RESEARCH THEORY 2 – IMM
GRADUATE SCHOOL
K MELVILLE
,Table of Contents
LEARNING OUTCOMES ............................................................................................................................... 7
UNIT 1: RESEARCH AS A DISCIPLINE...................................................................................................... 10
Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................................................. 10
Different Categories of Research .......................................................................................................... 10
Academic Research ............................................................................................................................................... 10
Consulting Research ............................................................................................................................................. 10
Practitioner Research ............................................................................................................................................ 10
Different Research Contexts ..................................................................................................................11
Marketing and Market Research ............................................................................................................................ 11
Business or Management Research ...................................................................................................................... 11
Supply Chain Research ......................................................................................................................................... 11
Research Needs in the Business, Marketing, and Supply Chain Sectors......................................... 12
Factors that Negatively Affect the Value of a Research Study ........................................................... 12
Apply Research Terminology Correctly in Written Texts .................................................................... 13
Articulate the Roles of Specific Stakeholders in a Research Undertaking ....................................... 13
Articulate and Explain the Research Process Steps........................................................................... 15
Challenges in Research: Bias ............................................................................................................... 17
Types of Bias ......................................................................................................................................................... 17
UNIT 2: RESEARCH ETHICS AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY..................................................................... 18
Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................................................. 18
Evaluate the Role of Ethics and how it Influences the Research Process ....................................... 18
The Principles of Research Ethics ......................................................................................................................... 19
Differentiate between Plagiarised and Unplagiarised Text ................................................................. 19
Most Common Forms of Plagiarism....................................................................................................................... 19
Reference a Written Text Correctly using Harvard Referencing Style............................................... 20
Page Numbers for Short Verbatim Quotes ........................................................................................... 21
Page Numbers for Long Verbatim Quotes ........................................................................................... 21
Interesting Versus Monotonous Verbs ................................................................................................. 22
Interpret a Turnitin Report ..................................................................................................................... 22
Articulate how the POPI Act Applies to Research ............................................................................... 22
UNIT 3: FINDING AND EVALUATING RESEARCH INFORMATION AND ARTICLES .............................. 24
Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................................................. 24
Explain the Role of Literature and Other Information Sources in Research Studies ...................... 24
Identify and Locate Different Types of Information Sources .............................................................. 26
ProQuest & Google Scholar .................................................................................................................................. 26
Settings.................................................................................................................................................... 26
Searching ................................................................................................................................................ 26
Inserting Citations .................................................................................................................................. 27
Evaluate Different Types of Information Sources ................................................................................ 27
UNIT 4: SETUP AND FRAME A STUDY ..................................................................................................... 29
Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................................................. 29
Identify a Researchable Topic ............................................................................................................... 29
Perceptions or Actuals ........................................................................................................................... 30
, Finding Research Topics among Other Sources ................................................................................. 30
Articulate the Background and Context for a Study ........................................................................... 31
State a Research Problem for the Study .............................................................................................. 32
Example ................................................................................................................................................................. 32
State the Relevance and Significance of a Study ................................................................................ 34
State Research Questions and/or Research Objectives ..................................................................... 34
Define the Scope of a Study .................................................................................................................. 35
Determine the Nature of the Research Inquiry .................................................................................... 35
Types of Enquiries ................................................................................................................................................. 36
Decide on an Appropriate Time Frame for the Study .......................................................................... 37
UNIT 5: THE LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................................... 38
Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................................................. 38
Where the Literature Review Fits In ...................................................................................................... 38
What a Literature Review Is ................................................................................................................... 38
Purposes of a Literature Review ........................................................................................................... 38
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 40
Literature Reviews (Tips) ....................................................................................................................... 40
What is a Literature Review? ................................................................................................................................. 40
What is ‘Literature’ ................................................................................................................................................. 41
Selecting Appropriate Source Material .................................................................................................................. 41
The Generic Conventions of Literature Reviews ................................................................................................... 41
The 5 C’s of Writing a Literature Review: .............................................................................................................. 42
Writing the Literature Review ................................................................................................................................. 42
