Literature Review and Research Questions - Hypothesis
Literature Review and Research Questions - Hypothesis
Table of Contents
Literature Review ............................................................................................................................................................................. 1
Comparison: ......................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Note
• The literature review critically examines existing research and theories relevant to the study.
• It helps justify the research questions and hypotheses by providing a theoretical and empirical foundation.
a) Empirical review
b) Theoretical review
An empirical review and a theoretical review are two distinct approaches used in conducting a literature review, each
serving different purposes and focusing on different aspects of existing research.
A. Empirical Review:
An empirical review synthesizes and summarizes existing empirical studies and research findings related to a specific
topic or research question. It focuses on studies that have collected data through observation or experimentation,
using empirical methods to test hypotheses and answer research questions. Key characteristics of an empirical review
include:
B. Theoretical Review:
A theoretical review, on the other hand, examines and synthesizes existing theoretical frameworks, concepts, models,
and perspectives relevant to a research topic or question. It focuses on synthesizing ideas and concepts proposed by
scholars and researchers rather than empirical data. Key characteristics of a theoretical review include:
• Focus on Concepts and Frameworks: It explores theoretical constructs and their interrelationships.
• Conceptual Understanding: Analyzes how theories explain phenomena and provide insights into
understanding the topic.
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• Integration of Perspectives: Combines different theoretical perspectives to develop a comprehensive
understanding.
• Identification of Gaps: Highlights theoretical gaps or areas needing further theoretical development or
clarification.
Comparison:
• Purpose: Empirical reviews focus on summarizing research findings and empirical evidence, while
theoretical reviews focus on synthesizing and analyzing theoretical perspectives and frameworks.
• Content: Empirical reviews primarily include studies that report data-driven findings, whereas theoretical
reviews include discussions on concepts, models, and theories proposed in scholarly literature.
• Methodology: Empirical reviews assess research methodologies and data collection techniques used in
studies, while theoretical reviews evaluate the conceptual foundations and theoretical contributions of
studies.
Both empirical and theoretical reviews are essential in academic research as they provide different insights and
perspectives, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of a research topic or question. Researchers often
integrate both approaches in a literature review to provide a balanced and nuanced analysis of existing knowledge in
their field of study.
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o Conceptual Frameworks: Outline your understanding of the research problem and the key
concepts. This helps in defining the scope and focus of your study.
Theoretical and Conceptual frameworks form the backbone of scholarly research by grounding studies in established
theory and guiding the systematic investigation of phenomena.
1. Theoretical Framework:
o Definition: The theoretical framework establishes the foundational theories, principles, or models
that guide the study's approach to understanding the phenomenon under investigation. It provides
a lens through which researchers interpret their findings and develop hypotheses or research
questions.
o Purpose: Theoretical frameworks help situate the study within existing theoretical perspectives,
explaining relationships between variables and offering explanations for observed phenomena.
They often draw from established theories in disciplines such as sociology, psychology, economics,
etc., to provide a theoretical basis for research.
2. Conceptual Framework:
o Definition: The conceptual framework translates theoretical concepts into specific constructs or
variables that are measurable and observable within the context of the study. It operationalizes
abstract theoretical ideas into practical terms that guide data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
o Purpose: Conceptual frameworks help organize and structure the literature review by identifying
key concepts, defining relationships between variables, and clarifying how these concepts will be
studied in the research. They provide a roadmap for understanding the scope and boundaries of
the study and help researchers develop hypotheses or research questions based on identified gaps
in the literature.
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Classification of Theoretical framework and Conceptual framework:
• Relationship: Theoretical frameworks provide the overarching theoretical perspective that informs the
study's approach, while conceptual frameworks operationalize these theoretical concepts into practical
constructs for empirical investigation.
• Integration: Both frameworks are essential components of a literature review and research design, working
together to guide the study from theoretical grounding to empirical investigation. They ensure that research
is both theoretically grounded and practically applicable to the study's objectives.
A. Theoretical Frameworks
Definition: A theoretical framework is a collection of related concepts and theories that guide research by providing
a coherent structure and context for understanding the research problem.
Purpose:
• Guides Research Design: Helps in defining the research question, methodology, and analysis.
• Provides a Basis for Hypothesis: Forms the foundation for developing hypotheses or research questions.
• Explains Relationships: Offers explanations for the relationships between different variables in the study.
Application in ICT Project Proposals:
• Adoption of New Technologies: Theories such as the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) or the
Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) can be used to understand how and why
users adopt new technologies.
• Information Systems Success: Delone and McLean's IS Success Model can be used to evaluate the success
of an ICT project based on factors like system quality, information quality, and user satisfaction.
• Innovation Diffusion: Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations theory can help explain how and why new
technologies spread within an organization or society.
