Notes lecture videos Research Skills Pre-Msc (EBS026A05)

Notes Research Skills



Inhoud
Week 1................................................................................................................... 2
Video C: research process/writing a research paper............................................2
Video D: research question................................................................................. 4
Week 2................................................................................................................... 7
Clip A: searching and finding prior literature.......................................................7
Clip B: using literature......................................................................................... 9
2C: The literature review - what, why how........................................................10
2D: Theoretical framework and hypotheses......................................................12
Theoretical Framework................................................................................... 12
Formulating hypotheses................................................................................. 13
Week 3................................................................................................................. 14
Clip A: What makes a conceptual model good?.................................................14
Clip B: Mindmaps............................................................................................... 15
Clip C: Generating good conceptual models......................................................16
Clip D: The Toulmin Model................................................................................. 16
Clip E: Using Theory.......................................................................................... 17
Clip F: Literature review: do’s and don’ts..........................................................18
Week 4................................................................................................................. 20
Clip 4A: Choosing a research design/intro to qualitative research.....................20
Clip 4B: Introduction to quantitative research...................................................21
Clip 4C: Operationalization and other concerns................................................21
Clips surveys..................................................................................................... 22
S1A: Implementing a survey..........................................................................22
S1B: Validity................................................................................................... 22
S1C: Issues..................................................................................................... 23
E1A: Experimental designs part 1..................................................................24
E1B: Experimental designs part 2..................................................................25
E1C: Experimental designs part 3..................................................................28
Week 5................................................................................................................. 29
Clip 5A: Regression in four key ideas.................................................................29
Clip 5B: Dealing with uncertainty......................................................................32
Clip 5C: Moderation........................................................................................... 34

,Week 1

Video C: research process/writing a research paper

Main characteristics of reserach
- creative
- systematic
- novel
- (largely) uncertain
- replicable
Understanding of a topic/issue involves the collection, organization and analysis
of information.

Scientific (Acadamic) Research according to John Creswell
1. pose a question
2. collect data to answer the question
3. present an answer to the question




Forms
- Exploratory research helps to identify and define question or problem.
- Constructive research tests theories and proposes solutions to a
question or problem.
- Empirical research tests the feasibility of a solution using empirical
evidence.
o Qualitative research examines social phenomena from an
individual’s perspective, usually involving participant interviews and
observations.

, o Quantitative research examines facts and trends in measurable
ways, involving statistical analyses such as surveys or assessments.

Structure: overall organization
The hourglass model

The introduction session
1. Motivation and general description regarding the subject
2. Problem outline (why relevant, what don’t we know, what do we want to
know)
3. Formulate research question

The body section
1. Theoretical framework/literature review
2. Data and methodology
3. Results
Identifying a gap in the current literature can lead to a research question which
may be parallel to the hypothesis.

Essential to have logical arrangements and structural markers
Logical arrangements
- Thematic organization, according to main topic’s themes or subthemes.
- Chronological organization, when there is a clear passage of time.
- Method-based organization, for describing methods or procedures.

Ex.: What policy measures can increase a financial center’s attractiveness?
- History of the emergence of financial centers (chronological)
- Policies for making financial centers more attractive (method-based)
1. Step 1:
2. Step 2:
3. Step 3:
4. Etc.
- Theories on the development of financial centers (thematic)
1. Theory 1:
2. Theory 2:
3. Theory 3:
4. Etc.




Structural markers

, - Give a brief outline of the information to be presented so readers can
grasp



Video D: research question
Content: Research Question
• What it is
• How to formulate
• What is a good/strong research question
• Some examples
• Finalizing the research question
• Embedding the Research Question
• Research Question to Problem Statement

Good research questions are
- Relevant
1. Market and societal relevance (practical)
 In case someone does something differently
 Target different groups, different strategies
 Ex.: Why do we want to know how culture affects consumer
spending?
 Because it allows us to formulate more specific
recommendations based on cultural backgrounds of
managers
 Because managers work in multi-cultural teams
2. Academic/theoretical relevance
 Improve understanding of phenomena
 Identify key literature linked to the research question
 What are key concepts to the research question?
 What are key papers/theories related to the research
question?
3. Ex.: Why do we want to know how culture affects consumer
spending?
 Practical
 Because it allows us to formulate more specific
recommendations based on cultural backgrounds of
managers
 Because managers work in multi-cultural teams
 Theoretical
 Because we know little about X while theory suggest
that …
 Because there are conflicting evidence from prior
research

- Determined/precise
- Meaningful: pose a problem
- Testable: should shape the problem into a testable hypothesis
- Feasible
- Exist in the context of the scientific literature