Identifying a Viable Research Topic - PDF

THEME 2 UNIT 1 PRE-DATA GATHERING PHASE IDENTIFYING A VIABLE RESEARCH TOPIC  DISCUSS THREE PHASES OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS Identify Research Topic (Stage 1) Problem formulation: research PR-DATA GATHERING PHASE...

THEME 2 UNIT 1 PRE-DATA GATHERING PHASE IDENTIFYING A VIABLE RESEARCH TOPIC  DISCUSS THREE PHASES OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS Identify Research Topic (Stage 1) Problem formulation: research PR-DATA GATHERING PHASE questions, objectives and hypotheses (Stage 2) Literature Review (Stage 3) Research Methodology/procedure design Type of research design Sampling method WRITE THE Data gathering method RESEARCH Statistical methods PROPOSAL PHASE(Stage 2 4) DATA-GATHERING PHASE PHASE 3 POST-DATA GATHERING PHASE Data analysis Interpretati on LEARNING OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT CRITERIA Identify and discuss Discuss factors to consider when the researcher factors which engages in the play a role when a research process researcher engages in the research process. Discuss the different Identify different sources of research ideas sources from which research ideas stem. List and discuss the Identify and discuss the requirements of the research requirements topic for a research topic. Discuss guidelines for Outline the guidelines for the selection of a research the topic July 19, selection of a research 2024 topic Identify a viable Practically choose a research topic of your interest. research topic using different sources from which ideas regarding research may come. Evaluate the feasibility Evaluating the feasibility of a research topic of given INTRODUCTION PREPARATION FOR CONDUCTING RESEARCH. Pre-data gathering phase refers to activities and decisions made prior to data collection , these include 1. Identifying a viable topic to study (Research Topic) General area of interest is identified (decide What to study) 2.Problem Formulation: Research questions , objectives and hypotheses. State the general problem in researchable terms by translating it into specific questions. Hypotheses will help with predicting expected outcomes. 3. Literature Review: gather relevant information, clarify research problem and provide justification of the study (gap) 4.Research Methodology/procedure design-Type of research design, sampling method, data gathering and statistical procedures for analysing data.  FACTORS WHICH PLAY A ROLE WHEN ENGAGING IN RESEARCH THE RESEARCH PARADIGM- school of thought or mental window through which the researcher views the world. Different vantage points to describe phenomenon (epistemology) VALUES- conceptions of desirable & undesirable, affect the way the researcher views the relationship between him and the subjects. REACTIVITY: When application of the research causes a reaction on the person being studied. Change the very social situation that the researcher wishes to study. FACTORS WHICH PLAY A ROLE WHEN ENGAGING IN RESEARCH METHODOLOGY- philosophy of the research process, the research design that will be chosen either quantitative or qualitative. SCOPE- whether the unit of analysis is small or large TIME FRAME- consider if the study deals with a cross-section of the population at one point in time or is a longitudinal study conducted overtime. PROCESS AND SOURCES OF RESEARCH TOPICS Identifying a viable research topic involve three steps which include The selection of a topic area The selection of a general problem Reduction of the general problem to more specific, precise and well- delimited questions. NB: Not every topic can be transformed into an empirical research project Sources of research topics 1. Observation of reality 2. Theory 3. Previous research 4. Practical concerns 5. Personal interest or Researching topics of interest to another party ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF RESEARCH TOPICS Main themes in research literature- search current literature to discover popular topics Organisations –request from a well known company to conduct research to solve a specific problem Academic staff actively engaged in research may be a good source of dissertation topics Databases (Emarald and Ebscohost) REQUIREMENTS OF A RESEARCH TOPIC Welman and Kruger (2001) identified 4 requirements that a research topic should meet, these include originality, actuality, practical feasibility and value-free topics: Originality – The topic should be original rather than simply duplicating previous projects researchers examine the role of a variable that was previously ignored. Also researchers set out to improve research design or statistical analysis of previous research. Actuality –data and references as well as methodology should all reflect the state of existing reality. When using data collected for another REQUIREMENTS OF A RESEARCH TOPIC 3. Practical feasibility- the Research process should not be comprehensive that it cannot be investigated in a single project, it should also fit in well with the budget as well as the time frame. Any ethical objections must also be kept in mind, that are too sensitive should follow proper projects procedures. 4. Value-free topics: researcher must suppress their values and conduct a value-free research. Quantitative methods adhere more to this perspective. Researchers’ own value systems and those of their communities may prejudice them to such an extent that their ability to examine phenomena without bias is impaired. REQUIREMENTS OF A RESEARCH TOPIC Select a topic that is relevant to your own short-term and medium-term career prospects (HRM, OB, Career counselling, Labour Relations, Psychometric Assessment). Select a topic that you find intellectually stimulating and that will sustain your interest for a number of years. A topic that is interesting and worthwhile. Select a topic that is researchable thus the research must be completed at a level of scholarship that is scientifically acceptable. (empirical testability) CHECKLIST FOR RESEARCHABLE TOPIC 1. Is there a need for your proposed research (existence of a problem). 2. Will your research provide answers to identified problems 3. Have you done literature search to establish the extent to which the topic has been researched 4. Will your search advance existing knowledge 5. Are you familiar and comfortable with the topic After making the choice, read through the topic repeatedly till you and your supervisor are convinced that you have sufficiently focused on the research topic