The Research Process

. Observation
Broad area of
research interest
identified
Data
Problem Theoretical Collection,
Definition Framework Generation Scientific analysis,
Research Variables
of Research and
Problem clearly Design Interpretation
delineated identified Hypotheses
and labeled

Preliminary Deduction
Data Gathering Hypotheses
substantiated?
Interviewing
Research
Literature
question
Review
answered?
 The Research Proposal

• A written plan for conducting a research

study
• Outlines the problem
• Motivates the need for research
• Outlines methods to be used to carry out
the research
 The Research Proposal
• Spells out in detail what the researcher
intends to do
• Permits others to learn about the
intended research and to offer
suggestions for improving the study
• Helps clarify what needs to be done and
helps avoid pitfalls or unnecessary
problems
 The Research Proposal
I. Background of the Study
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Research questions
Objectives of the Study
Significance of the Study
Scope and Delimitations of the Study
II. Review of Related Literature
III. Theoretical Framework
Conceptual Framework
Operational Framework
Hypotheses
Operational Definition
IV. Methodology
Research Design
Data Collection
Respondents
Sampling procedures
Research instrument
Methods of Data Analysis
 Topic Identification

• Read a lot of literature in your field of

concentration and be critical of what you
read
• Attend professional lectures
• Be observant of situations and
happenings around you
• Think out the possibility of research for
lessons taken in content courses
 Topic Identification
• Conduct mini-researches and note the
obtained findings closely
• Compile research with special emphasis
on content and methodology
• Visit various libraries for possible
discovery of researchable topics
 Topic Identification
• Subscribe to journals in your field and in
research
• Build up a library of materials in your field.
Materials could be concept-centric or
author-centric
• Sources include journals, books,
conference and organizations
 Topic Selection
• Research is an original investigation
undertaken to gain knowledge and
understanding
• Choose a phenomena which you wish to
explain or predict
• Topic is of great interest to you.
 Topic Selection
• Topic is useful for the concerned people in
a particular field
• Topic is novel
 Topic Selection

• It is manageable in terms of expertise,

skilled manpower, money and time
• Data is available
• It can be completed in the allotted time
desired
 Topic Selection
• It is well defined or specified
• It is measurable
 Topic Selection
• It does not carry ethical or moral
impediments
 Researchable Problems

• Addressing a gap in knowledge

• Testing the effectiveness of possible
solutions
• Looking for possible and plausible
explanations
Problem Definition could pertain
to…
• Existing business problems
• Areas for improvement
• Areas for conceptual clarification
• Empirical support to theories
A PROBLEM is an undesirable
factor that must be dealt with
if the desired organizational results
are to be achieved
 Problem Justification
• Timeliness
• Pervasiveness
• Effect on particular groups
• Relationship with ongoing programs
• Relationship with broad social, economic
and health issues
• A concern for other people as well
• Has direct, indirect, short-term and long-range
impact on the welfare of a group of people or the
society as a whole
Research Problem and Objectives
• Problems are the initiating reason for the
research
• Objectives are the intent or goals which
the researcher will attain through the study
• Logically connected
• Objectives are based or anchored on the
problem
 OBJECTIVES

• Statements of purpose for which the

investigation is to be conducted

•Stipulate the aims or goals which are

expected at the end of the research
Process

•Evidence of the researcher’s clear

Sense of purpose and direction
 Research Question – Research
Objective
Research Question Research Objective
1. Why have organizations 1. To identify organisations’
introduced team briefing? objectives for team briefing
schemes
2. To establish suitable
2. How can the effectiveness effectiveness criteria for
of team briefing schemes team briefing schemes
be measured?
3. Has team briefing been 3. To describe the extent to
effective? which the effectiveness
criteria for team briefing
have been met
CATEGORIES OF OBJECTIVES

• GENERAL : broad statement of

purpose which uses abstract and
non-measurable concepts
- usually a rephrase of the research
title
CATEGORIES OF OBJECTIVES
EXAMPLE
• SPECIFIC : is a statement of purpose
which uses well-defined and
measurable concepts
- based on and logically flow from
the general objective
 Illustrative Example
• General: To determine the relationship of accounting
conservatism and quality of earnings with regard to the
food, beverage and tobacco sector for the five-year
period of 1998 to 2002
• Specific:
1. To analyze the extent to which the principle of
conservatism is applied in the food, beverage and
tobacco sector
2. To determine how accounting conservatism affects
quality of earnings for each firm in the food, beverage
and tobacco sector
GOOD RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
EXAMPLE
• Simple ( language)/ Specific : What
precisely do you hope to achieve?
• Measurable (concepts): What
measures will you use to determine
whether you have achieved the
objectives?
• Attainable: Are they achievable
given all possible constraints?
• Result-oriented/ Realistic : Will you
have time and energy to complete it?
• Time-bound
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
• Value of the study to individuals,
groups and sectors
INDIVIDUAL: researchers, students, employees,
managers, entrepreneurs
ORGANIZATION: firms, industry, associations,
schools, funding agencies
OTHERS: government, communities, consumers,
suppliers, investors
• Contributions of the study
 Areas of Possible Contribution
• Contribution to accumulation of knowledge, or to
filling up a knowledge gap; contribution to
building, validating or refining prevailing theories
• Contribution to a pressing need of a specific
group like solving problems or improving certain
conditions
• Contribution to refining concepts, improving
research instrumentation and methodologies
 Scope and Limitation
• SCOPE defines the coverage or boundary
of the study in terms of :
(a) area or locality
(b) population or sample
(c) duration or period
(d) subjects
• LIMITATION is a phase or aspect of the
investigation which may affect the result
adversely but over which the researcher has
no control
Study coverage with concrete reference to:
•Variables
•Sources of data
•Methods to be employed in data collection and
analysis
•Time frame
•Constraints such as non-availability of data,
confidentiality of some relevant information,
uncooperativeness or respondents, inability of
respondents to recall accurate responses
 Literature

Collection of books and papers

that deal with the same issues
and that respond to each other in
the developing debates about a
topic
 Literature Review
• A review can involve a narrative or description
of an article or other piece of work
• A critical review poses questions such as:
- What is the purpose of the study?
- What is the focus of the study?
- What types of data were collected?
- How were the data managed?
- What analytical approach is used?
 A Critical Review should also
include:
• An assessment of the strengths and
weaknesses of some of the theories
• A clear understanding of the topic
• A citing of all the key studies in the subject
territory
• A clear indication of how the review links
to your research questions
 A Critical Review should also
include:
• A definition of the boundaries of your
research
• A selection and synthesis of existing
arguments to form a new perspective
• Through gradual refinement, a clear
demarcation of the research problem
 Literature Review

• Identify the key works and materials in the

literature
• One should be aware of the breadth of
literature related to your topic or research
questions
 Literature Review

• Requires the skill of condensing large

volumes of literature so that the essential
views or arguments they contain can be
presented in a few words
Literature Review

Schools of Thought

Compare & Contrast

Evaluate strengths
and
weaknesses
 Literature Review

• Removes the need to rediscover

knowledge that has already been reported
-assesses the existing knowledge in the
field and point out which areas dominate
the discussion to date
 Literature Review

• Helps one to build upon the work that has

already been done in the field being
researched
- reveals blank spots in the existing
research, thus offering a platform and
directions for future research