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Dissertation & Research Methods

Session 2 – 8 th October 2007 Amos Haniff School of Management & Languages. Dissertation & Research Methods. Example research projects. How does on-line gambling effect productivity in the workplace? How do advances in telecommunications effect the work-life balance of ….?

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Dissertation & Research Methods

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  1. Session 2 – 8th October 2007 Amos Haniff School of Management & Languages Dissertation & Research Methods

  2. Example research projects • How does on-line gambling effect productivity in the workplace? • How do advances in telecommunications effect the work-life balance of ….? • An investigation in to Management fashions and fads • How do Edinburgh bus services compare with European bus services in terms of customer needs? • An evaluations of cross-culture project teams

  3. Example research projects • Underlying racial prejudice with local government • The “glass ceiling” in the 21st century • Women managers (CEO); does it make a difference? • Case studies • How effective is Health & Safety communication in …. Industry? • Research questions

  4. Session 2 • Searching Literature • Analysing Literature • Referencing Literature • Plagiarism

  5. Literature Review • 20-25% dissertation content • Involves reading AND appraising other writing in subject area • Descriptive AND Analytical • Must • Know sources of information • Understand how library works • Collect knowledge on the subject; reading, notes • Systematically organise the literature • Appraise literature • Write review

  6. Literature review function • To give reasons why the topic is sufficient importance to researched • To provide reader with a brief up-to-date account of discussion of literature and relevant issues. • To provide a conceptual and theoretical context in which the topic for research can be situated • To discuss relevant research carried out on the same topic or similar topics

  7. Literature review • Demonstrate an understanding of the subject • Demonstrate a knowledge of previous research • Explain the focus of topic and research study • Scholarly manner • Justify research method • Past research • Draw conclusions • Past research theories • Forms the entire basis of the dissertation

  8. 1. Literature sources

  9. 2. The Library • Peter Sandison

  10. The Literature Review Process

  11. The Critical Review • Deductive approach • Identify theories, ideas to test • Inductive • Explore data and develop theories • Competent knowledge • Refine questions & Objectives • Identify research possibilities • Discover explicit recommendations • Avoid repetition • Sample current opinion • Discover approaches / methodologies

  12. Assessing literature • Identify similarities AND contradictions • Identify conclusions and reasons • Key words: hence, thus, should • What do you want me to believe? • What is the reason • What is the evidence • Identify underling assumptions • Reasons, conclusions, definitions, meanings • Identify recommendations • Celebrate!!

  13. Being Critical • Read with some Scepticism • Question what you read • Refer to assess research by recognised experts in chosen area? • Consider and discuss research that supports AND opposes your idea • Make judgements regarding value of other research • Justify arguments • Distinguish between fact and opinion

  14. Literature review process Broad scope of research Narrow scope of research Focused research

  15. Literature Review • 1 chapter • Discussing question and objectives • 2,3,4 Chapters • Each section of the question and objectives • Not a listing of previous studies • Not a regurgitation of • Common text books • Lectures notes • Structured, Critical Review

  16. Literature Review Process • Start at general level • Provide an overview of key themes • Summarise, compare & contrast research of key writers • Narrow down to highlight previous research to own subject • Provide detailed account of the findings of previous research • Highlight aspects where your research provides fresh insights • Lead reader to methodology

  17. Conducting Literature Review • Ensure literature relate clearly to research question and objectives? • Ensure most relevant and significant experts / theories are discussed • Ensure most relevant and significant literature is discussed • Ensure most up to date literature is discussed • Ensure you reference

  18. Why Reference? • Evidence of background reading • Acknowledge the research of others • Avoid accusations of plagiarism • Forces you to include complete information • Easy to trace the background research used • Helps other researchers • Web-site guides • http://www.lib.flinders.edu.au/services/infolit/nureference.pdf • Google “Harvard referencing guide” PDF

  19. Terminology • CITING • acknowledging in the text • CITATION • the passage or words quoted within your text • REFERENCE(S) • detailed description of works used • Alphabetical list of sources / references • BIBLIOGRAPHY • Additional reading not cited in the Reference section

  20. Harvard system of Referencing • Harvard system • Author-date system • Any one source must appear in two places • In the body of the text, when reference is made to third persons ideas. • Surname & year (Keane 1999) • Surname, Year & page (Keane, 1999:53) • At the end of the dissertation (or assignment) where a full description of the reference is made. • Name, year, source, publisher • Identifying where the reference can be found

