» Identifying the attributes of a good research topic

» Generating ideas that help to select a suitable

topic

» Turning research ideas into research projects:

Writing research questions and objectives
» Once you are clear about the research topic, you
will b able to choose the most appropriate research
strategy and data collection and analysis
techniques
» Although it’s a time consuming activity but fruitful
for the further process
» Decide your topic with care
» A topic of interest may become a topic in which
you have no interest
» Good opportunity if you want to become an expert
in a particular subject or industry.
» Caution: If you selected a wrong topic you may
stuck and thing may move slowly

» Or if you select right topic

You may find thing faster and
You may enjoy your work
 Capability: is it feasible?
» Are you fascinated by the topic?
» Do you have the necessary research skills?

» Do you have necessary knowledge? (e.g. Literature,

theory)
» Can you complete the project in the time available?
» Will the research still be current when you finish?
» Do you have sufficient financial and other resources?
» Will you be able to gain access to data?
 Appropriateness: is it worthwhile?

» Will the examining institute's standards be met?

» Does the topic contain issues with clear links to theory?
» Are the research questions and objectives clearly stated?
» Will the proposed research provide fresh insights into the
topic?
» Are the findings likely to be symmetrical?
» Does the research topic match your career goals?
» Generating Research Ideas
» Refining Research Ideas
» Business Students can follow both for their
research Idea
 Generating research ideas:
Useful Techniques
Rational thinking Creative thinking
• examining your strength * keeping a notebook of
ideas
and interest
• looking at past project titles * exploring personal
preferences using
past projects
* discussion * relevance trees
* searching the literature: * brainstorming
articles in academic journals
reports
books
» Already have some academic knowledge
˃ Look at those assignments for which you have
received good grades
˃ Look at those assignments in which you have shown
full interest
» Think about your future; if you plan to work in
Human Resource Management, Marketing,
Finance, Economics etc.
» A project in the same field in which you are
interested will give you an edge in a job
interview.
» University’s list of past project titles for
anything that captures your imagination
» Look at the titles which grab your attention
» Search the titles on the websites of various
Universities
» Although, its an affective techniques but still
there is no guarantee that all projects are of
high quality.
» Seniors, Colleagues, friends and teachers are
also good sources of possible project idea.
» Professionals and practitioners
» While discussing, note down all topics.
» Articles in academic and professional journals
˃ Journal of Finance, Journal of Banking and Finance, Journal of
Marketing, Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Management
˃ Searching of published research article is fruitful if you have decided a
particular field
˃ 4 star to 1 star… or in Pakistan W category to Z Category
˃ In research paper you can find research topics in ; Literature Review,
Limitation of study, future studies
˃ Replication of earlier studies
+ Extension of sample size (not a very good idea)
+ Increase data period (not a very good idea)
+ Disagreement with existing study/ies (a good/bad idea)
+ Application of better approach (a very good idea)
+ Cross country comparison (a very good idea)
» Reports
˃ Reports on financial crisis
˃ Reports on Corporate Governance
˃ Reports on Hofstede’s cultrual dimensions

» Books
˃ Human Resource Management
˃ Financial Markets
˃ Marketing
» News Channels
» Newspapers
˃ Business Recorder
˃ The times, Financial times, Guardian and Daily Telegraph

» Their stories can suggest other idea which flow

from the central story
» Noting down any interesting research ideas as
you thing of them
» You can then pursue the idea using more
rational thinking techniques later
» Mark Keeps, a notebook by his bed so he can
write down any flashes of inspiration that occur
to him in the middle of the night
» Select projects collection of your university
» 1. Select six projects that you like?
» 2a. What appeals to you about each project?
» 2b. What is good about the project?
» 2c. Why is the project good?
» 3. Select three projects that you do not like?
» 4a. What do you dislike about the project?
» 4b. What is bad about the project?
» 4c. Why is the project bad?
» Write down positives and negatives of each; and try to
select your topic by following those positives and
negatives
» Start with a broad concept from which you
generate further topics.
» Each of these topics forms a separate branch
from which you can generate further, more
detailed sub branches.
» Performance
˃ Performance and Firm characteristics
˃ Performance and capital structure
˃ Performance and Dividend Policy
» Problem solving technique
» Ask for suggestions
» Record all suggestion, observing the following
rules
˃ No suggestion should be criticized or evaluated in
any way before all ideas have been considered
˃ As many suggestions as possible should be recorded
» Review and explore what is meant by each
» Analyze the list of suggestions and decide which
appeal to you (research ideas) and why?
 Refining research ideas: useful
techniques
» Using the Delphi technique:
˃ This involves using a group of people who are either
involved or interested in the research idea to generate
and choose a more specific research idea.
+ Brief the group about research idea, ask them to
generate independently up to three specific research
ideas based on the original research idea with
justification, collect from them the so developed research
ideas and redistribute in an unedited form amongst all
group-members.

