Overall questions

Question 1

Describe how the perfect research question should be designed

Question 2

Name the objectives of research

Answer 2

• To review and synthesise existing knowledge
• To investigate some existing situation or problem
• To provide solutions to a problem
• To explore and analyse more general issues
• TO construct or create new procedure or system
• To explain a new phenomenon
• To generate new knowledge
• A Combination of any of the above

Question 3

Describe & define the four types of research

Answer 3

Exploratory research – a study where the aim is to provide a better general understanding of phenomena when there are few or no previous studies. It can also be used to examine the feasibility of a larger, more rigorous study later.

Descriptive research – A study where the aim is to identify and describe the detailed characteristics of phenomena to provide a basis for arguments founded on empirical evidence.

Explanatory research – A study where the aim is to understand phenomena by discovering and measuring casual relationships between variables. (Testing hypotheses)

Predictive research – A study where the aim is to generalise from an analysis of phenomena by making predictions based on hypothesised general relationships. Provides “how, why and where” answers to events. Ex. “in which city would it be most profitable to open a new restaurant?”

Question 4

Describe the differences between quant and qual research method, and when they are suitable to use

Question 5

Describe applied research VS basic research

Answer 5

Applied research – A study that has been designed to apply its finding to solving a specific, practical problem. The application of existing knowledge to improve management practises rather than just acquiring knowledge for knowledge’s sake. Research questions often focus on “how” and “when”. Examples are usually recommendations, articles and presentations. Does often go under the title educational scholarships, instructional research, or pedagogic research.

Basic research – When the research is being conducted primarily to improve our understanding of general issues without a specific goal in mind and is often more exploratory. The goal is to make a theory or gain knowledge through the understanding of relationships between variables. Research questions often focuses on “What” and “why”. Ex. “What is service?”

Question 6

Describe the key characteristics for a deductive research

Answer 6

• a study in which a conceptual and theoretical structure is developed which is then tested by empirical observations
• Is referred to as moving from the general to the particular
• Data is collected to test theories
• Often associated quantitative research

Question 7

The process for a deductive research

Answer 7

1. Theory (models) as a guide
2. Hypothesis
3. Data collection
4. Findings
5. Hypotheses confirmed or rejected
6. Revision of theory

Question 8

Key characteristics for inductive research

Answer 8

• A study in which theory is developed from the observation of empirical reality.
• It is referred to as moving from the specific to general since it involves moving from individual observation to statements of general patterns.
• Data is collected to build, generate theories.
• Often associated with qualitative research.

Question 9

Process for an inductive research:

Answer 9

1. Compare theories
2. Gather information
3. Ask questions
4. Develop theory
5. Look for patterns
6. Form categories
7. New theory developed

Question 10

Describe the steps in the research process

Answer 10

1. Choose a topic and search the literature
2. Review the literature and define the research question
3. Design the research and write the proposal
4. Collect the research data
5. Analyse and interpret the research data
6. Write the thesis

Question 11

Name a few ways of coming up with a research topic:

Answer 11

• Brainstorming
• Morphological analysis – identifying key dimensions and attributes of a subject
• Mind maps
• Relevance tree
• Analogy

Question 12

Describe the three levels of which paradigm can be used:

Answer 12

• Philosophical level – the term is used to reflect basic beliefs about the world
• Social level – the term is used to provide guidelines about how the researcher should conduct his or her endeavour.
• Technical level – the term is used to specify the methods and techniques that ideally should be adopted when conducting research.

Question 13

Describe the ontological assumption and how it is applied in a positivist relative to an interpretivist paradigm

Question 14

Describe the epistemological assumptio and how it is applied in a positivist relative to an interpretivist paradigm

Question 15

Name the features of the positivist paradigm

Answer 15

• large samples
• articificial location
• Concerned with hypothesis testing
• Produce precise, objective, quantitative data
• Produce results with high reliability but low validity
• allow results to be generalised from the sample to the population

Question 16

Name the features of the interpretivist paradigm

Answer 16

• small samples
• natural location
• generating theories
• produce subjective, qualitative data
• produce findings with low reliability but high validity
• allow findings to be generalised from one setting to another, but similiar one

Question 17

Describe Reliability

Answer 17

The accuracy and precision of the measurement and absence of difference in the results if the research were repeated. (High importance in positivist studies)

Question 18

Describe validity

Answer 18

– The extent of which a test measures what the researcher wants it to measure, and the results reflect the phenomena under study. Errors undermine validity.

Question 19

Describe generalisability

Answer 19

The extent to which the research findings (often based on a sample) can be extended to other cases (often a population) or to other settings.

Question 20

Describe pragmatism

Answer 20

Methods from more than one paradigm can be used in the same study

Question 21

Describe methodologies associated with positivism:

Answer 21

Experimental studies
Surveys
- descriptive survey
- analytical survey
Cross-sectional studies
Longitudinal studies

Question 22

Describe methodologies associated with an interpretivist study:

Answer 22

Hermeneutics
Ethography
Particpative inquiry
Action research
Case studies

Question 23

What is a theoretical framework?

Answer 23

A collection of theories and models from the literature which underpins a positivist study. Theory can be generated from some interpretivist studies.

Question 24

What is a research proposal?

Answer 24

a document that describes the purpose of the study and the context, as well as providing an overview of the main literature and details of the research design

Question 25

Discuss the importance of the research question for a study and give practical
recommendations for formulating a suitable research question.

Question 26

Explain the relevance of the research question for the different stages of the research
process. When answering, use concrete examples and reflect on your learning from
your term paper study.

Question 27

discuss why and why not, research is “a neat orderly process”.