Quantitative research in public management session 2

Session – Part Searching and Reviewing Literature School of Business I N T E R N AT I O N A L U N I V E R S I T Y - V I E T N A M N AT I O N A L U N I V E R S I T Y H C M C Literature Review • Once you have identified a research topic, you need to start collecting and analysing the literature in order to identify a research problem to investigate • The literature is ‘all sources of published data on a particular topic’ and a literature search is ‘a systemic process with a view to identifying the existing body of knowledge on a particular topic’ (Collis and Hussey, 2009, p 91) Tri D Le Literature • Literature in the context of research – research that has already been carried out and published – In journals, books, theses, government reports, conference reports/proceedings, online publications • Literature review is undertaken in research to – Develop ones own expertise or scholarship on the topic or phenomenon – To establish what is known and what is not known in the field – Highlight gaps in the knowledge base in the area or on the topic – Create a theoretical framework for the research project Tri D Le Research Projects • Research projects are designed to make a contribution to some body of knowledge • Rules, processes and procedures of research are rigorous • A valid research project must meet rigorous scientific standards –Valid contribution to knowledge –Is subject to peer-review –Journal articles, books, conference proceedings –Peer-reviewed sources are used in compiling a literature review for research projects Tri D Le Research Issue • From the literature on your topic, choose a research problem or issue that is interesting or important –Look for gaps and deficiencies in the literature and then formulate a research question you can investigate –Most researchers highlight limitations of their work and suggest areas for further research –You could also consider replicating a study in a different sector or setting, or to update the findings –Another possibility is to make a new analysis of existing data Tri D Le Procedure for a systematic literature search • Draw up a list of sources –Consult abstracts, indexes and on-line databases • Define the scope of the research –Eg sector, geography, period of time • Determine key words • Search each source, keeping a record of your progress so you can describe your methods later on when writing your methodology chapter • Only collect literature that is relevant • Start with most recent publications and work back Tri D Le Reading Literature: some key points • How relevant is the literature to the research? • How dated is the literature sourced? –If dated, is it from seminal sources? • Is there any up to date literature ? • Who authored the literature? –What qualifications they have? –Do they have other publications? • Take a critical perspective to published research Tri D Le Guide to writing a literature review • Select relevant material • Identify themes and group the material – Morphological analysis, mind maps, relevance trees • Define key terms • Group material into themes/categories • Compare results and methods of previous studies • Be critical and demonstrate relevance to your research • Set the context for your study (a deductive approach suggests you will identify a theoretical framework and hypotheses) • Conclude with your research question(s) • Acknowledge other people’s contribution to knowledge Tri D Le Checklist for the literature review • Have you cited the most important experts in your field? • Have you referred to major research studies which have made contribution to our knowledge? • Have you referred to articles in the most important academic journals in your area? • Have you identified any major government or other institutional study in your research field? • Have you identified studies that use the same paradigms and methodologies you propose? • Have you identified serious criticisms of any previous studies? • Have you avoided plagiarism? Tri D Le Common faults when reviewing the literature • Making assertions without stating where the evidence is from –You must support all claims to avoid plagiarism • Failing to state the objectives of previous studies, the year conducted, location, sample, methodology • A ‘shopping list’ with no effort to synthesise or compare previous studies, or provide rationale • Poor structure, style or spelling • Conclusions fail to provide rationale for the proposed study or lead to the research questions Tri D Le 10 Summary • A critical review of literature develops an understanding of previous research and relates to your research question/objectives • Your literature review will critically discuss and reference work that has been already undertaken – Key points drawn from the critical review will be presented in a logically argued way highlighting fresh insights • No one correct structure for a critical review of literature –Funnel – start with a more general discussion and then narrow it down Tri D Le 16 Summary cont • Literature sources can be –Primary, secondary and tertiary or overlap • When planning literature review –Have clearly defined research topic –Define the parameters of your research –Generate key words and search items –Discuss your ideas as widely as possible –Techniques – relevance trees, mind maps, morphological analysis • Care is to be taken when writing literature reviews not to plagiarise other people’s work Tri D Le 17 Critical Review Checklist Evaluating whether your literature review is critical? • Have you shown how your research question relates to previous research reviewed? • Have you assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the previous research reviewed? • Have you been objective in your discussion and assessment of other people’s research? • Have you included references to research that is counter to your own opinion? • Have you distinguished clearly between facts and opinions? Tri D Le 18 Critical Review Checklist • Have you made reasoned judgements about the value and relevance of others’ research to your own? • Have you justified clearly your own ideas? • Have you highlighted those areas where new research (yours!) is needed to provide fresh insights and taken these into account in your arguments? In particular: – Where there are inconsistencies in current knowledge and understanding? – Where there are omissions or bias in published research? – Where research findings need to be tested further? – Where evidence is lacking, inconclusive, contradictory or limited? • Have you justified your arguments by referencing correctly published research? Tri D Le 19 Session – Part Quantitative Research Design School of Business I N T E R N AT I O N A L U N I V E R S I T Y - V I E T N A M N AT I O N A L U N I V E R S I T Y H C M C Design in the Research Process Tri D Le 21 Quantitative Studies Descriptions Descriptionsof ofpopulation populationcharacteristics characteristics Estimates Estimatesof offrequency frequencyof ofcharacteristics characteristics Discovery Discoveryof ofassociations associationsamong amongvariables variables Tri D Le 22 Mills Method of Agreement Tri D Le 23 Mills Method of Difference Tri D Le 24 Causal Studies Symmetrical Symmetrical Reciprocal Reciprocal Asymmetrical Asymmetrical Tri D Le 25 Understanding Causal Relationships Property Behavior Response Stimulus Disposition Tri D Le 26 Asymmetrical Casual Relationships Stimulus-Response Property- Property- Behavior Disposition Disposition-Behavior Tri D Le 27 Types of Asymmetrical Causal Relationships Tri D Le 28 Evidence of Causality Covariation Covariationbetween betweenAAand andBB Time Timeorder orderof ofevents events No Noother otherpossible possiblecauses causesof ofBB Tri D Le 29 Thanks you for your attention! Tri D Le 30 ... account in your arguments? In particular: – Where there are inconsistencies in current knowledge and understanding? – Where there are omissions or bias in published research? – Where research findings... form of intellectual theft Tri D Le 12 Using citations for emphasis • To emphasize the information –The availability of data is a key factor in determining the successful outcome of a research. .. for further research –You could also consider replicating a study in a different sector or setting, or to update the findings –Another possibility is to make a new analysis of existing data Tri