Investigative abilities
Chapter 1
1.1
Methodology refers to the theory of how research should be taken.
There are different methods to obtain and analyse data, like: questionnaires, observation and
interviews. Quantitative (statistical) 🡨🡪 Qualitative (non-statistical) analysis techniques.
1.2
Research is a process that is undertaken in a systematic way with a clear purpose, to find things out.
Systematic way 🡪 research is based on logical relationships and not just beliefs, your research will
involve an explanation of the method/methods used to collect data, will argue why the results
obtained are meaningful and will explain any limitations that are associated with them.
To find things out 🡪 there are a multiplicity of possible purposes for your research.
Purposes 🡪 describing, explaining, understanding, criticising and analyzing.
1.3
Business and management research need to engage with both the world of theory and the world of
practice. This means that managers are unlikely to allow research access unless they can see the
utility for their organisations or themselves.
Theoretical rigour refers to the clarity and thoroughness (grondigheid) with which the research as
reported is grounded in existing explanations of how things work.
Methodological rigour refers to the strength and quality of the research method used in terms of the
planning, data collection, data analysis, and subsequent reporting; and therefore the confidence that
can be placed in the conclusions drawn.
Basic research 🡨🡪 Applied research Blz 10
1.4
When doing research on needs to go through several stages, usually involving: formulating and
clarifying the research topic, reviewing the literature, designing the research, collecting the data,
analysing the data and finally the writing. However, it is not always necessary to pass through these
stages one at a time. More frequently the stages in a research process will cross-refer to other
stages, meaning that there is no linear line in the research process. Therefore it’s important to have a
strong research topic and to revise ideas many times. See figure 1.2 in the book on page 12.
Chapter 2
2.1
Research involves obtaining (verkrijgen), analyzing and interpreting data.
2.2
Appropriateness = geschiktheid
Capability = geschiktheid
Fulfilment = vervulling
Before generating ideas for a research topic it is always useful to address the assessment criteria. The
topic of research should be something that really excites the researcher and it should lie within his
capabilities (mogelijkheden). These capabilities depend on constraints (beperkingen) on time and
financial resources, possession (bezit) of the necessary skills and access to the relevant
, data. Moreover, it is useful for a researcher to have knowledge of the literature associated with the
topic and to be able to provide bright insights.
It is important to have a symmetry of potential outcomes, which means that the result will have to
be of similar value whatever you find out. If this is not the case there is a chance you find an answer
of little importance. Also consider your career goals, consider how this research could be useful in
your future career.
2.3
There are many different techniques that can be used to generate research ideas. They can
be divided into those techniques that involve rational thinking…:
● Examine own strengths and interests, choose a topic in which you are likely to do well
● Explore your university staff research interests
● Analyse past project titles of your university such as dissertations (projects from
undergraduates) and theses (projects made by postgraduates)
● Discuss with colleagues, friends or university tutors
● Search through literature and media (articles in journals, books, reports). Review articles in
particular, since they contain a lot of information about a specific topic and can therefore
provide you with many ideas
…and those that are more based on creative thinking:
● Noting ideas down in a notebook
● Exploring preferences using past projects (see page 28 to know how)
● Brainstorming
● Exploring relevance of an idea to business using the literature, articles may be based on
abstract ideas (conceptual thinking) or on empirical studies (collected and analysed data)
Most often it is a combination of these two ways of thinking that leads to a good research idea.
Refining Ideas
There exist different techniques for refining research techniques, one of which is the Delphi
technique. This approach requires a group of people who are involved with or share the same
interest in the research idea to generate and pick a more specific research idea. Another way to
refine a research idea is to is to turn it into a research question before turning it into a research
project. This is called preliminary inquiry.
Integrating Ideas
The integration of the ideas from the techniques is an important part of a research project. This
process includes ‘working up and narrowing down’, which means that each research idea needs to be
classified into its area, its field, and ultimately the precise aspect into which one is interested.
2.4
Writing research questions
It is very important to define a clear research question at the beginning of the research
process. A research question may be:
● Descriptive – question usually starts with ‘When’, ‘What’, ‘Who’, ‘Where’, or ‘How’
● Evaluative (schatting) – question may start with ‘How effective…’ or ‘To what extent….’