˃ Continues in next slide

 Refining research
ideas: useful
techniques
Continues from previous slide
> Repeat the above cycle so that group-members
improve their own contribution in light of what
others have said.
> Repeat the cycle till the time that group reaches on
some consensus on the research idea; this either
follows a similar cycle or group discussion, voting or
some other method.
Conducting a preliminary study
˃ This may consists of a review of some of the relevant
literature, informal discussion with people who have
experience of and knowledge about the research topic/area,
having good understanding of the host organization,
research population and research site, and practically
doing a small test study.
˃ Continually testing out your ideas
» Integrating ideas
˃ Jankowicz (2000) suggests ‘working up and narrowing
down’ approach, meaning that classifying research idea
first into its area, then its field and finally the precise aspect
in which researcher is interested.
˃ An example is: Finance Divident Policy Determinants of
Divident Policy in Pakistan.
» Refining topics given to you by your organisation
» Transform the organizational topic into your own interest
» Start working on a research proposal just
now.
» Choose a leader and a recorder (Ideally
these duties should rotate amongst all
group-members, provided your group
wishes so).
» Form a group of 2 members
» Each one of the group members will select a
topic of his/her own and take it to a the
meeting of his/her group for discussion.
˃ e.g. search on web, review some publications etc
» The group will then have a brainstorming
meeting on all the topics, will discuss each
member’s ideas about the selected research
topics, and will come up with one research
topic considered the best by the group.
» Continues on next slide…….
» The group in next week, through its team leader, will turn in a
4 – 6 page group activity report of the last week, on the
following format.
Page 1 (front-page)
Assignment 1
Topic selected by the group
Names of group members

» Page 2 to 5 (one page for one student’s activity report)

Assignment 1
Name of the student
Topic selected by the student
» How these are actively discussed
 If you do not
know where you
are going, any
road will take
you there.
27
Write research questions
» It is important to have clear research questions at the
beginning of the research process.
» Defining research question is not a straight forward
matter
» It is perhaps more likely that you fall into the trap of
difficult research question
» Clough and Nutbrown (2002) call it the GOLDILOCKS
TEST to decide if research questions are either “too big”
“too small” “too hot” or “just right”
» Too big research questions need many resources (e.g. big
sample)
» Too small research questions are likely to be of
insufficient substance (e.g. study in a city and generalize it for
country)
» Too hot may be sensitive (e.g. Personal Questions)
» Just right questions are those which are investigated at
this time, by this researcher in this setting
 Write research
questions
» It is perfectly legitimate to replicate
research because you have genuine
concern about its applicability to
your research setting. However, it
certainly is not legitimate to display
you ignorance of the literature.
 Write research questions
That are:
» Consistent with expected standards
» Able to produce clear conclusions

» Able to generate new insights

» At the right level (be careful of research questions that are
too easy or too difficult)
Note: It is often a useful starting point in the writing of research
questions to begin with one general focus research question
that flows from your research idea; this may lead to several
more detailed questions or the definition of research
objectives.
 Examples of research ideas
and their derived focus questions

Table 2.2 Examples of research ideas and their derived focus research
questions
 Writing research objectives
» Check your examining body’s preferences for stated objectives
» Use a general focus research question as a base to write a set of
research objectives
» Objectives are more generally acceptable to the research
community as evidence of the researcher’s clear sense of purpose
and direction
» Objectives are likely to lead to be specific
» Research objectives require more precise thinking, and use of more
formal language

Phrasing research question as research

objective: an example
Research question: Why have organizations introduced team briefing?
Research objective: To identify organizations’ objectives for team
briefing schemes
Specific
What precisely do you hope to achieve from undertaking
the research?
Measurable
What measures will you use to determine whether you have
achieved your objectives?
Achievable
Are the targets you have set for yourself achievable given
all the possible constraints?
Realistic
Given all the other demands upon your time (e.g Social),
will you have the time and energy to complete the
research on time?
Timely
Will you have time to accomplish all your objectives in the
time frame you have set?
» To analyze and evaluate the efficiency of Non
Financial Institutions operating in SAARC and its
relationship with the firm characteristics,
financial reforms and financial crisis over the
period of 2005 to 2012.
» Go to various famous Journal indexes e.g.
including Emerald, Cambridge Journals,
ScienceDirect (Elsevier), JSTOR, Business Source
Premier (EbscoHost) etc
» http://cmslib.uum.edu.my/new/index.php/en/li
brary-support/listing-of-databases-by-subject
» Your assignment # 01
˃ Submit at least 5 research topic in the next class (Printed), we will
have a brain storming session on it. It is not must that this topic you
may have to carry on for the term project or your final research
thesis. This activity is just to polish your topic clarification skills

