COM704C Research Methods

1
COM704CResearch Methods

• Writing Up the Final Research

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Dissertation Structure

• Title page
• Contents page
• Abstract (ie, A Summary)
• Introduction
• Literature review chapter(s)
• Methodology
• Findings
• Conclusions
• References
• Appendices

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Title Page

• Title of dissertation
• Degree for which dissertation is being submitted
• Name of school - Business, Retail and Financial
  Services
• Name of University
• Full name of author

4
Abstract

• A brief summary of the complete content of the
  dissertation. Should include
• What were the aims and objectives? research
  question(s) (RQs)/
• Why were these important?
• How did I set about answering the RQs
• What did I find out in response to my RQs
• What conclusions did I draw about the RQs

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Introduction

• A brief chapter (maybe only 2/3 pages)
• What is the topic (central issue) to be
  researched why is this important enough to be
  subject of this research?
• A clear statement of research question(s)/research
  objectives
• Guide (map) to the chapters that follow, giving
  brief indication of their main content

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Literature Review

• (A) substantial chapter(s), with an appropriate
  title reflecting the content
• Provide a route map through the chapter
• It must be fully referenced
• It must show how your research fits into
  (supplements) the current body of knowledge on
  the topic
• It must be relevant.

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Critical Literature Review/1

• Remember The Critical review forms foundation of
  your research project
• Remember to Establish what research has been
  published in the area , if possible, identify
  research currently in progress
• Remember This will all help you to refine your
  own research questions/ objectives
• On occasion The review will also highlight
  possible research opportunities
  (areas/perspectives not previously addressed)

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Critical Literature Review/2

• Remember You need to
• Show how your research relates to previously
  published research
• Assess strengths and weaknesses of previous
  research where possible (eg, any omissions,
  biases)
• Justify and support your arguments by referencing
  previous research.

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Research Methodology

• Detailed chapter giving sufficient information
• to allow reader to judge whether overall research
  approach is appropriate for research question(s)
• to make a judgement on the validity and
  reliability of the design, techniques used, etc
• Relates your design and methods of data
  collection analysis to the methodology
  literature

10
Results/Findings

• Give the reader a route map of the structure of
  reporting at the outset (as in previous chapters)
• In this chapter you report the facts (ie, what I
  have found out) discovered in your research
• Need to distinguish between findings and
  discussion/conclusions - findings are reported
  without your opinions and judgements
• Structure the reporting of findings around
  objectives, key issues relating to research
  question(s)
• Use graphics and tables or verbatim quotes etc...

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Please Note

• If you are using a qualitative approach, it is
  recommended that the findings and discussion are
  presented together into one or more chapters

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Discussion Conclusions

• For each finding there should be a conclusion
• Conclusions must be demonstrably related to the
• research question/ research objectives
• literature. Do they find support in/ add to/
  disconfirm/ point to gaps in, the literature?
• Are there any practical implications from the
  research (ie recommendations)?
• What were the limitations of the research? How
  would these translate into recommendations for
  further research?

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References/Bibliography

• Reference everything used thus avoid
  accusations of plagiarism
• Provide a correct reference for every citation
• If revision involves dropping a citation, remove
  it from the references
• You must use the Harvard system - it is much more
  straightforward!

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Appendices

• Include any material that is not essential in the
  main text, but is interesting to know
• Blank copies of questionnaires or interview or
  observation schedules should be included
• Complete questionnaires/interview
  transcripts/observation notes need not be
  included (anonymity confidentiality must be
  respected)

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Writing Style/1

• Use basic English - no literary pretensions and
  avoid jargon where possible
• Watch for spelling and grammatical errors
• Tense - be consistent use past tense in
  literature review and in descriptions of research
  procedures and data analyses

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Writing Style/2

• Use third person, avoiding use of I.
• Be professional in the presentation of your work
• it should be typed/word-processed.
• use double spacing throughout, except for
• longer quotations which should be single spaced
  and indented
• use spell check and also proof-read!

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Harvard System

• Bibliography
• Place all sources used in alphabetical order and
  record the full details
• In body of dissertation
• When referring to 2 authors, use both names, eg,
  Smith and Brown (1998)
• Where there are more than 2 authors, use the
  first name only, followed by et al (meaning and
  others) - Jones et al (1999)