The Literature Review Structure ............................................................................................................................ 42
Literature Review Checklist ................................................................................................................................... 43
What a Critical Literature Review Does and Does Not .......................................................................................... 43
UNIT 6: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY – QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
APPROACHES AND ASSUMPTIONS ........................................................................................................ 44
Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................................................. 44
Differentiate between Qualitative and Quantitative Research Principles ......................................... 44
Types of Data .......................................................................................................................................... 47
Categorise and Explain the Different Headings in a Methodology Chapter ..................................... 47
Introduction and Approach .................................................................................................................... 47
Research Design..................................................................................................................................... 47
Population and Sample .......................................................................................................................... 47
The Research Instruments..................................................................................................................... 48
Procedure for Data Collection ............................................................................................................... 48
Data Analysis Method............................................................................................................................. 48
Limitations of the Study (Methodological) ........................................................................................... 49
Validity and Reliability or Qualitative Equivalents............................................................................... 49
Use the Different Types of Questions Appropriately in a Research Context .................................... 50
Types of Questions ................................................................................................................................. 50
Identify an Appropriate Sampling Methodology for a Study .............................................................. 51
Decide whether the Study will Collect Primary or Secondary Data ................................................... 51
Primary Research .................................................................................................................................................. 51
Secondary Research ............................................................................................................................................. 51
, The Advantages of Using Secondary Data in a Study ........................................................................ 52
Secondary Data: Aspects to Consider.................................................................................................. 52
The Quality and Suitability of Secondary Data .................................................................................... 53
External Secondary Data ....................................................................................................................... 54
Syndicated Data .................................................................................................................................................... 54
Pooled Data ........................................................................................................................................................... 54
Government Data .................................................................................................................................................. 54
Other Published Sources of Secondary Data ........................................................................................................ 55
Online Computer Searches.................................................................................................................... 55
Literature Review Research................................................................................................................... 55
UNIT 7: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH – DESIGNS AND DATA COLLECTION ............................................ 56
Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................................................. 56
Summarise the Characteristics of Qualitative Designs ...................................................................... 56
Articulate the Qualitative Research Process ....................................................................................... 57
Identifying Different Types of Qualitative Data for Specific Purposes .............................................. 57
Justify the Selection of Qualitative Sampling Principles and Types ................................................. 58
Recommend and Justify a Qualitative Research Design for a Given Research Objective ............. 58
Case Study Research VS Consulting Research .................................................................................. 58
Apply Qualitative Data Collection Principles and Techniques ........................................................... 59
Interviews: Structured, Semi-Structured and Unstructured ............................................................... 60
Focus Group Discussions ..................................................................................................................... 60
Observations ........................................................................................................................................... 61
Types of Observational Methods ........................................................................................................................... 61
Documentary Sources............................................................................................................................ 62
Ethnographic Studies............................................................................................................................. 62
Web Ethnography ................................................................................................................................... 62
Semiotics ................................................................................................................................................. 63
Design and Critique Three Qualitative Research Instruments ........................................................... 63
UNIT 8: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH – DATA ANALYSIS AND REPORTING ............................................ 64
Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................................................. 64
Analyse Qualitative Data ........................................................................................................................ 64
Present Qualitative Findings ................................................................................................................. 65
Discuss Qualitative Findings in the Context of the Literature ........................................................... 65
Finalise the Qualitative Study Report ................................................................................................... 66
Reporting Back to the Client ................................................................................................................. 66
Oral reports: ........................................................................................................................................................... 66
UNIT 9: QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH – DESIGNS AND DATA COLLECTION ......................................... 68
Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................................................. 68
Quantitative Research Designs ............................................................................................................. 68
Validity and Research Design................................................................................................................ 69
Research Categories .............................................................................................................................. 69
Surveys .................................................................................................................................................... 70
The Responsibilities of the Data Collector........................................................................................... 70
