Research Methods for Graduate Business and Social Science Students

271 Pages·2007·2.8 MB·English

by  Adams, John

Research Methods
for Graduate Business and
Social Science Students

Research Methods
for Graduate Business and
Social Science Students
John Adams
Hafiz T.A. Khan
Robert Raeside
David White
Copyright © John Adams, Hafiz T.A. Khan, Robert Raeside and David White, 2007
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission
in writing from the publisher.
First published in 2007 by
Response Books
Business books from SAGE
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Published by Vivek Mehra for Response Books, typeset in 10/12 pt Times New Roman by Star Compugraphics
Private Limited, Delhi and printed at Chaman Enterprises, New Delhi.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Available
Culture and the making of identity in
ation—1947. 2. Feminism—India. 3. India—Historiography. 4. Science—Study and teaching—India. I.
Ganesh, Kamala. II. Thakkar, Usha. III. Asiatic Society of Mumbai.
DS428.2.C87 306'.0954'09045—dc22 2005 2005003590
ISBN: 978-0-7619-3589-6 (PB) 978-81-7829-750-7 (India-PB)
The Sage Team: Leela Kirloskar, Neha Kohli, Rajib Chatterjee and Sanjeev Kumar Sharma
Contents
List of Tables 10
List of Figures 13
Preface 15
SECTION I GENERAL INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Research 19
1.1 Introduction 19
1.2 What is Research? 19
1.3 Why is Research Conducted? 20
1.4 Who Does Research? 21
1.5 How is Research Conducted? 21
1.6 Business and Social Research Methods 22
SECTION II RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
CHAPTER 2 Research Methodology 25
2.1 Introduction 25
2.2 Research Method versus Research Methodology 25
2.3 Approaches to Business and Social Research 26
2.4 Justifying the Scientific Method 28
2.5 Research Ethics 35
2.6 Exercises 36
2.7 References 38
6 Research Methods for Graduate Business and Social Science Students
SECTION III FORMULATION
CHAPTER 3 The Research Cycle 41
3.1 Introduction 41
3.2 The Research Cycle 41
3.3 Problems with the Research Process 45
3.4 Exercises 46
3.5 References 47
CHAPTER 4 Literature Review and Critical Reading 48
4.1 Introduction 48
4.2 The Importance of Literature Review 49
4.3 What Should the Literature Review Do? 53
4.4 Types of Literature Review 56
4.5 Some General Points in Literature Reviewing 57
4.6 Obtaining Literature Sources 58
4.7 Searching the Literature 59
4.8 Assessing the Quality of Literature 61
4.9 An Example of a Literature Review 62
4.10 Critical Evaluation 71
4.11 Critical Analysis 71
4.12 Critical Reading 71
4.13 Critical Thinking 72
4.14 Critical Questions 72
4.15 Critical Reviews 74
4.16 Writing a Critical Review 75
4.17 Exercises 76
4.18 References 76
SECTION IV RESEARCH DESIGN
CHAPTER 5 Sampling 81
5.1 Introduction 81
5.2 Classification of Research Designs 82
5.3 Sources of Data 85
5.4 Types of Data and Measurement 85
5.5 Methods of Data Collection 87
5.6 Sampling Techniques 87
5.7 Representative Sampling Plans 88
5.8 Sample Size Determination 91
Contents 7
5.9 Test of Significance for Population Mean 93
5.10 Test of Significance for Population Proportion 93
5.11 Key Statistical Concepts 95
5.12 Some Problems with Random Sample Surveys 99
5.13 The Normal Distribution 102
5.14 Exercises 102
5.15 References 103
SECTION V DATA COLLECTION
CHAPTER 6 Primary Data Collection 107
6.1 Introduction 107
6.2 Observation 107
6.3 Experimentation 110
6.4 Surveys 111
6.5 Interviews 111
6.6 Diary Methods 111
6.7 Case Studies 112
6.8 Data Storage 113
6.9 Triangulation 113
6.10 Exercises 115
6.11 References 116
CHAPTER 7 Secondary Data Collection 117
7.1 Introduction 117
7.2 WWW Search Skills 119
7.3 Exercises 127
7.4 References 127
CHAPTER 8 Surveys 128
8.1 Introduction 128
8.2 Design 128
8.3 Questions 132
8.4 Pilot Survey 136
8.5 Administering the Survey 136
8.6 Ensuring a High Response Rates 138
8.7 Missing Information 139
8.8 Coding and Data Input 140
8.9 Guidelines 141
8.10 Exercise 143
8.11 References 143
8 Research Methods for Graduate Business and Social Science Students
CHAPTER 9 Interviews 144
9.1 Introduction 144
9.2 Why do interviews 144
9.3 General Guidelines for Interviewing 146
9.4 Biases and Errors 148
9.5 Telephone Interviews 149
9.6 Group/Focus Group Interviews 150
9.7 References 151
SECTION VI ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 10 Qualitative Data Analysis 155
10.1 Introduction 155
10.2 Preparation 156
10.3 Methods of Analysis 161
10.4 Summarising 167
10.5 Grounded Theory 168
10.6 References 169
CHAPTER 11 Descriptive Quantitative Analysis 170
11.1 Introduction 170
11.2 Descriptive Statistics 171
11.3 Are There Significant Differences? 184
11.4 Comparing Two Groups 187
11.5 Comparing More than Two Groups 189
11.6 The Association between Categorical Variables 190
11.7 Summary of Test Procedures 192
11.8 Exercises 193
11.9 References 195
CHAPTER 12 Correlation and Regression 196
12.1 Introduction 196
12.2 Correlation 196
12.3 Regression 198
12.4 Diagnostics 201
12.5 Multiple Regression 203
12.6 Modelling 207
12.7 Exercises 212
12.8 References 214
Contents 9
CHAPTER 13 Advanced Statistical Analysis 215
13.1 Introduction 215
13.2 Factor Analysis 215
13.3 Logistic Regression 222
13.4 Exercises 230
13.5 References 231
SECTION VII QUALITY AND VERIFICATION
CHAPTER 14 Tests of Measurement and Quality 235
14.1 Introduction 235
14.2 Reliability 235
14.3 Validity 237
14.4 Generalisability 239
14.5 Exercises 240
14.6 References 240
SECTION VIII INVOLVEMENT DURING RESEARCH
CHAPTER 15 Conducting Your Research 243
15.1 Introduction 243
15.2 Selecting Your Topic 243
15.3 Guide to Supervision 247
15.4 Undertaking Your Research 248
15.5 References 254
CHAPTER 16 Writing and Presenting the Dissertation 255
16.1 Introduction 255
16.2 The Dissertation 255
16.3 Dissertation Objectives 256
16.4 What should a Dissertation Look Like? 257
16.5 Presenting the Dissertation 259
16.6 References 263
Index 265
About the Authors 269