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QUESTION PAST SEM JAN 2014 (PART B)
AC 30
ShazwanIli iryantiAtiqah
Zanurain
BUSINESS
RESEARCH
METHOD
1. a) Briefly explain the following terms used in research:
iv. Operational definitionresult of the process of operationalization and is used to define something in terms of a process needed to determine its existence, duration, and quantity.
v) Qualitative investigationis exploratory in nature and generates non-numerical data.
2a) Purpose of the study
Purpose of the studyHypothesis Testing – studies
that engage in hypothesis testing usually explain the
nature of certain relationship, or establish the differences
among groups or the independence of two or more
factors in a situation.
Example – a marketing manager wants to know if the
sales of the company will increase if he doubles the
advertising dollars.
Types of the investigation
Causal Study – it is necessary to establish a
definitive cause and effect relationship.
Correlation study – identification of the
important factors “associated with”
the problem.
Example – does smoking cause
cancer?? (a casual study question), are smoking and cancer
related ? (a correlation study),
are smoking, drinking and
chewing tobacco associated with
cancer? If so, which of these contributes
most of the variances in the
independent variable?
Study Setting
Contrived : artificial setting – closely related to casual
study, because the researcher tries to manipulate certain
variable so as to study the effect of such manipulation on the dependent
variable of interest.
Non- contrived – the natural environment
where work proceeds normally
Field study – studies conducted to
establish cause and effect relationship
using the same natural environment in which employees normally function
are called field experiment
Lab experiment – the environment is
controlled to study the cause and effect
relationship
Population to be studied
Unit of analysis – individual. E.g : employees motivation.
• - dyads. E.g : two person interaction• - groups• - organization• - cultures
Time Horizon
•Snapshot of construct at a single point in time•Data is collected just one time it could be over a period of days, weeks, or month in order to answer a research question•Use a representative sample.
Cross sectional studies
Time Horizon
Longitudinal studies.• Construct measured at multiple points in time
• E.g : the researcher might want to study employee’s behavior before and after a changes in the top management
Question 2 (B)Minimizing the risk of harm
Dissertation research should not harm participants.
Such scenario will also require additional planning to illustrate how participant will be reduced, informed consent, and detailed debriefing
Obtaining informed consent
Informed consent means that
participants should understand that they are taking part in the
research and what research requires of
them.
Such information may include the purpose of
the research, the method being used,
and also the possible outcomes of the
research
Protecting anonymity and confidentiality
Participants will typically only be willing to volunteer information, especially information of private or sensitive nature if the researcher
agrees to hold such information in confidence.
Avoiding deceptive practices
Deceptive practices fly in
the face of informed consent.
How can participant know
that they are taking part in research and
what the research requires of them if they are being
deceived???
In most circumstance, dissertation
research should avoid any kind of
deceptive practice
Deceptive is sometimes a
necessary component of
covert research, which can be
justified in some cases.
Providing the right to withdraw
Research participa
nts should always
have the right to withdraw from
the research process.
Furthermore,
participants
should have the right to
withdraw at any
stage in the
research process.
They should not be
pressured or
coerced in any
way to try and stop
them from
withdrawing.
3(A)Discuss and evaluate three different methods of collecting primary data. Be sure to consider issues of reliability, generalizability, validity, ethics and practically in your answer. Describe situations where one method or the other may be most appropriate.
Methods
Focus groups*consist of 8-10 members with a
moderator leading the
discussion about 2 hours on
particular topic and concept.Eg: computer
specialist discuss on matters related to
computers and computing.
Panels*similar to focus groups but meet more than one
time*very useful to study the effect
certain interventions to
be studied overtime
Eg: change flavor of coffee
Unobstrusive measures
*does not involve any specific individuals
Eg; signatures on checks, to
measure usage of library books by
looking at the wear and tear of
those books
3(B)Describe the development of a questionnaire in detail. Describe the three basic principles in ensuring good questionnaire design.
• Content and purpose of question• Wording and language• Type and form of questions• Sequencing• Classification data or personal information
1) Principles of wording
• Categorization• Coding• Scales and scaling• Reliability and validity
2) Principles of measurements
• Appearance of questionnaire• Length of questionnaire• Introduction to respondents• Instruction for completion
3) General ‘’getup’’
4. A) Briefly explain the following sampling procedures. Use appropriate diagram if necessary to better illustrate your answer.
1) DATA REDUCTION
Selecting data; Quotes, matrix, graph, chart ,etc.
Coding data; Analytic process; data are reduced, rearranged & integrate to form theory. Codes are label for units of text. E.g words, sentence, paragraph & themes.
Categorizing data; Process of organizing, arranging & classifying coding units, to form theory
2) DATA DISPLAY
•Data display involves taking your reduced
data and displaying them in an organized,
condensed manner. Charts, matrix, diagram,
graph, phrases, drawings. To discover patterns
and relationship.
3) DRAWING CONCLUSIONS
•Final analytical activity in the process of qualitative data analysis. Where you answer your research question by:
•a) Identifying themes
•b)Explanations of observed pattern and
relationship
•c)Making contrasts and comparisons.
Thank You