Navigating the Research Process: Techniques, Strategies, and Data Analysis

1. Research Methods II The Research Process….and research questions Dream is the spark of passion; talent is the firework of its expression; perseverance, the sacred fire of its accomplishment. Daniel Chabot

2. Game Plan • Review Thesis assignment: What is a CC thesis? • An introduction to the research process • Types of research and methods • Getting Started • Generating a Research Question • BREAK • Library Session 10:30 and 12:30: Searching electronic databases (we will divide into 2 groups; 22 at 10:30; 13 at 12:30)

3. Average Length? References? Books Articles General Interest Websites Footnotes per page Table of contents Topic Research Question Method CC Thesis

4. How did they get there?....the research process Formulate and clarify your research question Chapter 1 Review the Literature/Theory Chapter 2 Formulate your research design Chapter 3 Answer research question Sample Measure Analyze your data Chapter 4 Qualitative Methods Quantitative Methods Write your Results and Discussion Chapter 5

5. Goals of Research • Exploratory • Examine feasibility for further study, to provide illumination on a process or problem • Descriptive • To understand a common or uncommon occurrence by observing the details • Explanatory • Explain the cause or non-occurrence of a phenomenon • Show causal connections and relationships between variables

6. The Research Onion Time horizons Choices Strategies Approaches Philosophies Techniques and procedures Positivism Realism Interpretivism Deductive Experiment Survey Objectivism Case study Cross- sectional Mono-method Subjectivism Action research Data collection and data analysis Mixed methods Grounded theory Multi-method Longitudinal Pragmatism Ethnography Archival research Functionalist Inductive Interpretive Radical humanist Radical structuralist

7. Research Strategies: Experimental research • Create a hypothetical situation and observe behavior to test an hypothesis (typically using an experimental group and a control group) • Example: What is the impact of a “buy two, get one free promotion” on consumer purchasing behavior?

8. Research Strategies: Survey research • Collecting data from a sample population to test theory • Allows collection of a large amount of data from a sizeable population in highly economical way • Example: Employee’s attitude on a new personnel system, Organization’s implementation of innovative practices

9. Research Strategies: Case Study Research • In depth investigation of an individual, group or institution • Widely used in business to analyze successes and failures • Aimed at finding out “why”. • Example: How has Starbucks managed its rapid expansion in the 1990s? How are strategy models implemented in organizations?

10. Research Strategies: Action Research • Research in action (versus research about action) • Typically a researcher is working on a problem in an organization • Involves practitioners as partners • Iterative nature of process (diagnose, plan, take action, evaluate, diagnose, plan, take action, evaluate…..) • Results can inform other contexts

11. Research Strategies: Archival Research • Makes use of administrative records and documents as the principle source of data • Allows research questions which focus on the past and changes over time to be answered • Can be exploratory, descriptive or explanatory • Example: relationship between money supply and interest rates

12. The Research Onion Time horizons Choices Strategies Approaches Philosophies Techniques and procedures Positivism Realism Interpretivism Deductive Experiment Survey Objectivism Case study Cross- sectional Mono-method Subjectivism Action research Data collection and data analysis Mixed methods Grounded theory Multi-method Longitudinal Pragmatism Ethnography Archival research Functionalist Inductive Interpretive Radical humanist Radical structuralist

13. Data Analysis • Inferential Statistics • Correlation • Regression • T-test, Chi-Square or Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) • Qualitative Analysis

14. Data Analysis: Correlation Analysis • Provides an indication as to how 2 or more things are related to one another • Involves collecting and analyzing data to determine whether, and to what degree variables move together • Does not imply causality although often interpreted that way • Examples: family wealth and educational attainment, height and weight

15. Data Analysis: Regression Analysis • More sophisticated form of statistical analysis which controls for the effects of other variables in a relationship hypothesized to be causal • Examples: relationship between money supply and interest rates, relationship between leadership and satisfaction

16. Data Analysis: Test of differences • T-tests, Chi-Square, ANOVA • Used for comparing means among groups- often used in demographic comparisons • ANOVA Example – does the level of training impact the speed of completing a task? Level of training n mean Advanced 10 24.2 Intermediate 15 27.1 Beginner 12 30.2

17. Data Analysis: Qualitative Analysis • Content Analysis • Categorize data • Recognize relationships • Pattern Matching • Time-series/chronological analysis

18. So where do you start? Research Ideas/Topics • How do I get research ideas? • Your own strengths and interests • Look at past projects • Discuss with peers/advisor • Keep a notebook of ideas • Mind mapping/brainstorming • Explore personal preferences

19. Capability – is it Feasible? Are you fascinated by the topic? Do you have the research skills? Achievable in the time frame? Do you have the access to the data you need to study the topic? Appropriate—is it worth while? Can you find a link to theory? Can you state your objectives clearly? Will your research topic provide fresh insights? Attributes of a Good Research Topic/Idea

20. Test your idea…. • Goldilocks test… • Too big, too small, too hot, too cold • Russian Doll • Breaking down the original statement to the very heart of the idea It’s pay me now – or pay me later…..

21. The next step – develop a research question • How do I develop a good research question? • Review current literature • Unanswered questions • Conflicting results • Interesting contexts

22. Characteristics of a good research question • Problem-oriented • Analytical (versus descriptive) • Interesting and significant • Amenable to analysis • Feasible

23. Examples of research questions: • How do different levels of education affect unemployment rates? • How does watching television commercials affect the buying behavior of adolescents? • Will students who know how to “take” a test improve their scores? • How does parental employment affect children’s cognitive development?

24. Exercise • Write down 2 good research questions and 1 bad question on the following topics: • Group 1: Beer consumption • Group 2: Graduate salaries • Group 3: Energy conservation • Group 4: Employee loyalty/turnover • Group 5: Text messaging

25. Administration • Homework: • Research topic assignment • Literature Review reading/assignment • Focus on the structure of the lit review (how was it organized, what method did they use, how did they use figures, tables). Also what did you like about the review, what did you dislike? • Be prepared to present your findings to the class tomorrow • 10:30 and 12:30 today: Library TLC-1; basement of library. **MANDATORY**

26. Homework Reading Assignments

27. Back-up

28. From Idea – to Research Question – to Hypothesis • Idea: Student learning • Research Question: How does faculty sleep deprivation impact student learning? • Hypothesis: There is a negative relationship between faculty sleep deprivation and student learning

29. What is an hypothesis? • A proposition that is empirically testable • Example: Increasing flex time options increases quality of life • Need to concretely define concepts (e.g., quality of life (QOLI) ) • Hypothesis testing can lead to support or refutation of a theory

30. Attributes of a good hypothesis • Stated in declarative form • Posits a relationship between variables • Reflects a theory or body of literature • Is brief and to the point • Is testable

31. Examples of Hypothesis • Publicly traded firms will have higher growth rates than privately held firms • State-owned firms will have a greater share of the domestic market than publicly traded or privately held firms • Job satisfaction will be positively related to organizational citizenship behaviors