Research Methodology

For AEP

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai

HÀ NỘI 12/2015

Key Objectives

Understand the importance of doing research

Understand the main steps in the research process

Understand the main content of a research report

Why doing research?

?

4

The Purpose of Research

To review and synthesize existing knowledge To investigate some existing situation or

problem To provide solutions to a problem To explore and analyze more general issues To explain a new phenomenon To generate new knowledge A combination of the above …

5

The Research Process

6

Identify research topic1

Define R. problem & objectives2Determine how to conduct research 3

Collect research data4Analyze and interpret research data5Write and present research results6

Steps in the Research Process

7

Topic (general area of interest) needs to be narrowed down to a specific issue/problem

Sources of research topics/problems: Personal experience Information provided by practitioners Media (general & business/professional) Personal reading of the literature Views of previous researchers …

Identifying a Research Topic/Defining a Research Problem

8

Researcher’s ability/interest Value/scope of the research

Does it address a theoretical problem or a problem in the realm of practice?

Is it “re-inventing the wheel” (i.e., are you sure that it requires primary research and not just good information retrieval)

Access to required data Time required Financial support

Issues Relevant to Determining a

Good Research Topic

9

Define the problem

“ a problem well defined is half-solved” If we try to find best solutions for a

not correct problem what happens???

10

Establish Research Objectives

What information is needed to solve the problem?

Problem

11

Identifying a research problem

Specific issues should be considered The availability of data Knowledge gaps Time and cost constraints Stating the research problem:

My research project is about….

Evaluation of debit card services at Bank X

12

Determining the objectives of the research

What the objectives or aims of the research will be?

E.g., This research project aims to achieve the following objectives.

1. To understand…2. To identify …3. To evaluate…4. …

13

Identify research topic1

Define R problem & objectives2Determine how to conduct research (theories & design)3

Collect research data4Analyze and interpret research data5Write and present research results6

Steps in the Research Process

Theoretical Background Which theories/concepts/models should be used to frame

the research project? Example of theories and models in business:

Motivation theories Service quality & customer satisfaction (in banking

industry) Branding theory Hofstede’s (1980) cultural dimensions ...

How about in the fields of marketing, accounting. finance & banking field?

15

Identify research topic1

Define R problem & objectives2Determine how to conduct research (theories & design)3

Collect research data4Analyze and interpret research data5Write and present research results6

Steps in the Research Process

16

Determine Research Design

Research types by increasing level of sophistication

1. Exploratory Research2. Descriptive Research3. Analytical/explanatory Research4. Predictive Research (Causal Research)

17

Identify Information Types and Sources

Secondary Data Primary Data

18

Determine Methods of Accessing Data

Accessing Secondary Data: Internal one: company records,... External one: library, CD- Rom,...

Accessing Primary Data: Observation, focus group, in-depth

interview Surveys

Research Methods

Quantitative methods Qualitative methods

Focus groupsIn-depth

interviews

Survey

ProjectiveObservation

Experiment

Mô hình KT lượng

Qualitative Methods In-depth interview

When to use? Key concerns?

Focus group

Quantitative Methods: Survey

Key issues: Questionnaire design Sampling method and sample size Data collection methods

23

Identify research topic1

Define R. problem & objectives2Determine how to conduct research 3

Collect research data4Analyze and interpret research data5Write and present research results6

Steps in the Research Process

24

Collect Data

Discussion

Key concerns when collecting data in Vietnam: Secondary data Primary data

Solutions?

26

Identify research topic1

Define R. problem & objectives2Determine how to conduct research 3

Collect research data4Analyze and interpret research data5Write and present thesis/project report6

Steps in the Research Process

27

Analyze the Data

Coding Entering the Data in to the

computer Analyzing Data

28

Identify research topic1

Define R. problem & objectives2Determine how to conduct research 3

Collect research data4Analyze and interpret research data5Write and present research results6

Steps in the Research Process

29

Write and Present the Research Result

Prepare the final written Report Present the Research Report

Writing the Research Report

Suggested report structureTable of Contents

Include key headings Give page numbers for every section Be sure it looks professional

It’s where evaluators often look at! What can you see from the Table of

Content?

Suggested report structure Acknowledgements

This is where you “thank” the people who helped you -- your sponsor, your supervisors, your family/supporters

Be generous! It is OK to thank many people for helping you get through the project

Suggested report structure Executive Summary

Should be 2-3 pages maximum Should include ALL the key parts of the

reports: Objectives of the project Theoretical background Research Methods Results Recommendations

It may be the only part that some people read!

Suggested report structure Chapter I: Introduction

Provides the background on why the project was important to do

Also provides the objectives for the project The project has three objectives:

to examine the market for ..... to assess costs and benefits of ..... to evaluate debit card services of....

Suggested report structure Chapter 2: Theoretical Background

Explain key theories/concepts/models used in your research as theoretical background

Do not ‘copy’ and ‘paste’ from textbooks! Provide citations when appropriate

Suggested report structure Chapter 3: Research Methodology

Types of information that you needed Ways you collected information

Secondary sources (reports, other data) Primary sources (surveys, interviews, etc ...)

Description of data Sample, response rates

How you analyzed the information Statistics, creating tables

Suggested report structure Chapter 4: Results

What you found from your investigation

The results should refer back to each objective The findings from the investigation relate to

each of the objectives, stated below: Objective 1: to determine the costs and

benefits ... The information showed that ....

Suggested report structure Chapter 5: Conclusions &

Recommendations

Conclusions (if appropriate) Summarize the findings

Recommendations what actions should/could the

Co./organization take justification for the recommendations: link

to the findings

Suggested report structure References

Pay attention to the format required

Suggested report structure Appendices

Appendix A: Forms for collecting data surveys and interview questions

Appendix B: Data analysis done Appendix C: Tables Appendix D: Figures and Graphs Appendix E: Other supporting materials

What is a Good Report?

Final Report:GOOD & NOT GOOD POINTS

Good Cover the main issues

in sufficient depth and detail

Provide well-structured report

Provide arguments & evidence

Provide sources of Provide sources of informationinformation (in text and in reference list)

Well written & good layout

Not good Concept misunderstanding

(e.g., quanti. vs. quali. aspect) Be poorly structured (e.g. lack

intro. and/or conclusion; unclear transition), no focus

Lack evidence Lack sources of information Writing style: use of one-

sentence paragraph, ‘copied’ tables

Spelling and grammar mistakes

Inconsistency in format

Identify research topic1

Define research problem2

Determine how to conduct research 3

Collect research data4

Analyze and interpret research data5

Write and present research results6

Steps in the Research Process

Love what you do

The most common ingredient for success is that people love what they are doing.