The research process

1. The research process András István Kun

2. Different disciplines • Research methodology is a supporting subject • Different disciplines have different paradigms • Only the substance of research is similar

3. The Wheel of Science Theories Empiricalgenerali-zations Hypo-theses Obser-vations

4. The „research journey” • (I) Deciding what • (II) Planning how • (III) Actually doing

5. An 8 step model of research processes • Formulating the research problem (specification) • Conceptualizing (valid, workable, manageable) • Constructing an instrument for data collection • Selecting a sample (sampling) • Writing a research proposal • Collecting data • Processing data • Writing a report

6. Finding a good research topic • Topic: the wide or general problem + our approach (it is NOT the research question) • Interesting and motivating • Feasible (knowledge, resources, time, connections, ethics) • Timely, even when finished • Theoretically grounded, and also provide contribution to theory • Can be translated into research questions/aims/hypotheses • Symmetry of potential outcomes • Appropriate challenge level • Accepted by the institution/buyer • Contributes to the researcher’s career and/or development

7. Generating research ideas Source: Saunders, Lewis, Thornhill

8. An example how to explore your preferences via examining past projects Source: Saunders, Lewis, Thornhill

9. How to decide? • What am I interested in (motivation)? • What kind of work would I like to do (methods)? • What am I capable of (knowledge)? • What resources can I get an access to? (data!) • What help can I get (everything)? • (Who do I like to be my supervisor?) • Do you like to join a larger research group or program?

10. Purposes of reseach • Exploration: familiarizing with the topic/area/etc. • Description • Explanation • Idiographic (for few cases) • Nomothetic (looking or factors accounting for a large part of of the variation of a phenomenon)

11. Nomothetic causality • Correlation / association • Time order • Nonspuriousness • Necessary and sufficient causes

12. Difference between qualitative and quantitative research • Qualitative: • Empiricist (sensation) • Flexible/open/unstructured • To describe variation, situation, issue… • Fewer cases • Wider focus (multiple issues) • To explore • Narrative • Quantitative: • Rationalism (reason) • Rigid/predetermined/structured • Quantification • Greater sample • Narrow focus • To explain • Statistical methods, analytical

13. Source: Saunders, Lewis, Thornhill

14. Finding a good supervisor/consultant • Is it needed? • Should have: • Knowledge, skills • Capacity • Motivation/interest • Can provide help with contacts, resources… • Personality • Ways to find: • Offered topics/titles • Literature review • Course lecturers • Networking • How to get accepted? • Research proposal • Do have more than one ideas

15. Refining the research idea • Decision supporting techniques • Discussions • Preliminary research: literature, pilot • Integrating ideas

16. Conceptualization • Fuzzy and imprecise notions (concepts) are made more specific and precise. (specification of the concepts) • „What do you mean on…” type questioning. • Dimensions: a specifiable aspect of the concept. • Indicators: an observation considered as a reflection of a varible we wish to study.

17. What we can measure? • Direct observables • Indirect observables • Constructs

18. Progression of measurement • Conceptualization • Nominal definition • Operational definition • Measurements in the real world

19. Levels of measurement • Nominal • Ordinal • Interval • Ratio measure

20. Mesurement quality • Reliability • Test-retest method • Reliability of the researchers • Split-half method • Validity • Face • Criterion-related or Predictive • Construct (relation to other variables within the theory) • Content (range of meaning)

21. Units of analysis • Individuals • Groups • Organizations • Documents • Social interactions and artifacts

22. Time dimension • Cross-sectional studies • Longitudinal studies • Trend studies • Cohort studies • Panel studies

23. The research question / aim • Must be derived from the reseach problem • Clear definitions, concepts are needed • This is what will be answered during the research (through this we will contribute to the understanding of the problem) • Must be one or a few. We can use subquestions if necessary. • Needs on the research method and the data are drawn from the questions. • The research aim is a translation of the question.

24. Questions vs. objectives Source: Saunders, Lewis, Thornhill

25. The Goldilocks test • A research question must not be • Too big • Too small • Too hot

26. General focus research question examples Source: Saunders, Lewis, Thornhill

27. Hypotheses • Hypothetical answers to the research questions • Can be supported or rejected through the research • Not always necessary, but can help

28. The research proposal • Why? • A help throughout the research project • To gain resources • There is no ultimate structure for research proposals. • A general one: • Introduction/Motivation • Literature Review • Specifying the Problem/Question/Hypotheses/Aim/Topic • Research design: data needed, data-collection method, data analysis, ethical issues • Schedule, budget, resource planning • Expected outcomes • References

29. Thanks for your attention