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Research Methods STS11131

Research Methods STS11131. School of Accounting, Economics & Statistics Napier University Business School. Robert Raeside Tel: +44 131 455 4308 Email: r.raeside@napier.ac.uk. General Information. Research Methods 1 st assessment Critical Review 2 nd Assessment Research Proposal

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Research Methods STS11131

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  1. Research MethodsSTS11131 School of Accounting, Economics & Statistics Napier University Business School Robert Raeside Tel: +44 131 455 4308 Email: r.raeside@napier.ac.uk

  2. General Information • Research Methods • 1st assessment Critical Review • 2nd Assessment Research Proposal • 20 Credits • Two assessments (no exam) • Masters Dissertation • Approximately 24 weeks • 40 Credits • One assessment (the Dissertation) • 15,000 words

  3. Plan • Monday: Introduction; Literature Review and Critical Reading, Assessment, Secondary Research • Tuesday: Paper Review, Qualitative Methods • Wednesday: Quantitative Methods, Research Problems • Thursday: Research Ethics, Reliability and Validity, the dissertation • Friday - morning only Presentations and Feedback

  4. Module Textbook Research Methods for Graduate Business and Social Science Students by John Adams, Hafiz T A Khan, Robert Raeside, David White Sage Publications 2007 ISBN: 978-0-7619-3589-6

  5. Alternative book Bryman A. & Bell E Business Research Methods Oxford University Press 2007

  6. The Research Cycle Formulation Generate Hypothesis/Questions Design Research Collect Data Analysis Sell Solution Model Assess Reliability/Validity Conclusions & Recommendations

  7. Formulate Problem • Understand the problem - reading • Determine variables and measures • Set the boundaries • Understand the actors • Understand the importance • This is the foundation!

  8. Research Questions or Hypothesis It doesn’t matter! Research Questions – should be:- • Feasible • Relevant/significant • Interesting • Ethical • Novel? See http://www.terrace.qld.edu.au/academic/socenv/junhistory/resqs.htm http://www.terrace.qld.edu.au/academic/socenv/junhistory/resqs.htm http://www.rcjournal.com/contents/10.04/10.04.1195.pdf for a good discussion http://www.gwu.edu/~assess1/index.html gives a self assessment test

  9. Hypothesis Creation Null Hypothesis Ho There is no effect or relationship V The Alternative Hypothesis Ha There is an effect of a relationship e.g. Ho : Sales are not influenced by advertising spend V Ha: Sales are positively influenced by advertising spend

  10. Generate Hypothesis • Hypotheses are very specific research questions that can be answered based on the collection and analysis of appropriate information (usually quantitative) • Can also use research questions if the information being gathered is less structured (i.e. more qualitative) • This requires a clear understanding of your overall research objectives and your own primary information needs. • You need to read!

  11. Identify Research Method • What do you need to find out? • How could this be done? • What approaches are known to work? • Which research techniques are appropriate? • Depth or breadth • Cross section or longitudinal

  12. Data & Information • Collect Data • Is the data required quantitative, qualitative or both? • Is this information appropriate for the objectives and hypotheses identified? • Does the data already exist or do we have to gather it ourselves? • How much, and over what period of time do we collect data? • What data collection methods should be used? • How can this data be analysed? • Analyse Data and Create Information • What analysis techniques are appropriate? • What analysis techniques are known to work? • What analysis techniques do you know? • How will the results fit in with the overall research objectives?

  13. Data Collection Methods • Observation • Case Studies • Interviews • Focus Groups • Content Analysis • Surveys • Experiments • Secondary Data • Mixed Methods

  14. Analysis Methods Qualitative Linguistic Content Quantitative Statistical methods Mathematical models Mixed Methods

  15. Reliability • Are the results dependent on who takes the measurements/does the analysis? • Are the results dependent on when the measurements were taken? • Observer – Subject interaction? • Background

  16. Validity • Are you measuring what you think you are? • Link to theory • Measuring Instruments • Conduct of information collection • Representation of Sample

  17. Generalisability • Extent to which the findings can be generalised to other situations. • Extent to which the findings can be generalised to other countries/cultures • Extent to which the findings can be generalised to other times

  18. Summary and Conclusions • Implement Findings • How would the findings fair in reality? • How transferable would the findings be? • How consistent would the findings be over time? • Would the findings become obsolete? Would changes in society, technology, behaviour etc. affect the findings? • Sell Solution • Communicate all the important factors in developing and implementing the findings • Explain how the findings work and why it is appropriate to implement these particular findings • Provide information on generalisation • Explain what factors might affect the findings in the future

  19. Requirements • Planning • Access • Cost • Ethical • Safety • Control/special events

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