Research Methods for your Project

1
Research Methods for your Project

• Chris Grover 2004

2
Methodology Chapter

• All FYPs should contain a methodology chapter
  detailing how you carried out your research
• It is important to read up on the elements of
  Research Methods
• Saunders Mark et al Research Methods for
  Business students
• Collis Jill Hussey Roger Business Research

3
Primary or Secondary Research?

• Primary Research
• You go and collect the data
• Secondary Research
• You use other peoples data
• Whilst the former is expensive and time consuming
  it targets what you want. Using others people
  data may be limiting.

4
Research Philosophy

• Positivistic
• Quantitative
• Objective
• Scientific
• Phenomenological
• Qualitative
• Subjective
• Humanistic
• Although at opposite ends of the spectrum,
  research usually contains elements of both

5
Research Approach

• Deductive
• This is about testing theory. Most FYPs are this.
  You critically examine and synthesize the theory
  and then you see what is happening in the field
• Inductive
• This is about building a model. You start in the
  field and postulate a model or theory

6
Research Strategies Collection Methods

• Survey / Questionnaire (mode e.g. telephone)
• Interview (structured, unstructured)
• Case Study (choice, number)
• Experiment
• Observations (role of observer- participate?)
• Grounded Research

7
Important considerations

• Access
• Personal safety
• Ethics
• Privacy
• Confidentiality /anonymity
• Dignity
• Protecting your sources..

8
Type of Research

• Exploratory
• Descriptive
• Explanatory / Analytical
• Predictive
• Evaluation
• These are hierarchical in nature but not exclusive

9
Sampling

• Who?, When?, Where?, How?
• Target Population
• Structure e.g. sub-groups
• Sampling method
• Sample size?

10
Data Analysis

• Quantitative?
• Graphs, tables, summary stats, hypothesis tests
• Know your data and chose appropriate method
• Qualitative?
• Data reduction
• Positivistic or phenomenological approach?

11
Writing Up the Analysis

• Avoid question by question approach, use themes
• Support your points with evidence e.g. graphs,
  test results
• Use graphs and tables to help the reader
  understand
• Best practice Journal articles, Mintel Reports