» Your assignment # 02
˃ Write an essay on any (1) of following topics (at least 400 words)
+ Impact of terrorism news on children‘s mentality
+ Effect of Yamin’s war on world oil prices
+ Do you have other related current topic??
» Writing a research proposal is a crucial part of the
research process
» Put a great deal of time into the preparation of
your proposal
» Very careful attention is needed
» Purposes of research proposal
˃ Organizing your ideas
Writing is the best way of clarifying your thoughts
It will also clarify your thoughts plus help you to organize your ideas into a
logical statement of your research intent.
˃ Convincing your audience
Discussion can make your idea more workable
Convince the supervisor and others (within time and other resources
available)
» Title
» Background
» Research Questions and Objectives
» Method
» Timescale
» Resources
» References
» Closely mirror the content of your proposal
» e.g.
˃ The influence of Thai culture on employee involvement
˃ Determinants of Dividend Policy in Pakistan
˃ The relationship between training and employee performance in UK
˃ etc
» Describe
˃ Why you feel the research that you are planning is worthwhile
˃ Relevant literature and research gap

» Intro + Significance + Literature Review +

Research Gap
» As discussed in the previous lectures
» May be the longest section of the proposal
» How you intend to go about achieving your research
objectives
» Method section consist of 1)Research design and
2)Data collection
» Research Design:
˃ Where you intend to carry out the research
˃ Why you chose this industry or country or etc
˃ Explain why you have selected this population for analysis
˃ Will it be based on Questionnaire, interviews, secondary data etc
˃ Statistical Model
˃ Give logical arguments for each and every step of methodology
˃ Be careful while relating your research method with your research objectives
» Data Collection
˃ Specify your population and sample size
˃ Time period
˃ How data will be collected
˃ Limitation of Data
» Divide your research plan into stages
» Produce a schedule using Gantt Chart
˃ Tasks or activities being plotted against a time line

» e.g.
˃ Start thinking about research Ideas 11/12/2012
˃ Research Questions and Research Objectives 17/12/2012
˃ Literature Review 24/01/2013
˃ Submission of Research Proposal 10/02/2013
˃ Data Collection 10/02/2013
˃ Data Analysis 20/02/2013
˃ Complete draft of Paper 02/03/2013
» Finance, data access and Equipments
» Travel
» Response rate
» Necessary Skills
» Give the reference of the literature and other
related studies which are quoted in your
research proposal
» e.g.
˃ Ali (2010) Performance of Mutual Funds in UK, Journal of Banking and
Finance, 2(4), 114-123.
 Data Entry with Codes
• In addition to the data entry in direct way as we did in
the last week’s exercise, SPSS provides the facility to
data entry with codes for gender, educational status,
marital status and so on. Let’s enter data on gender and
educational status of 10 respondents (for example).
• Steps for data entry (with Codes)
+ Open SPSS’s ‘Data Editor’
+ Go to the ‘Variable View’ first, and type Gender
under column Name and Gender of employee under
column Labels, in Row 1.

…….continued
next slide
» Nominal.
A variable can be treated as nominal when its
values represent categories with no intrinsic
ranking; for example, the department of the
company in which an employee works.
Examples of nominal variables include region,
zip code, or religious affiliation.A variable can
be treated as nominal when its values
represent categories with no essential ranking.
» Ordinal.
A variable can be treated as ordinal when its
values represent categories with some intrinsic
ranking; for example, levels of service
satisfaction from highly dissatisfied to highly
satisfied. Examples of ordinal variables include
attitude scores representing degree of
satisfaction or confidence and preference rating
scores.
» Scale.
A variable can be treated as scale when its
values represent ordered categories with a
meaningful metric, so that distance
comparisons between values are appropriate.
Examples of scale variables include age in years
and income in thousands of dollars.
 Data Entry with Codes
Continued from previous slide
+ Click column Values; you will get a small box,
clicking that box, you will reach ‘Value Label’ entry
box. Type 1 for Value and Male for Value label, and
click Add. Repeat the process for code 2 for Female
and add. Click OK.
+ Go to row 2 , type Education and Educational status
under columns Name and labels. Repeat the process
for coding: 0 for Uneducated, 1 for Primary, 2 for
Matriculate, 3 for Bachelor, 4 for Master and 5 for
PhD.
+ Go to ‘Data View’ and check whether the two
columns created above (Gender and Education) are
there. Enter codes as per data of next slide.
Respondent Gender Education
Number
1 Female = 2 Primary = 1
2 Male = 1 Batchelor = 3
3 Male = 1 PhD = 5
4 Male = 1 Bachelor = 3
5 Female = 2 Matric = 2
6 Female = 2 Unedu.= 0
7 Male = 1 Primary = 1
8 Male = 1 Batchelor = 3
9 Male = 1 Matric = 2
10 Female = 2 Batchelor = 3
 Analysis of the data
1.(a) Click ‘Analyze’ ….’Descriptive Statistics’….
‘Frequencies’.
(b) Check the output.
2. (a) Click ‘Analyze’ ….’Descriptive Statistics’….
‘Crosstabs’.
(b) Transfer ‘Gender’ to Rows box and
‘Educational Status’ to columns box, and click
OK
(b) Check the output.