Example: For a proposal on implementing a new learning management system (LMS) in an educational institution,
you might use:
• TAM: To study user acceptance and identify factors influencing the perceived ease of use and perceived
usefulness of the LMS.
• Delone and McLean IS Success Model: To evaluate the potential success of the LMS by assessing system
quality, information quality, and user satisfaction.
Conceptual Frameworks
Definition: A conceptual framework is a network of concepts and ideas that help to organize and interpret data within
the context of the research. It is often more flexible and less formal than a theoretical framework.
Purpose:
• Defines Scope and Focus: Helps to delineate the boundaries of the research.
• Identifies Key Variables: Clarifies the main variables and their relationships.
• Visualizes Relationships: Often represented as a diagram to illustrate the connections between variables.
Application in ICT Project Proposals:
• Project Implementation: Helps in identifying the key components, processes, and stakeholders involved
in the ICT project.
• Performance Metrics: Defines the criteria for measuring the success and impact of the ICT project.
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• Problem-Solving Approach: Provides a structured approach to addressing the research problem and
achieving the project objectives.
Example: For a proposal on developing a mobile health application for managing chronic diseases, you might use:
• Conceptual Framework: To identify key variables such as user engagement, app functionality, data security,
and health outcomes.
• Diagram: Create a visual representation showing how these variables interact and influence each other.
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Diagram Representation of Theoretical Framework
Organizational Performance
B. Conceptual Framework
A conceptual framework in research defines the constructs and variables under study, providing a structured approach
to operationalizing theoretical concepts into measurable terms for empirical investigation. It serves as a guide for
organizing literature, developing hypotheses, and framing the research methodology.
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Steps for Developing a Conceptual Framework
A conceptual framework diagram for an ICT project proposal on developing a mobile application for remote patient
monitoring:
Conceptual Framework Diagram
Topic: Development of a Mobile Application for Remote Patient Monitoring
Key Variables
• Independent Variables:
o App Usability
o Data Security
o User Engagement
• Dependent Variable:
o Health Outcomes
• Moderating Variable:
o Patient Demographics (age, tech-savviness)
App Usability
User Engagement
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Explanation of the Conceptual framework Example
• App Usability: How easy and intuitive the app is to use. Better usability is expected to lead to better health
outcomes.
• Data Security: Ensures the privacy and protection of patient data. Higher data security is expected to
positively impact health outcomes by increasing patient trust and usage.
• User Engagement: The extent to which patients use and interact with the app. Higher engagement is
expected to lead to better health outcomes as patients are more likely to adhere to health monitoring.
• Health Outcomes: The main dependent variable, representing the overall impact of the app on patient
health.
• Patient Demographics: Acts as a moderating variable that might influence the strength and direction of
the relationships between the independent variables and health outcomes. For instance, younger or more
tech-savvy patients might find the app more usable and engaging.
This diagram helps visualize the relationships between different factors and how they contribute to the desired health
outcomes, providing a clear conceptual structure for your ICT project proposal.
Note
By incorporating the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Resource-Based View (RBV), the theoretical
framework provides a structured approach to understanding and evaluating the factors influencing the adoption of a
cloud-based ERP system and its impact on organizational performance. This framework guides the entire research
process, from hypothesis formulation to data analysis, ensuring a comprehensive examination of the research problem.
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CHAPTER 1: HYPOTHESIS/ RESEARCH QUESTIONS
In the process of developing a research proposal, the sequence of formulating hypotheses or research questions and
objectives can vary depending on the approach and the specific requirements of the research.
Note: generally, the objectives typically come before hypotheses or research questions for several reasons:
1. Clarity of Purpose: Objectives help define the overall purpose and scope of the study. They articulate what
the researcher intends to achieve through the research.
2. Focus on Goals: Objectives provide specific goals or outcomes that the research aims to accomplish. They
guide the formulation of hypotheses or research questions by indicating the specific areas or aspects to
investigate.
3. Structuring the Proposal: Objectives often serve as a foundation for structuring the rest of the research
proposal. They provide a roadmap for developing hypotheses or research questions, methodology, and
expected outcomes.
Sequence of Development
• Objectives: Initially, researchers typically identify and outline the objectives based on the research problem
or topic of interest. These objectives are clear statements that describe what the researcher intends to achieve
through the study. For example, in a study on the impact of social media on consumer behavior, objectives
might include understanding the usage patterns of social media among different demographic groups and
examining how social media influences purchasing decisions.
• Hypotheses or Research Questions: Once the objectives are defined, hypotheses or research questions
can be formulated. Hypotheses are specific, testable predictions about the relationship between variables,
while research questions are inquiries about phenomena to be explored. For instance, based on the objectives
mentioned earlier, hypotheses might be formulated to test whether there is a significant correlation between
social media usage and consumer purchasing behavior among different age groups.
