Issues of Ongoing Access and
Cooperation
• Participant of Observation Role
• How Access was Achieved
• Interview Schedule
• Coding Frame
 Structure of Writing a Research

Result
• The research need to address only the findings, not all results. Only
the gist finding is given so that the thread of the argument isn’t lost
• Table, Graphs, Charts etc should be included. The analysis should
convey a story about the research
• Presenting table or graph without comment should be avoided
• In quantitative findings, the presenting method should be varied
• A critical problem in qualitative research can be finding the part to
be left. If the rich data is not jettisoned, the sense of argument is
likely to be lost. Finding will be too descriptive and analytical edge.
• If multiple chapters are included, the individual chapter should
address the research question that has been answered.
 Structure of Writing a Research

Discussion
• The implications of findings are reflected

• How a researcher illuminate the research question is

shown

• If a specific hypothesis is not confirmed, the researched

need to address the possible reason and implication of
refatuation
 Structure of Writing a Research
Conclusion
• A brief summary should be a mean of hammering home to your readers the significance
of what the researcher have done

• Implication of findings for research question should be cleared

• Suggest ways in which findings and implications for theories relate to area of interest

• Suggestion can be made to implicate practice in business and management

• Limitation can be shown but shouldn’t be overdone

• Valuable to propose areas of further research

• Two things to be avoided- engaging in speculations that take too far away from data
and introducing ideas those haven’t been said before
 Structure of Writing a Research
Appendices
• Questionnaire
• Coding frame
• Observant schedule
• Letters sent to sample members
• Letters sent to and received from gatekeepers where
cooperation was required
 Structure of Writing a Research
Reference

• All references cited in text should be included

• Whichever approach prescribed by department should
be followed
• Normally, Harvard referencing system is used
 Structure of Writing a Research
Last but not least . . .

The obligations should be fulfilled. Example: Supplying copy

of dissertation, access to organization, maintaining
confidentiality etc
 Introduction to Quantitative Research
The following definition taken from Aliaga & Gunderson
(2000),
“Quantitative research is explaining phenomena by collecting
numerical data that are analyzed using mathematically based
methods (in particular statistics)”
Components of Quantitative Research

 Introduction
 Theory & hypotheses
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Introduction
 The Introduction should contain the following sections: problem
statement, rationale for the study, significance of the study,
objectives of the study.
 The problem statement is a concise description of the nature of the
problem (the discrepancy between what is and what should be)
and of the size, distribution and severity of the problem .
 The rationale for the study relates to the origin/source of the topic
and the importance of the problem.
 And finally, you have a general objective (general aim or purpose
of the study which is derived from the research topic) and specific
objectives which are based on your general objective.
 Theory & Hypotheses

 A hypothesis is a statement that can be empirically tested, i.e.

translation of theory into a testable statement.
 Hypothesis are a vehicle for testing the validity of the theoretical
framework assumptions & provide a bridge between theory & the
real world.
 The research (or alternative) hypothesis is a positive statement
about what the researcher expects to find. The null hypothesis is a
statement that a relationship expected in the research hypothesis
does not exist, i.e. that the world is simpler than predicted by theory.
 Methods
The method section contains the following items:

 Study design
 Study setting
 Data Collection
 Data Analysis
 Ethics
 Results
 Provide a general description of your findings
 Mention also the statistical test and the number on which the test
has been done. Don't avoid reporting negative results as these are
also important.
 If you have to many results you want to share that belong to
different objectives, you can write multiple articles.
 Discussion

 In the last (Discussion) section of the article, and often the most
difficult one to write, you give an answer to the objectives of the
study (summarize)
 Then you interpret the most important results, including any
unexpected findings so that the reader can judge whether these
studies are similar to yours.
 End with a paragraph on what the implications of your results are
and what the way forward is for research, practice and policy.
 Rhetorical Strategy in Quantitative Research

Rhetoric is a technique of using language effectively and persuasively

in spoken or written form. It is an art of discourse which studies and
employs various methods to convince, influence, or please
an audience.
Advertisers give their ads a touch of rhetoric to boost their sales by
convincing people that their product is better than other products in
the market.
Example of qualitative research:
Perlow in 1999 in her study based predominantly on
ethnographic methods explained “ Time Famine”. The
study described how people use their time at work, why
they use it this way, and whether their way of using time is
optimal for them or their work groups. Results of a nine-
month field study of the work practices of a software
engineering team revealed that the group's collective use
of time perpetuated its members' “time famine,” a feeling
of having too much to do and not enough time to do it.
Structure of the study

