Doing Academic Research: From An US Editorial Perspective? Tung Bui, PhD, Dr.rer.pol University of Hawaii Matson Navigation Company Distinguished Professor of Global Business Graduate Chair and Director of PhD Program in International Management Research Methodologies / LRC Project March 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt Some Preliminary Remarks… • Addressing this topic in two days is really an heroic move It is impossible to cover all issues • Science is so universal, yet so divergent Talking about a general research methodology is… nothing but challenging • Many scientists have different ways of doing research This is only a personal view • Intent here is to share with you some experience, and not a formal lecture on how to research LRC © Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt Agenda • Research Basics • Methodologies • Behind the scenes… – What research is and is not – Where research comes from – Research deliverables – Research process – Quantitative versus qualitative research – Presentation of published work – Writing and presentation techniques and styles / Ways to get your submitted paper rejected • Discipline-based research – Economics, Business, Political science, Computer science • Questions/Discussions LRC © Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt Epistemology, Methodology, and Method • An epistemology is a theory of knowledge "ἐｹιστήμη or episteme" (knowledge or science) and "λόγος or logos" (account/explanation) • Methodology is a theory and analysis of how research does or should proceed • A research method is a technique for (or way of proceeding in) gathering evidence Sandra Harding “Is There a Feminist Method?” LRC © Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt The study of what is knowledge? What we know, and what we don‟t know (Plato) LRC © Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt What’s the Difference Between “Method” and “Methodology”? Method: • Techniques for gathering evidence • The various ways of proceeding in gathering information Methodology: • The underlying theory and analysis of how research does or should proceed, often influenced by discipline (Sandra Harding) LRC © Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt Motivation • Motivation for research: • Motivation for research methodology – – – – – – – pure research: enhance understanding of phenomena instrumentalist research: a problem needs a solution applied research: a solution needs application fields (qualitatively) control research process validate research results compare research approaches respect rules of good scientific practice LRC © Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt Why research is needed more than ever? – New business environments (new consumer’s behavior, new business models, global business -many textbooks in many disciplines are being rewritten - astronomy, economics, sociology, etc.) – New technologies in all areas from bio-tech to human sciences – Information overload instead of lack of information – Speed of scientific evolution is so overwhelming, there is always to good research topic to explore! – 99%+ scientists in humanity are alive today! LRC â Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt What is Research? ã Research means different things to different people • Multiple research approaches and scopes – – – – – Technical vs behavioral Explanation vs prediction global vs local theory vs practice But each approach has its “proper” method… you have to understand that method to be “accepted” in the circle… • The Future: Multi-Person Interdisciplinary Research – The “Expert knowledge test” – What’s the solution? LRC © Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt What Research Is… “…the systematic process of collecting and analyzing information (data) in order to increase our understanding of the phenomenon about which we are concerned or interested.” 10 LRC © Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt Avoid negation Poor usage: This framework does not address dynamic compilation Better usage: This framework applies to static compilation Make your sentences affirmative 194 LRC © Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt So Poor usage: Cache memories are built with expensive technology, so they are small Better usage: Cache memories are built with expensive technology, therefore they are small Avoid all colloquialisms in technical writing 195 LRC © Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt Wasted words The following expressions (and many others that you would use where these appear) often not add anything to your writing They waste valuable space in your paper and annoy some of your readers As a matter of fact Generally It is common knowledge that As we mentioned in Section 3.2* As we stated before It is very important to note that Observe that In order to Note “just”, “very” * Use cross-section references sparingly When possible, replace them with 196 to specific definitions, theorems, equations, graphs, etc LRC © Bui,references 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt Salavatipour’s State-YourIntuition Advice • Before a formal proof or a series of equations, give your intuitive reasoning, and an outline of your proof or derivation, in plain English 197 LRC © Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt Sutton’s Plausible Opposite Test Look at your sentence In your mind, construct its negative Is that opposite sentence also plausible? If it is, you should probably say something different 198 LRC © Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt Sutton’s Writing Advice • • • • Do not use “since” when you mean “because” Avoid convoluted, indirect sentences No double negatives please Be direct, honest, and plain You will get rid of lots of words Your ideas will be more clearly exposed • Expect to rewrite and edit extensively! 