Business Research Methods - Penang 2010 (con't)

I would share my understanding about a layout of a research paper. There are 5 parts inside: Problem Statement as Chapter 1, then Literature Review (also referred to as Information Search) as Chapter 2. Chapter 3 is all about Research Design (also ref. to as Research Methodology). Chapter 4 comes with title Findings (ref. to as Analysis) and final chapter is Recommendation. These 5 chapters are also understood to be 5 steps in Decision Making Process: Identify Problem - Information Search - Diagnosis Assessment - Evaluation of Alternatives - Decision.

With Chapter 1, usually does a researcher indentify the subject of the research, trends of research and phenomena or opportunities of the research. It is also replaced by another general name - INTRODUCTION. In the INTRODUCTION, researcher provides a big picture about the topic researched. That might be the current situation (bigger pre-view), with the trend up or down leading to the opportunities or phenomena respectively. When we state a fact or phenomena, and when we give any statement, even hypothesis, we must have sources of reference supporting the statement or any reported facts/figures.

Example: The Research Topic: Why so many students from Vietnam choose MBA Residential Program with EDS.

Introduction

MBA Residential study is the program which provides all students a chance to come and stay at the university campus for a certain period of time to study and do research under guidance of professors.

Based on the record from EDS Business School on registering numbers of Vietnamese student from 2007 to 2009, the figure has increased 20% in comparison with 2 previous years. Therefore, the Residential Program becomes the most favorable study choice of students.

Research Problem

With the supporting figure above, the Vietnamese students are playing the major part in the EDS business now. The main purpose of this paper is to understand the increasing trends of registration at the EDS business in order to expand business in other countries.

Research Objectives
The main objective of this research is to identify the core factors that influence the increase in number of participants. Thus it expects to achieve the following objectives:
1. To identify the core factors that influence the increasing participants
2. To explore the opportunities in other countries for reallocation of resources in investment.
3. To identify the differences in behavioral intention of the respondents based on their characteristics such as age, gender and income level.

In order to achieve the above objectives, following research questions are posed for this study:
1. What are the factors that influence the participants?
2. Which opportunities do we set as the priority for investments?
3. Does characteristics make it diference in decision making?

Theoretical Framework will come afterthen. In the framework, researcher identifies what dependent variables and independent variables are. These variables will appear in a frame/ a chart. Researcher also makes a clear table of Concept, Definition, and Operationalization.

The second chapter will be Literature Review. In this part, researcher will clarify the research objectives, the problem or any issues being discussed or even any argumentative thesis. The Literature Review must be organized around and related directly to the thesis or research question being developped. The Literature Review will synthesize results into a summary of what is known and what is not known. It also identifies areas of controversy and formulates questions that need further research.

For me, as I am not going thru with the course paper, I am guided up to chapter 3 only. The two last chapters are very much in line with information process, information analysis and Recommendations. So Chapter 3 will be called either Research Design or Research Methodology. It is time for searching information for the research. There are different ways to get information: survey, questionnaire, pocket interview, information gathering from agencies, government organs, internet sources....

Theory is there! Solution is here! The only thing is selecting a topic for research and developping it to a complete research report. That's the assignment I am taking...