  21. Harvard system of Referencing • 2 elements to referencing other peoples work • Citing in the body of the text, when reference is made to third persons ideas. • Brief acknowledgement • Surname & year • Referencing at the end of the dissertation (or assignment) where a full description of the reference is made. • Name, year, source, publisher • Identifying where the reference can be found

  22. Quotations • Less than 30 words: include in the text with single quotation marks. • It was Roy Keane (2002) who stated that ‘some of the people who come to Old Trafford can’t spell even football never mind understand it’ • More than 30 words: the text must be set apart • Keane (2002, p.263) is of the opinion that he had the right to express his grievances: “The article appeared on Thursday morning. It expressed exactly what I felt. I believe people at home has a right to know the truth. The Irish fans are celebrated for the support they give the team”.

  23. Citing in the text • Authors surname and year of publication in brackets Porter (1980) suggests that a firm can gain a competitive advantage through focusing on a particular buyer group A firm can gain a competitive advantage through focusing on a particular buyer group(Porter 1980) Book “A firm can gain a competitive advantage through focusing on a particular buyer group”(Porter 1980, p.123) (Porter 1980:123)

  24. Citing Two or Three Authors • Krogh & Roos (1995) suggest that a firm sustains it competitive advantage by resisting erosion by competitors. • A firm sustains it competitive advantage if it resists erosion by competitors (Krogh & Roos 1995). • A firm sustains it competitive advantage if it resists erosion by competitors (Krogh, Roos & Stienberg 1995).

  25. Citing Four or More Authors • A firm sustains it competitive advantage if it resists erosion by competitors (Krogh et al 1995). • and others • Krogh et al (1995) suggests a firm sustains it competitive advantage if it resists erosion by competitors. No author • a firm sustains it competitive advantage if it resists erosion by competitors (Strategic digest 2003)

  26. Citing More than one source • Both Conner (1991) and Spanos & Lioukas (2001) agree that an attractive strategic position is of crucial importance. • However, current literature suggests that sustaining a competitive advantage may prove an impossible task (Oliver 2000; Fiol 2001; Williams 1992).

  27. Citing an Electronic reference • Know author • Author & Date • Author & current year • No author • Title of page • A recent study (Strategy on-line 2005) shows that cost is the main factor.

  28. Citing a work described in another work • Original idea by one author (primary source) found in work by another author (secondary source) • Acknowledge both sources • Clarke’s 1992 study (cited in Brown 1995) demonstrates… • Brown (1995) in reporting a 1992 study by Clark states…

  29. Citing • Citing two or publications with same author and date • List work alphabetically • Porter (1980a) • Porter (1980b) • Competitive strategy is about winning (Porter 1980a; Barney 1981b) • Citing authors with same surname • Use Initials • (Porter, P 1980) • AC Porter (2001)

  30. Personal communications • E-mails, letters, telephone conversations, lecture presentations • Obtain permission of the person in order to quote them • Give the communicators initials and surname • Include the type of communication in the text • Give the exact date of the communication • In an email communication on 4th February 2005, A Jones outlined…. • Do not include communications is the reference list

  31. The Reference List • The Reference list gives the FULL reference • Alphabetical list at the end of your work • Authors with several publications must be listed in Chronological order, starting with earliest date. • Authors with multiple publications in the same year • Smith, A. C. (2005a) • Smith, A. C. (2005b) • The most important thing to remember is to keep your reference list consistent

  32. Book references • Author(s) / Editor(s) / Organisation • Year in brackets • Title and Subtitle (as it appears on the title page). • In italics or underlined • Normally only first word in capitals (normal grammar applies) • Series/Volume no. (if present). • Edition. (2nd edn, 3rd edn) • Publisher. • Place of publication

  33. Referencing a Thesis or dissertation • Bloodgood , J. B. (1997) Sustaining competitive advantage: The role of tacit knowledge in a resource-Based perspective. PhD Thesis. University of Carolina. USA

  34. Journal References • Author(s) of article • Year in brackets • Article title. • Journal title (In Italics), • Volume, Part, Issue, Month/Season • Page numbers.