Example Approach
1. Objective Formation:
o Objective: To analyze the impact of social media on consumer behavior across different
demographic segments.
2. Hypothesis Formation:
o Hypothesis: H1: There is a positive correlation between social media engagement and purchasing
decisions among millennials.
Note
❖ While the objectives typically come before hypotheses or research questions in a research proposal, the
overall coherence and logical flow of the proposal are crucial. The objectives set the direction and purpose
of the research, guiding the formulation of hypotheses or research questions that aim to address specific
aspects of the research problem. By following this structured approach, researchers ensure that their study
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is well-grounded and focused, aligning with the broader goals of contributing to knowledge in their field of
study.
❖ The number of your hypothesis/research questions should be equivalent to the specific questions
Example: example of an ICT (Information and Communication Technology) proposal with a general objective,
specific objectives, hypotheses derived from them, and corresponding research questions:
General Objective: To develop and implement an AI-driven chatbot system to enhance customer service efficiency
in a telecommunications company.
Specific Objectives:
1. To assess current customer service processes and identify inefficiencies that can be addressed by an AI-
driven chatbot system.
2. To design and develop an AI-driven chatbot prototype capable of handling customer inquiries and providing
accurate responses in real-time.
3. To evaluate the performance and usability of the AI-driven chatbot system through user testing and
feedback.
4. To analyze the impact of the AI-driven chatbot system on customer satisfaction metrics, such as response
time and issue resolution rates.
Hypotheses:
1. H1: Implementing the AI-driven chatbot system will lead to a reduction in average response time for
customer inquiries compared to traditional methods.
2. H2: Users will perceive the AI-driven chatbot system as more efficient and effective in resolving their
inquiries compared to human agents.
3. H3: The introduction of the AI-driven chatbot system will result in a decrease in the number of escalations
and unresolved customer issues.
4. H4: There will be a positive correlation between the usage of the AI-driven chatbot system and
improvements in overall customer satisfaction scores.
Research Questions:
1. What are the current inefficiencies in customer service processes that could be mitigated by an AI-driven
chatbot system?
2. How can an AI-driven chatbot system be designed and developed to effectively handle a diverse range of
customer inquiries in real-time?
3. What are users' perceptions and experiences regarding the usability and effectiveness of the AI-driven
chatbot system in resolving their inquiries?
4. How does the implementation of the AI-driven chatbot system impact key customer satisfaction metrics,
such as response time and issue resolution rates?
This structure ensures that the ICT proposal is clear, focused, and aligned with both the research problem and the
expected outcomes of implementing the AI-driven chatbot system in a telecommunications company.
In a typical research project, the research questions are answered and the hypotheses are tested primarily in two main
chapters or sections:
1. Methodology Chapter:
o The methodology chapter outlines how the research will be conducted and provides the framework
for answering the research questions and testing the hypotheses.
o It describes the research design, data collection methods, procedures for analysis, and any tools or
instruments used.
o This chapter is crucial as it ensures that the research is conducted in a systematic and rigorous
manner, allowing for valid conclusions to be drawn from the data collected.
2. Results and Discussion Chapter:
o The results and discussion chapter presents the findings from the data analysis conducted according
to the methodology outlined.
o It directly addresses the research questions and examines whether the hypotheses were supported
or not.
o This chapter interprets the results in relation to existing literature, discusses their implications, and
may suggest recommendations for practice or further research.
• Introduction:
o The introduction sets the stage by presenting the research problem, objectives, and the rationale
for the study.
o It introduces the research questions and hypotheses, outlining what the study aims to achieve.
• Literature Review:
o The literature review critically examines existing research and theories relevant to the study.
o It helps justify the research questions and hypotheses by providing a theoretical and empirical
foundation.
• Methodology:
o Research Questions: This section specifies how each research question will be addressed through
the research design and data collection methods.
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o Hypotheses Testing: Describes the procedures and statistical analyses used to test each
hypothesis.
o This chapter ensures the study's rigor and reliability in addressing the research questions and
hypotheses.
• Results:
o Research Questions: Presents the findings in response to each research question, often organized
by themes or categories.
o Hypotheses Testing: Reports the statistical outcomes and whether each hypothesis was
supported or rejected based on the data analysis.
• Discussion:
o Research Questions: Interprets the results in relation to the research questions, discussing their
significance and implications.
o Hypotheses Testing: Analyzes the findings concerning each hypothesis, explaining why they were
supported or not and discussing their implications for theory and practice.
• Conclusion:
o Summarizes the main findings, discusses limitations, and suggests avenues for future research based
on the outcomes of addressing the research questions and testing the hypotheses.
Example Application:
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