● Explanatory (verklarend) – question mainly starts with ‘Why’ or has this word in it
Chapter 1
1.1
Methodology refers to the theory of how research should be taken.
There are different methods to obtain and analyse data, like: questionnaires, observation and
interviews. Quantitative (statistical) 🡨🡪 Qualitative (non-statistical) analysis techniques.
1.2
Research is a process that is undertaken in a systematic way with a clear purpose, to find things out.
Systematic way 🡪 research is based on logical relationships and not just beliefs, your research will
involve an explanation of the method/methods used to collect data, will argue why the results
obtained are meaningful and will explain any limitations that are associated with them.
To find things out 🡪 there are a multiplicity of possible purposes for your research.
Purposes 🡪 describing, explaining, understanding, criticising and analyzing.
1.3
Business and management research need to engage with both the world of theory and the world of
practice. This means that managers are unlikely to allow research access unless they can see the
utility for their organisations or themselves.
Theoretical rigour refers to the clarity and thoroughness (grondigheid) with which the research as
reported is grounded in existing explanations of how things work.
Methodological rigour refers to the strength and quality of the research method used in terms of the
planning, data collection, data analysis, and subsequent reporting; and therefore the confidence that
can be placed in the conclusions drawn.
Basic research 🡨🡪 Applied research Blz 10
1.4
When doing research on needs to go through several stages, usually involving: formulating and
clarifying the research topic, reviewing the literature, designing the research, collecting the data,
analysing the data and finally the writing. However, it is not always necessary to pass through these
stages one at a time. More frequently the stages in a research process will cross-refer to other
stages, meaning that there is no linear line in the research process. Therefore it’s important to have a
strong research topic and to revise ideas many times. See figure 1.2 in the book on page 12.
Chapter 2
2.1
Research involves obtaining (verkrijgen), analyzing and interpreting data.
2.2
Appropriateness = geschiktheid
Capability = geschiktheid
Fulfilment = vervulling
Before generating ideas for a research topic it is always useful to address the assessment criteria. The
topic of research should be something that really excites the researcher and it should lie within his
capabilities (mogelijkheden). These capabilities depend on constraints (beperkingen) on time and
financial resources, possession (bezit) of the necessary skills and access to the relevant
, data. Moreover, it is useful for a researcher to have knowledge of the literature associated with the
topic and to be able to provide bright insights.
It is important to have a symmetry of potential outcomes, which means that the result will have to
be of similar value whatever you find out. If this is not the case there is a chance you find an answer
of little importance. Also consider your career goals, consider how this research could be useful in
your future career.
2.3
There are many different techniques that can be used to generate research ideas. They can
be divided into those techniques that involve rational thinking…:
● Examine own strengths and interests, choose a topic in which you are likely to do well
● Explore your university staff research interests
● Analyse past project titles of your university such as dissertations (projects from
undergraduates) and theses (projects made by postgraduates)
● Discuss with colleagues, friends or university tutors
● Search through literature and media (articles in journals, books, reports). Review articles in
particular, since they contain a lot of information about a specific topic and can therefore
provide you with many ideas
…and those that are more based on creative thinking:
● Noting ideas down in a notebook
● Exploring preferences using past projects (see page 28 to know how)
● Brainstorming
● Exploring relevance of an idea to business using the literature, articles may be based on
abstract ideas (conceptual thinking) or on empirical studies (collected and analysed data)
Most often it is a combination of these two ways of thinking that leads to a good research idea.
Refining Ideas
There exist different techniques for refining research techniques, one of which is the Delphi
technique. This approach requires a group of people who are involved with or share the same
interest in the research idea to generate and pick a more specific research idea. Another way to
refine a research idea is to is to turn it into a research question before turning it into a research
project. This is called preliminary inquiry.
Integrating Ideas
The integration of the ideas from the techniques is an important part of a research project. This
process includes ‘working up and narrowing down’, which means that each research idea needs to be
classified into its area, its field, and ultimately the precise aspect into which one is interested.
2.4
Writing research questions
It is very important to define a clear research question at the beginning of the research
process. A research question may be:
● Descriptive – question usually starts with ‘When’, ‘What’, ‘Who’, ‘Where’, or ‘How’
● Evaluative (schatting) – question may start with ‘How effective…’ or ‘To what extent….’
● Explanatory (verklarend) – question mainly starts with ‘Why’ or has this word in it
