BUSINESS RESEARCH

METHODS
Formulating and clarifying the research
topic
Lecture#2
 Learning outcomes
• By the end of this chapter you should be able to:
• Generate ideas that will help in the choice of a
suitable research topic;
• Identify the attributes of a good research topic;
• Turn research ideas into a research project that has
clear research question (s) and objectives;
• Draft a research proposal
 Formulating and clarifying your
research topic
The important steps

• Identifying the attributes of a good research topic

• Generating ideas that help you select a suitable

topic

• Turning ideas into clear research questions and

objectives

• Writing your research proposal

 Attributes of a good research topic (1)
Capability: is it feasible?

• Are you fascinated by the topic?

• Do you have the necessary research skills?

• Can you complete the project in the time available?

• Will the research still be current when you finish?

• Do you have sufficient financial and other resources?

• Will you be able to gain access to data?

 PROBLEM STATEMENT
• CAPABILITY ------- IS IT FEASIBLE
• APPROPRIATENESS---- IS IT
WORTHWHILE
• General benefit
• It should according the institute / allocated
organization standards
• Future Career helpout
 Attributes of a good research topic (2)

Appropriateness: is it worthwhile?

• Will the examining institute's standards be met?

• Does the the topic contain issues with clear links to
theory?
• Are the research questions and objectives clearly
stated?
• Will the proposed research provide fresh insights into
the topic?
• Are the findings likely to be symmetrical?
• Does the research topic match your career goals?
Attributes of a good research topic (3)

And - (if relevant)

Does the topic relate clearly to an idea

you were given -

possibly by your organisation ?

 Generating research ideas

Useful Techniques
 Rational thinking
• Examining your own strengths and interests
• Looking at past project titles
• Discussion
• Searching the literature
• Scanning the media

 Creative thinking
• Keeping a notebook of ideas
• Exploring personal preferences using past projects
• Relevance trees
• Brainstorming
Rational thinking and creative
thinking
• These techniques will generate possible
project one of two outcomes:
• One or more possible project ideas that you
might undertake;
• Absolute panic because nothing in which
you are interested or which seems suitable
has come to mind.
 RATIONAL THINKING
1.Examining Own Strengths And Interests

• Having some academic knowledge

• Look at those assignments for which you have
received good grade.
• You may, as part of your reading, be able to
focus more precisely on the sort of ideas about
which you wish to conduct your research
• There is a need to think about your future
 RATIONAL THINKING
2. Looking At Past Project Title
• Dissertations;
• Thesis.
Scan your university’s list of past project titles for
anything that captures your imagination
• Scanning actual research projects.
You need to beware. The fact that a project is in your
library is no guarantee of the quality of the
arguments and observations it contains.
 RATIONAL THINKING
3.Discussion

• Colleagues, friends, university tutors,

practitioner and professional groups
 RATIONAL THINKING
4. Searching The Literature

• As part of your discussions, relevant literature

may also be suggested. Sharp et al, (2002) discuss
types of literature that are of particular use for
generating research ideas. These include:
• Article in academic and professional journals;
• Reports;
• Books.
 RATIONAL THINKING
5. Scanning The Media

• Keeping up to date with items in the news

can be a very rich source of ideas
 CREATIVE THINKING
1.Keeping A Notebook Of Ideas

• One of the more creative techniques that we

all use is to keep a notebook of ideas. All
this involves is simply noting down any
interesting research ideas as you think of
them and, of equal importance, what
sparked off your thought. You can then
pursue the idea using more rational thinking
technique later.
 CREATIVE THINKING
2.Exploring Personal Preferences Using Past
Project
1. Select six projects that you like
2. For each of these six projects, note down your first
thoughts in response to three questions(if responses for
different projects are the same this does not matter);
What appeals to you about the project?
What is good about the project?
Why is the project good?
 CREATIVE THINKING
2.Exploring Personal Preferences Using Past
Project (Cont…)
3. Select three projects you do not like.
4. For each of these three projects that you do
not like.
What do you dislike about the project?
What is bad about the project?
Why is the project bad?
 CREATIVE THINKING
3.Relevance Tree

• You start with a broad concept from which you

generate further (usually more specific) topics.
Each of these topics forms a separate branch from
which you can generate further, more detailed sub
branches. As you proceed down the sub branches
more ideas are generated and recorded. These can
then be examined and a number selected and
combined to provide a research idea
 CREATIVE THINKING
4.Brainstorming
• Define your problem – that is, the sorts of ideas you are
interested in – as precisely as possible.
• Ask for suggestions, relating to the problem
• Record all suggestions, observing the following rules:
No suggestion should be criticized or evaluated in any way before
all ideas have been considered;
All suggestions, however wild, should be recorded and
considered
As many suggestions as possible should be recorded.
• Review all the suggestions and explore what is meant by each.
• Analyze the list of suggestions and decide which appeal to you
most as research ideas why.
 REFINING RESEARCH IDEAS

 Using the Delphi Technique

 Conducting a preliminary study

 Integrating ideas

 Refining topics given to you by your organisation

 REFINING RESEARCH IDEAS
1.The Delphi Technique
• This involves using a group of people who are either involved or
interested in the research idea to generate and choose a more
specific research idea. To use this technique you need:

1. To brief the members of the group about the research idea.

2. At the end of the briefing to encourage group members to seek

clarification and more information as appropriate.

