Research Skills – Qualitative research – summary:
LECTURE PART A (KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS FOR ALL MSc THESES)
Lecture 1 – good research topic for thesis, writing research proposal
If you start from theory, you do deductive research. A hypothesis is derived from existing theory and
the empirical world is then explored, and data are collected, in order to test the hypothesis.
Commonly associated with quantitative research. Focus of quantitative research is testing
hypotheses by statistically analysing datasets (method: regression analysis, Stata).
Data collection methods: survey, existing datasets, annual reports
If you start from practice, you do theory supported inductive research. We will study a phenomenon
in the real world, generate solutions, insights and if possible theory emerging from the data.
Commonly associated with qualitative research. Focus of qualitative research is solving a specific
real-life problem in an organisation (case study).
Data collection methods: observations and interviews, additional: company data (quantitative).
What is a good research topic? – you are happy about it, research objectives are clear, it fits with
standards UvT, research questions are clear, it is relevant, relevant literature available, leads to fresh
insights, resources are available (data, time, …), whatever the outcome project is useful.
Organization-based project: often problem description provided not very well defined and very
broad. Then you first have to find out what the organization actually wants and why they want this
and second you have to transform this into a good research project.
LECTURE PART A (KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS FOR ALL MSc THESES)
Lecture 1 – good research topic for thesis, writing research proposal
If you start from theory, you do deductive research. A hypothesis is derived from existing theory and
the empirical world is then explored, and data are collected, in order to test the hypothesis.
Commonly associated with quantitative research. Focus of quantitative research is testing
hypotheses by statistically analysing datasets (method: regression analysis, Stata).
Data collection methods: survey, existing datasets, annual reports
If you start from practice, you do theory supported inductive research. We will study a phenomenon
in the real world, generate solutions, insights and if possible theory emerging from the data.
Commonly associated with qualitative research. Focus of qualitative research is solving a specific
real-life problem in an organisation (case study).
Data collection methods: observations and interviews, additional: company data (quantitative).
What is a good research topic? – you are happy about it, research objectives are clear, it fits with
standards UvT, research questions are clear, it is relevant, relevant literature available, leads to fresh
insights, resources are available (data, time, …), whatever the outcome project is useful.
Organization-based project: often problem description provided not very well defined and very
broad. Then you first have to find out what the organization actually wants and why they want this
and second you have to transform this into a good research project.