  35. Journal References • Barney, J. B., (1991) Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management. Vol.17, No.1, pp.99-120 • Mahoney, J. T., & Pandian, R., (1992) The Resource-Based View within the conversation of strategic management. Strategic Management Journal. Vol.13, pp.368-380 • Harrison, J. S., Hitt, M. A., Hoskisson, R. E., & Ireland, R.D. (1991) Synergies and Post-Acquisition Performance: Differences versus Similarities in Resource Allocations. Journal of Management. Vol.17, No.1, pp.173-190

  36. Working papers • O’Farrell, P. N., Hitchens, D. M., & Moffat, L. A., (1991) The competitive advantage of business service firms: A matched pair analysis of the relationship between generic strategy and performance. Working Paper No.1. Department of Economics, Queens University, Belfast.

  37. Conference Papers • Haniff A. P., & Kaka A. P., (2005) A framework for development of a knowledge database for use within the construction industry. Paper presented at the International Conference of Project Management. Salford University. 13th-15th June 2005. • Haniff A. P., & Kaka A. P., (2005) A framework for development of a knowledge database for use within the construction industry. Proceedings of the International Conference of Project Management. Salford University press. United Kingdom.

  38. Newspaper articles • Newspaper article where author known • Jonquieres, G.D., (1992), “Decline in Cross-Border Deals”, Financial Times, January 10, Section II, p. 17. • Newspaper article where author unknown • Economist, (1992a), “Mad Mergers in Europe”, February 1, p. 18. • Economist, (1992b), “Perrier Bottled”, March 21, p. 107.

  39. Internet sources • Author(s) / Editor(s) if known • Year (in brackets) • Title (Italics) • [Internet]. • Edition • Place of publication, • Publisher’s name (if available). • Available from: <URL> • [Date accessed].

  40. Internet sources Rowett, S. (1998) Higher Education for capability: autonomous learning for life and work [Internet]. Higher Education for Capability. Available from: <http://www.lle.mdx.ac.uk/hec/about.htm> [Accessed 8 August 2006]. The Architecture Foundation. (1999) Architecture Foundation Online [Internet]. Available from: <http://www.architecturefoundation.org.uk/home.htm> [Accessed 17 August 2006].

  41. Internet sources • Reuters, (1996), “EC says no to ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with UEFA over Bosman”, Internet Soccer Features. http://www.nando.net/newsroom/sports/oht/1996/oth/soc/feat/archive/020196/soc/51483.html. Last accessed 10th November 2005 • Show date of last accesses.

  42. Official reports • Official Documents, e.g., Accounting Standards • ABS, (1994), FRS 5: Reporting the Substance of Transactions, Accounting Standards Board. • In the text you give (ASB, 1994) as the reference.

  43. TV & Video • Commercial videos: Yol (1982) Directed by Yilmaz Guney. London, Artificial Eye [video:VHS]. • Television programmes and off-air recordings: World in Action (1995) All work and no play. London, ITV, 21st January [DVD].

  44. Sound recordings Mozart, W.A., Symphony no. 38 in D major, Vienna Philharmonic. Polydor. [sound recording:compact disk]. Porter, C., (1966) Mack the Knife. Performed by Robbie Willaims 2002, Swing when you’re winning. Chyrstal.[sound recording:compact disk]. Children language and literature. (1982) Milton Keynes, Open University Press [sound recording:audiocassette].

  45. Diagrams in the text Figure 21: Population of developing countries Source: Smith, J.P. (1999) Developing countries. Joe Press. NY. pp.53

  46. Endnote • Referencing System • PC Caledonia

  47. Plagiarism “Plagiarism involves the act of taking the ideas, writings or inventions of another person and using these as if they were one’s own, whether intentionally or not.” • Quoting or paraphrasing material without citing the source of that material.. • Quoting a source without using quotation marks • Copying or using others work without permission • Citing sources not used. • Submitting the same work for different classes

  48. Plagiarism • “Direct quotes should only be used when necessary” (Haniff 2005) • Haniff (2005) suggests that the unnecessary use of direct quotes should be avoided. • It is recommended that the overuse of direct quotes hinders the flow of a literature review (Haniff 2005) • Check guidelines • Use Harvard referencing

  49. Next week • Task • Sketch an outline “mind map” on acetate of lit review • Questions • Objectives • Research strategy • Data collection methods

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