RESEARCH METHODS FOR STRATEGIC MANAGERS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION 4
LEARNING OUTCOME NO 1: UNDERSTAND HOW TO SELECT A RESEARCH QUESTION 4
1.1. SELECTING A RESEARCH QUESTION 5
1.2. RESEARCH QUESTION 6
1.3. FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROCESS OF SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH QUESTION SELECTION 6
1.4. JUSTIFICATION FOR THE CHOICE OF RESEARCH QUESTION 7
LEARNING OUTCOME NO 2: BE ABLE TO CONDUCT A LITERATURE REVIEW 7
2.1. CONDUCTING RESEARCH TO FIND LITERATURE RELEVANT TO THE RESEARCH QUESTION 8
2.2. UNDERTAKING A CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE KEY LITERATURE 9
LEARNING OUTCOME NO 3: UNDERSTAND TECHNIQUES USED TO INTERPRET DATA IN A RESEARCH PROPOSAL 10
2.2. EVALUATE TECHNIQUES FOR USE WITH QUALITATIVE DATA IN A RESEARCH PROPOSAL 11
2.2.1. TITLE 12
2.2.2. ABSTRACT 13
2.2.3. INTRODUCTION 13
2.2.4. LITERATURE REVIEW 13
2.2.5. METHODOLOGY 13
2.2.6. RESULTS 13
2.2.7. DISCUSSION 13
LEARNING OUTCOME NO 4: BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE METHODOLOGY TO RESEARCH THE QUESTION 14
4.1. EVALUATE APPROPRIATE RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES IN TERMS OF THE RESEARCH QUESTION 14
4.1.1. QUANTITATIVE METHODS 14
4.1.2. QUALITATIVE METHODS 15
4.2. CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE METHODOLOGY IN TERMS OF THE RESEARCH QUESTION 15
4.3. JUSTIFY THE METHODOLOGY SELECTED IN TERMS OF THE RESEARCH QUESTION 16
LEARNING OUTCOME NO 5: BE ABLE TO PRESENT THE FINDINGS OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL 16
REFERENCES 17

INTRODUCTION
Research is important aspect of business as it allows the mangers to understand different situations and cases in depth and by evaluating the information, they could come up with ideas and solutions that are in accordance to the requirements and also the previous experiences and studies reported. This study would present with different steps for conducting a research and the techniques and tools used to complete these steps. Beginning with the first step of developing a research question the study would go through every step of research conduction till the evaluation of data to generate results. LEARNING OUTCOME NO 1: UNDERSTAND HOW TO SELECT A RESEARCH QUESTION For any research study, whether it is for business purpose or for academic purpose, the first step in the process is the identifying and formulating the research question. This segment would give an understanding of the major factors that contribute to the selection of the research question and would present a question that has been attempted to be answered through this study. The research question has been selected after careful consideration of multiple factors that might affect the research study which are also discussed in this segment followed by a justification of the need to answer this particular question. A step wise approach for any research is presented in the figure below.

Steps Along the Research Process, Dewey, et al, 2012
1.1. SELECTING A RESEARCH QUESTION
Research question is the most important aspect for any study regardless of the scope and interest of the study. In every field of study, the role of research question is the methodological point of initiation for the research and the whole process of research is developed to answer this question. For an investigator, the research question is the first procedural step for the initiation of the formal research process. For the importance of this question, it is important to define a question more precisely and clearly. Qualitative and quantitative, both researches handle the research question as the central constituent to produce results that are not only reliable but also valid. The conceptual framework of the study is formulated upon the research question defined and in every situation this research question makes the hypothetical assumptions more clear. The framework would signify the researcher’s intended objectives to be figured out. Once the research question has been defined, keeping in mind the importance and aspects of the question, the process of research is initiated to answer the question. 1.2. RESEARCH QUESTION

What are the different factors contributing to the successful research question selection? 1.3. FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROCESS OF SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH QUESTION SELECTION The problem that is being addressed through the research study is the sole of the research process and while defining the problem that would be explored through the study, it is of vital importance that the variables of the problem under study must be clear and easily identifiable. Further, hypotheses must be defined that would accompany each of the research problem. After the problem identification and research question definition, the next step is to relate it to the research hypotheses. The research hypotheses describe the relationship between the different variables and the population that is intended to study. For the question formulated to be explored through this study would indicate the link between the research problem, hypotheses and the existing research variables. At the first step, t...

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