GRADUATE SCHOOL
K MELVILLE
,Table of Contents
LEARNING OUTCOMES ............................................................................................................................... 7
UNIT 1: RESEARCH AS A DISCIPLINE...................................................................................................... 10
Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................................................. 10
Different Categories of Research .......................................................................................................... 10
Academic Research ............................................................................................................................................... 10
Consulting Research ............................................................................................................................................. 10
Practitioner Research ............................................................................................................................................ 10
Different Research Contexts ..................................................................................................................11
Marketing and Market Research ............................................................................................................................ 11
Business or Management Research ...................................................................................................................... 11
Supply Chain Research ......................................................................................................................................... 11
Research Needs in the Business, Marketing, and Supply Chain Sectors......................................... 12
Factors that Negatively Affect the Value of a Research Study ........................................................... 12
Apply Research Terminology Correctly in Written Texts .................................................................... 13
Articulate the Roles of Specific Stakeholders in a Research Undertaking ....................................... 13
Articulate and Explain the Research Process Steps........................................................................... 15
Challenges in Research: Bias ............................................................................................................... 17
Types of Bias ......................................................................................................................................................... 17
UNIT 2: RESEARCH ETHICS AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY..................................................................... 18
Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................................................. 18
Evaluate the Role of Ethics and how it Influences the Research Process ....................................... 18
The Principles of Research Ethics ......................................................................................................................... 19
Differentiate between Plagiarised and Unplagiarised Text ................................................................. 19
Most Common Forms of Plagiarism....................................................................................................................... 19
Reference a Written Text Correctly using Harvard Referencing Style............................................... 20
Page Numbers for Short Verbatim Quotes ........................................................................................... 21
Page Numbers for Long Verbatim Quotes ........................................................................................... 21
Interesting Versus Monotonous Verbs ................................................................................................. 22
Interpret a Turnitin Report ..................................................................................................................... 22
Articulate how the POPI Act Applies to Research ............................................................................... 22
UNIT 3: FINDING AND EVALUATING RESEARCH INFORMATION AND ARTICLES .............................. 24
Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................................................. 24
Explain the Role of Literature and Other Information Sources in Research Studies ...................... 24
Identify and Locate Different Types of Information Sources .............................................................. 26
ProQuest & Google Scholar .................................................................................................................................. 26
Settings.................................................................................................................................................... 26
Searching ................................................................................................................................................ 26
Inserting Citations .................................................................................................................................. 27
Evaluate Different Types of Information Sources ................................................................................ 27
UNIT 4: SETUP AND FRAME A STUDY ..................................................................................................... 29
Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................................................. 29
Identify a Researchable Topic ............................................................................................................... 29
Perceptions or Actuals ........................................................................................................................... 30
, Finding Research Topics among Other Sources ................................................................................. 30
Articulate the Background and Context for a Study ........................................................................... 31
State a Research Problem for the Study .............................................................................................. 32
Example ................................................................................................................................................................. 32
State the Relevance and Significance of a Study ................................................................................ 34
State Research Questions and/or Research Objectives ..................................................................... 34
Define the Scope of a Study .................................................................................................................. 35
Determine the Nature of the Research Inquiry .................................................................................... 35
Types of Enquiries ................................................................................................................................................. 36
Decide on an Appropriate Time Frame for the Study .......................................................................... 37
UNIT 5: THE LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................................... 38
Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................................................. 38
Where the Literature Review Fits In ...................................................................................................... 38
What a Literature Review Is ................................................................................................................... 38
Purposes of a Literature Review ........................................................................................................... 38
Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 40
Literature Reviews (Tips) ....................................................................................................................... 40
What is a Literature Review? ................................................................................................................................. 40
What is ‘Literature’ ................................................................................................................................................. 41
Selecting Appropriate Source Material .................................................................................................................. 41
The Generic Conventions of Literature Reviews ................................................................................................... 41
The 5 C’s of Writing a Literature Review: .............................................................................................................. 42
Writing the Literature Review ................................................................................................................................. 42
