Transcript An Introduction to Research

Getting Started: Research
and Literature Reviews
An Introduction
Objectives
 To explain the concept of research
 To outline the main differences between
primary and secondary sources of data
 To identify some of the secondary sources
that you may find useful
 To describe how to carry out a literature
review
 To warn against the moral dangers of
plagiarism
Research Defined
Systematic
investigation into a
problem or situation,
where the intention
is to identify facts
and/or opinions that
will assist in solving
the problem or
dealing with the
situation
Research and Project
 ALL projects require students to carry
out research
 Development projects – desk research
on development methods, tools,
hardware, software, trends in the
business environment that may affect
the development
 Research projects – desk research
(literature review) but also field work to
gather data first hand
The Hallmarks of Good Research
Serves a purpose and is relevant
Clearly focussed and scoped
Scientific (depends on context)
Uses appropriate techniques & methods of data
collection
 Findings are presented as objectively as
possible
 Conclusions are based on the findings
 Sources of information and ideas are clearly
attributed




Research and Data Collection
 Research and data collection are not
synonymous. Data collection is:
 Part of the research PROCESS
 Provides answers to some of the
questions addressed by the research
TOPIC
 Helps us to draw conclusions about the
research QUESTION(S) we have
investigated
Primary and Secondary Data
Sources
 Primary
Questionnaires
Interviews
Observation
Participant
observation
 Informal
conversations
 Structured group
discussions




 Secondary
Textbooks
Specialist books
Journal papers
Conference papers
Magazine articles
Government &
industry reports
 Web pages
 Acts of Parliament
 Company reports






Literature Reviews
 Find out what is known
about the subject
 Find out whether the
research has been
done before
 Build a case for
carrying out research
 Show your expertise in
the subject
Literature Reviews: Field Work
Projects






Read a chapter of a well known textbook
Note references
Formulate some questions
Use questions to direct further reading
Jot down answers to questions
Use answers to build an argument
Literature Reviews: Development
Projects
 Read general textbook to identify key
concepts, authorities
 Carry out an author/subject search
 Read a number of books, papers and
synthesise key points
 Write up what you have found out
and explain how it relates to YOUR
project
Research Methods: Field Work
Projects




Surveys
Case Studies
Action Research
Scientific Experiments
Surveys
 A means of data
collection, usually in
the form of a
questionnaire or
interview schedule,
that enables a large
amount of data to be
gathered about a
particular subject
When to Use Surveys
 To explore a topic about which
relatively little is known
 To replicate/test/extend findings of a
piece of research
 To collect large amounts of data so
that statistical analysis can be carried
out
 To make generalisations based on
quantifiable findings
Case Studies (1)
“A strategy for doing research which
involves an empirical investigation of a
particular contemporary phenomenon
within its real life context using multiple
sources of evidence”
(Robson, 1993, p.52)
Case Study (2)
 A case study can be conducted
at any level of analysis
 An individual
 Pairs, groups
 Sections, departments, divisions within a
company
 An entire company or several companies in the
same or different sectors
 Different industrial sectors
 Entire nations
Case Studies (3)
 Use multiple methods of data
collection





Observation
Questionnaires
Interviews
Document Analysis
Diary Method
Action Research
A research method
that involves
researcher(s) and
practitioner(s)
collaborating to
engender a
change/improve a
particular situation
Plagiarism – Just Don’t Do IT!
 Plagiarism involves:
 Intentionally copying someone else’s
ideas or words and not attributing them
 Colluding with other students on work
when prohibited from doing so
 Cutting and pasting text from the
Internet and passing it off as your own
 Purchasing someone else’s work and
describing it as your own