 Introduction
Literature Review
Methods
Presentation of main themes
Discussion
Implications
Guidelines to follow:
1.Introduction:
 The first sentence will explain the primary theme.
 Second sentence provide specific research focus.
 Highlight the limitation of the existing literature.
 Imply the preference of research.
 Final sentence will elaborate the contradiction with
the claims of other writers.
2.Review of the literature:
Perlow proposes that the theory and research on “time use
contributes to a partial understanding to both how and
why individual do and should spend their time at work”
(1999: 57).
 Review existing theory and research on that specific
theme.
 Acknowledgement
 Develop an alternative theoretical position.
 Reference
Methods:
Will cover the issues relating to the methods and analytical
processes used in the study. the author outlines:
 What the organization is like and why it was chosen as the
research site for the study.
 The process of respondent selection and negotiation.
 Data sources and collection.
 Approach of analyzing the data.
Presentation of main theme:
Example:
‘Two components of the social context help explain why
engineers perpetuated this disruptive pattern of interacting. I
found that engineers experience both constant pressure to
respond to crises and a reward system based on individual
heroics. These two components, together, resulted in engineers
doing whatever it took to solve the crisis of the moment. When
individuals attempted to solve crises at the expense of all else,
they frequently interrupted each other, thereby further
perpetuating crises and the perceived need for individuals to
do whatever it took to solve crises. I refer to this dynamic as the
vicious work–time cycle’. (1999: 65).
• Findings are outlined under separate headlines.
• Demonstrate of the significance of the findings in relation
to some of the previously discussed literature.
Discussion:
1. Begin by discussing the research question and talking about
whether it was answered in the research paper based on the
results.
2. Highlight any unexpected and/or exciting results and link them to
the research question
3. Point out some previous studies and draw comparisons on how
your study is different
4. State any weaknesses, loopholes, or limitations of the study.
5. Recommend how the study can be used to further the knowledge
in your field.
Implication:
Implications basically refer to impact that your research might have
on future research .
The author spells out the implication of the research which are
practical as well as theoretical.
Example:” ‘instead of interruptions perpetuating crises, reactive
behavior, and long work hours, synchronizing in dividable and
interactive activities may minimize crises, perpetuate proactive
behavior, and even reduce the demand for such long work hours’
(Perlow,1999: 79).
General guidelines for mixed method

Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
Tips and skills
Suggested by Creswell and Tashakkori (2007: 108)
• Well developed in both quantitative & qualitative
Components
• A fine Linkage between the two sets of findings
Introduction
• Clear statement of the focus
• An account of the structure of the article
• A clear rationale for the use of a mixed method
Rationale for using MM
Example: (Fey and Denison 2003:689)
“Using two approaches simultaneously allowed us to go
back and forth between them to gain a better
understanding of what was behind the numbers and to
develop a better picture of areas where the concepts had
a different meaning in Russia than in US.”
Methodology( fey and Denison 2003:689)
Quantitative Qualitative

Used survey method Used in depth interview method

Usable questionnaire-179 4 case study firms among the
Response rate-37% sample of 179 firms
10 interviews per firms

Variables: cultural traits Variables: cultural traits

(adaptability,mission,consistency,i (adaptability,mission,consistency,i
nvolvement) nvolvement)

to test the model to ground the concepts

Results ( fey and Denison 2003:689)
Quantitative findings
• Variables proved to be broadly relevant in the Russian
context
• Involvement and adaptability closely correlated with
effectiveness in Russian context
• In contrast, mission was closely correlated in US context
Results ( fey and Denison 2003:689)
Qualitative findings
• Cultural dynamics was examined
• Perception of the cultural concepts differ in Russia from US
• Assumed “sameness” turned out to be “differentness”.
Discussions
• Validating the model with combined insights
• Complete understanding of cultural dynamics
• Warning about the presumed generalization
POSTMODERNISM
 POSTMODERNISM

Postmodernism stems from a recognition

that reality is not simply mirrored in human
understanding of it, but rather, is constructed
as the mind tries to understand its own
particular and personal reality.
Reality can be very complex and give
contradictory, yet valid perspectives !!
“Man is the measure of all things;
of things which are, that they
are, and of things which are not,
that they are not.”