The Literature Review Structure ............................................................................................................................ 42
Literature Review Checklist ................................................................................................................................... 43
What a Critical Literature Review Does and Does Not .......................................................................................... 43
UNIT 6: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY – QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
APPROACHES AND ASSUMPTIONS ........................................................................................................ 44
Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................................................. 44
Differentiate between Qualitative and Quantitative Research Principles ......................................... 44
Types of Data .......................................................................................................................................... 47
Categorise and Explain the Different Headings in a Methodology Chapter ..................................... 47
Introduction and Approach .................................................................................................................... 47
Research Design..................................................................................................................................... 47
Population and Sample .......................................................................................................................... 47
The Research Instruments..................................................................................................................... 48
Procedure for Data Collection ............................................................................................................... 48
Data Analysis Method............................................................................................................................. 48
Limitations of the Study (Methodological) ........................................................................................... 49
Validity and Reliability or Qualitative Equivalents............................................................................... 49
Use the Different Types of Questions Appropriately in a Research Context .................................... 50
Types of Questions ................................................................................................................................. 50
Identify an Appropriate Sampling Methodology for a Study .............................................................. 51
Decide whether the Study will Collect Primary or Secondary Data ................................................... 51
Primary Research .................................................................................................................................................. 51
Secondary Research ............................................................................................................................................. 51
, The Advantages of Using Secondary Data in a Study ........................................................................ 52
Secondary Data: Aspects to Consider.................................................................................................. 52
The Quality and Suitability of Secondary Data .................................................................................... 53
External Secondary Data ....................................................................................................................... 54
Syndicated Data .................................................................................................................................................... 54
Pooled Data ........................................................................................................................................................... 54
Government Data .................................................................................................................................................. 54
Other Published Sources of Secondary Data ........................................................................................................ 55
Online Computer Searches.................................................................................................................... 55
Literature Review Research................................................................................................................... 55
UNIT 7: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH – DESIGNS AND DATA COLLECTION ............................................ 56
Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................................................. 56
Summarise the Characteristics of Qualitative Designs ...................................................................... 56
Articulate the Qualitative Research Process ....................................................................................... 57
Identifying Different Types of Qualitative Data for Specific Purposes .............................................. 57
Justify the Selection of Qualitative Sampling Principles and Types ................................................. 58
Recommend and Justify a Qualitative Research Design for a Given Research Objective ............. 58
Case Study Research VS Consulting Research .................................................................................. 58
Apply Qualitative Data Collection Principles and Techniques ........................................................... 59
Interviews: Structured, Semi-Structured and Unstructured ............................................................... 60
Focus Group Discussions ..................................................................................................................... 60
Observations ........................................................................................................................................... 61
Types of Observational Methods ........................................................................................................................... 61
Documentary Sources............................................................................................................................ 62
Ethnographic Studies............................................................................................................................. 62
Web Ethnography ................................................................................................................................... 62
Semiotics ................................................................................................................................................. 63
Design and Critique Three Qualitative Research Instruments ........................................................... 63
UNIT 8: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH – DATA ANALYSIS AND REPORTING ............................................ 64
Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................................................. 64
Analyse Qualitative Data ........................................................................................................................ 64
Present Qualitative Findings ................................................................................................................. 65
Discuss Qualitative Findings in the Context of the Literature ........................................................... 65
Finalise the Qualitative Study Report ................................................................................................... 66
Reporting Back to the Client ................................................................................................................. 66
Oral reports: ........................................................................................................................................................... 66
UNIT 9: QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH – DESIGNS AND DATA COLLECTION ......................................... 68
Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................................................. 68
Quantitative Research Designs ............................................................................................................. 68
Validity and Research Design................................................................................................................ 69
Research Categories .............................................................................................................................. 69
Surveys .................................................................................................................................................... 70
The Responsibilities of the Data Collector........................................................................................... 70