3. To ask each member of the group including the originator of the

research idea based on the idea generate independently three
specific research ideas, that has been described (justification)
 REFINING RESEARCH IDEAS
1.The Delphi Technique (Cont….)
4. To collect the research ideas in unedited and non-attributable
form and to distribute them to all members of the group.

5. A second cycle of the process (steps 2 to 4)in which comment

on the research ideas and revise their own contributions in the
light of what others have said.

6. Subsequence cycles of the process until a consensus is

reached . These either follow a similar pattern (steps 2 to 4)in
or use discussion. Voting or some other method.
 REFINING RESEARCH IDEAS
2. Conducting Preliminary Study

• Verifying research idea by reviewing

relevant literature and discussing ideas with
more colleagues, friends and tutors.
• Outcome showed research idea is now
feasible or not.
 REFINING RESEARCH IDEAS
3. Integrating Ideas

• Integration of ideas ensure clarity in

direction and states ideas not contain any
mismatch between objectives and final
project report.
• In this stage researchers classify each
research idea in to its area then its field and
finally the precise aspect in which
researcher interested.
 REFINING RESEARCH IDEAS
4. Refining Topics Given To You By
Your Organisation
• Part students select course research topic on
the problem assigned by the manager of the
organization.
• Beneficial for personal and organizational
working.
 Problem Statement
• The problem statement introduces the key
problem that is addressed in the research
project.
• Problem statement is clear, precise, and
short statement of the specific issue that a
researchers wishes to investigate.
Example of Problem statement
• “ Effectiveness of E-recruitment in small and
medium enterprises of IT industry of Pakistan
(Lahore)”.

• “ The Role of Opportunities for Green

Entrepreneurship Towards Investigating the
Practice of Green Entrepreneurship among SMEs
in Malaysia”
 Research Idea Moved To Writing
Research Questions
Write research questions that are

• Consistent with expected standards

• Able to produce clear conclusions

• At the right level ( not too difficult )

• Not too descriptive

• Use the ‘Goldilocks Test’

Clough and Nutbrown (2002)

 Goldilocks test
• Clough and Nutbrown use what they call the Goldilocks test
to decide if research questions are either too big two small too
hot or just right.
• Too big need significant funding.
• Too small are likely to be insufficient substance .
• Too hot maybe so because sensitivities that may be aroused as
a result of doing the research . This may be because of the
timing of the research or the many other reasons that may be
upset key people who have a role to play.
• Just right are those just right for investigation at this time by
this research in this setting .
 Turning ideas into research projects (1)

Examples of research ideas

and their derived focus questions

Table 2.2 Examples of research ideas and their derived focus research
questions
 Turning ideas into research projects (2)

Useful techniques

• Start with a general focus question

• Discuss areas of interest with your tutor

Example of Research Question
• What is e-recruitment practices advantages
and disadvantages?
• What role green entrepreneurship plays in
economic development of Malaysia.?
 Turning ideas into research projects (3)

Writing clear research objectives

• Check your examining body’s preferences for

stated objectives

• Use a general focus question to achieve precise

objectives

Saunders et al. (2009)

Turning ideas into research projects (4)
Include SMART Personal objectives

Specific: What precisely do you hope to achieve from undertaking the

research?
Measurable: What measures will you use to determine whether you
have achieved your objectives?(Secured a career-level first job in
software design)
Achievable: Are the targets you have set for yourself achievable given
all the possible constraints?
Realistic: Given all other demands upon your time, will you have the
time and energy to complete the research on time?
Timely: Will you have time to accomplish all your objectives?
Example of Research Objective

• Determining the extent of Green

Entrepreneurial Practices among SMEs in
Malaysia .
• Exploring the outcomes of e-recruitment in
SME’s of IT industry of Lahore.
 The importance of theory
• Asking for opinions and gathering facts – 'what' questions
(descriptive research)

• Using questions that go beyond description and require

analysis – 'why' questions
Phillips and Pugh (2005)
In order to:

Explain phenomena Analyse relationships

Predict outcomes Compare and generalise

 Theory
• “ A formulation regarding the cause and
effect relationship between two or more
variables, which may or may not have been
tested”
 Threefold typology of theories

Grand, middle range and substantive theories

Creswell (2002)
Figure 2.1 Grand, middle-range and substantive theories
 Threefold typology of
theories
• Grand theories: Usually thought to be province of natural
scientists . (that will lead to a whole new way of thinking about
management).

• Middle range theories: which lack the capacity to change the

way in which we think about the world but are nonetheless of
significance . (some of the theories of human motivation well
known to manager would be in this category.

• Substantive theories : that are restricted to a particular time,

research setting, group or population or problem.
 Deductive approach and
inductive approach
• This discussion of theory dose assume that a clear
theoretical position is developed prior to the collection of
data (the deductive approach).

• This will not always be the case. It may be that your study
is based on the principle of developing theory after data
have been collected (the inductive approach)
 Writing your research proposal

Purposes of the research proposal

• To organise your ideas

• To convince your audience

• To contract with your client (your tutor)

• To meet ethical requirements

 Content of your research proposal (1)

• Title - likely to change during the process

• Background - context within the literature

• Research questions and objectives - what you seek

to achieve
 Content of your research proposal (2)

• Method - can be in two parts: research design and

data collection

• Timescale and Resources - (finance, data access,

equipment)

• References - include some key literature sources

 Evaluating research proposals

• How the components of the proposal fit together

• Viability of the proposal

• Absence of preconceived ideas

• THANK YOU!