Session 2-3
Session 2-3
RESEARCH FORMULATION & DESIGN

Contents
1.
1.
Research classification
Research classification
2.
2.
Formulation of the research project
Formulation of the research project
3.
3.
Research design
Research design
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I.
I. RESEARCH
CLASSIFICATION:
CLASSIFICATION:I.1. Based on the generalizability of the findings:

Basic research


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How this issue is reflected in your final thesis?
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MANAGERIAL/THEORETICAL PROBLEM
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
RESEARCH SCOPE
LITERATURE REVIEW
MODEL - HYPOTHESES
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From management problem to be solved
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From the suggestion of managers / policy makers
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Limitations / suggestions from previous researches
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Shortages / Incompleteness of existing theories
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Experience or observation of the researcher
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II.3. Criteria of a good research topic:
1. Significance by theoretical implications or practical
implications (expected contributions / values)
2. Researchability: the research objects can be
observed, describe, explained or predicted

1. Adequacy:

Complication level / researcher’s skill / experience

Available resources and conditions
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II.4. Writing the research formulation:

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Example
– Management Style
– Management Style
Nowadays, Western-originated management theories are taught and
disseminated widely in Asian countries. However, some management
educators and practitioners have raised concerns about the validity and
applicability of these theories in culturally different settings, especially the ones
dealing with human behavior (Ardichvili&Kuchinke, 2002; Tsui, 2004).
Two schools of thought address these concerns. Scholars who support the
“divergence process” contend that management theories belong to the science
of human being, that they must be socially or culturally dependent. Therefore,
Western management theories must be reconsidered before applying them in
different cultural settings such as in Asian countries (Tayeb, 1994; Grant,
2004). In contrast, authors supporting the “convergence process” argue that
internationalization and industrialization are the best rationale for the universal
application of commonly adopted approaches to management, regardless of
their origin (Mullins, 1993; Ohmae, 1990). Inspired by this debate, the present
study deals with the following research questions: 1) Are there differences in
the decision making or management styles of managers from different national
cultures? 2) Is management style affected by internationalization, cultural
adjustment or management education?28/05/14
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Research scopes:
Research scopes:
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Case 2 – Advertising appeals
Identify the components in the introduction section
Home exercise
Home exercise
Read articles and develop a research topic of your
Read articles and develop a research topic of your
own interest.
own interest.
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III. STEPS IN RESEARCH DESIGN
III.1. Definition:
Designing a research is to develop a plan on the
research strategy and methods to observe, measure,
collect and analyze data to attend the research
objectives.
Involves a series of rational decision-making choices

As detailed / specific as possible

Use keywords / key concepts
–
Identify key authors / key papers
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Identify relevant foundational theories
–
Review papers are very useful

Summarize/organize them into a thematical framework

Develop a Concept vs. Author matrix
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Step 2. Literature Review (3)

What to present/write:
–
General introdution
–
Key concepts / factors (definitions, conceptualization,
components, attributes, theories/perspectives, debates)
–
Key relations (what and why: theoretical arguments and
empirical findings in previous related studies)

Concept centric vs. Author centric writing style

Pay due attention to citing references (APA style)

.
. Model can be in different forms
Model can be in different forms Example of a research model

2 components of a model:+
+
Variables / attributes / factors to be investigated
Variables / attributes / factors to be investigated + Rules of interaction: descriptive / associative / causal
+ Rules of interaction: descriptive / associative / causalConstruct - Concept –Variable
Construct - Concept –Variable
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Hypothesis :

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
Criteria of a good hypothesis:
-
Based on theoretical deduction / empirical induction
-
Empirically testable
- Clearly / precisely stated
- Variables must be measurable
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Step 4.
Step 4. Research design
S4.1. Data needs
Based on Step 3 to determine variables / attributes /
objects to observe and measure
Notes:
Quantitative research:
Data needs  data collection  data analysis
Qualitative research:
Data need, data collection and data analysis
interweave together
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S4.2. Data sources
+ Secondary data