-Protagoras
 PREMODERN MODERN POSTMODERN
 ABSOLUTE TRUTH & • ABSOLUTE TRUTH,
 ABSOLUTE TRUTH & MORALITY EXIST, BUT MORALITY, BEAUTY ARE
MORALITY FROM FROM LOGIC, REASON & DISREGARDED
DEVINE SOURCES SECIENCE • LOGIC, REASON &
 SUPERNATURAL  NO SUPERNATUARAL SCIENCE ARE USEFUL, BUT
CAUSES FORCE, ONLY LOGIC & THEY DO NOT HAVE ALL
 AUTHORITY DEVINE SCIENCE IS EXPLANATION THE ANSWERS, NEITHER
SOURCES  AUTHORITY FROM LOGIC RELEGIONS.
 SUPERNATURAL & REASON; AND IT HAS • AUTHORITY COMES
HAVING THE TO BE TRUSTED FROM PEOPLE’S DESIRE
ANSWERS  REALITY IS OUT THERE, TO CONTROL OTHER
AND WE CAN KNOW IT PEOPLE, AND CAN NOT
BE TRUSTRED
• REALITY IS OFTEN WHAT
WE BUILD
 POSTMODERNISTS

-LESS FOCUS ON DATA COLLECTION, MORE FOCUS ON WRITING &

REPRESANTATION OF SOCIAL SCIENCE

-MORE SYMPATHETIC TO QUALITATIVE THAN QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

-RESEARCH DOESN’T UNREVEAL ANY OBJECTIVE REALITY, BUT A

REPRESENATION OF A PERSEPECTIVE

-DON’T CLAIM FINDINGS TO BE THE ACTUAL REALITY, BUT TEXTUAL

REPRESENTATION OF RESEARCH PERSPECTIVE
 REFLEXIVITY
"A researcher's background and position will affect
what they choose to investigate, the angle of
investigation, the methods judged most adequate
for this purpose, the findings considered most
appropriate, and the framing and communication
of conclusions"
-(Malterud, 2001).
 METHODOLOGICAL REFLEXIVITY
Stems from objectivist ontology; involves monitoring the behavioral
impact of researchers actions on the social setting under investigation
and detailing the effect these effect in research writing

DECONSTRUCTIVE REFLEXIVITY
Stems from constructionist ontology; entails the researcher questioning
his or her own taken-for-granted beliefs and accepting that there will
always be multiple valid accounts of a research project

EPISTEMIC REFLEXIVITY
Stems from critical realism ontology; retains the hope that some notion
of truth can be attained through consensus based on engagement
with research subjects.
TIPS FOR DEALING WITH REFLEXVITY

USE DIRECT QUOTATIONS

IT WILL ENHANCE CONFIDENCE &
DEMONSTRATE REFEXIVITY
 Writing Ethnography
What is ethnography?
• Ethno = people & graphy = writing. So, it means writing about people.
• A method or product
• Extended period of time
• Often focused on a particular culture

In summary, a scientific method of learning about a person, group of people

and a community is known as ethnography. It is a branch of cultural
anthropology.

A person researching in this field is called ethnographer. At the time of

conducting research, he/she must live in the context as a community
member.
 Continued…

It involves observation, listening, discussion, interviewing,

gathering information through both interacting with
members and observing interaction between members.

For example….
As a researcher, I want to study about the ethical behavior
of sales persons convincing customers to buy the products.
Through traditional interview method, it will be difficult to find
the potential deceptive sales tactics. In this case,
ethnography technique will be the appropriate research
method.
 • Opening up new sights
• Deep understanding &
Advantages interpretation
• Allowing people outside of
a culture

• Deep expertise is required

• Sensitivity
Challenges or
• Access
limitations • Duration and cost
• Bias
• Descriptive approach
 Ethnography
writing styles

Realist tales Confessional Tales Critical Tales

 Tips for writing ethnography…

 Knowing the target group

 Making questionnaire or notes
 Mentioning the questions that going to be answered
 Mentioning various opinions of the experts in that
particular fields
 Writing up the methodology of the research
 Analyzing the findings
 Writing up a summary