199 LRC © Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt Case studies… • Exploratory research… – Descriptive statistics / semi-structured interview – E-tourism in HCMC – Prospective (future) research 200 LRC © Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt Presenting your research… What we teach our MBA/PhD students… CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt Establishing rapport • • • • • Prove that you care Prove that you are knowledgeable Thank the audience Never go overtime The first minute is the most important one • A picture is worth a thousand words – Use statistical charts whenever possible – Prepare a few extra slides for Q/A 202 LRC © Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt Prepare Your PowerPoint • Content – Clear and concise – Do not open “can of worm” • Format – Simple and consistent – Check spelling – Use much tables and figures as possible 203 LRC © Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt Typical Structure • • • • Title slide Thank you slide Research topics Research motivation • • • • Literature Review Research Approach / Methodology / Methods Research Findings Contributions – Problem statement – Research Statement – Summary of research questions, approach, findings – Findings and contributions – Directions for future research 204 LRC © Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt Resources • • • • Jaeger, R M (1997) Complementary Research Methods for Research in Education, (2nd ed) American Educational Research Association: Washington, DC Edyburn, D L (1998) The Electronic Scholar: Enhancing Research Productivity with Technology Prentice-Hall: Columbus, OH Nowaczyk, R H., & Underwood, D G (1995) Possible indicators of research quality for colleges and universities Education Policy Analysis Archives, 3(20) [On-line] Available: http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v3n20.html Bowen, K A (1996) The Sin of Omission -Punishable by Death to Internal Validity: An Argument for Integration of Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods to Strengthen Internal Validity [On-line] Available: http://trochim.human.cornell.edu/gallery/bowen/hss691.htm Leedy P D and Ormrod J E., Practical Research: Planning and Design, 7th Edition 2001 205 LRC â Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt References ã ã • • • • • • • • • • „DFG Rules of Good Scientific Practice“ available at www.dfg.de, last seen September 2005 Tsichritzis, D "The Dynamics of Innovation," Beyond Calculation: The Next Fifty Years of Computing, Copernicus, 1997, pp 259-265 Denning, P.J "A New Social Contract for Research," Communications of the ACM (40:2), February 1997, pp 132-134 Simon, H.A The Sciences of the Artificial, 3rd Edition, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1996 Markus, M.L., Majchrzak, A., and Gasser, L., "A Design Theory for Systems that Support Emergent Knowledge Processes," MIS Quarterly (26:3), September, 2002, pp 179-212 Walls, J.G., Widmeyer, G.R., and El Sawy, O.A "Building an Information System Design Theory for Vigilant EIS," Information Systems Research (3:1), March 1992, pp 36-59 Kuhn, T.S The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, 3rd Edition, University of Chicago Press, 1996 March, S.T and Smith, G “Design and Natural Science Research on Information Technology,” Decision Support Systems (15:4), December 1995, pp 251-266 Lakatos, I „The Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes“, John Worral and Gregory Currie, Eds., Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1978 Wikipedia available at www.wikipedia.org, last seen Semptember 2005 Purao, S “Design Research in the Technology of Information Systems: Truth or Dare.” GSU Department of CIS Working Paper Atlanta, 2002 206 LRC © Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt Writing References The Elements of Style By William Strunk Jr., E.B White, and Roger Angell, Fourth Edition, Longman, 2000 Writing for Computer Science, Justin Zobel, Springer, 2004 Handbook of Writing for The Mathematical Sciences, Nicholas J Higham, Siam,1993 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt Questions? Tel (808) 956-5565 Fax (808) 956-9889 tungb@hawaii.edu http://ec.cba.hawaii.edu 208 LRC © Bui, 2007 CuuDuongThanCong.com https://fb.com/tailieudientucntt ... system and its impact on social processes and social organization – behavioral sciences: the decision processes and communication strategies within and between organisms in a social system 14 LRC. .. capabilities, and products through which the analysis, design, implementation, and use of information systems can be effectively and efficiently accomplished Tsichritzis 1997; Denning 1997 20 LRC © Bui,... •sampling using selective matching of data to actual external phenomena or trusted surrogate •integration tests •risk and cost analysis •user surveys domain scope, purpose syntax and semantics terminology