Dissertation & Research Methods

1

Dissertation & Research Methods

Session 2 – 8th October 2007

Amos HaniffSchool of Management & Languages

2School of Management and Languages

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


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


Session 2

• Searching Literature• Analysing Literature• Referencing Literature • Plagiarism


Literature Review

• 20-25% dissertation content • Involves reading AND appraising other

writing in subject area• Descriptive AND Analytical• Must

1. Know sources of information 2. Understand how library works3. Collect knowledge on the subject; reading, notes4. Systematically organise the literature 5. Appraise literature 6. Write review


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


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


1. Literature sources


2. The Library

• Peter Sandison


The Literature Review Process


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


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!!


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


Literature review process

Broad scope of research

Narrow scope of research

Focused research



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


Literature Review Process

1. Start at general level 2. Provide an overview of key themes 3. Summarise, compare & contrast research

of key writers4. Narrow down to highlight previous

research to own subject5. Provide detailed account of the findings of

previous research6. Highlight aspects where your research

provides fresh insights7. Lead reader to methodology


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


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


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


Harvard system of Referencing

• Harvard system – Author-date system

• Any one source must appear in two places 1. In the body of the text, when reference is

made to third persons ideas.– Surname & year (Keane 1999) – Surname, Year & page (Keane, 1999:53)

2. 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


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


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”.


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)


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).


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)


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).


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.


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…


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)


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


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


Book references 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


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


Journal References

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


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


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.


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.


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.


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].


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].


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.


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.


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].


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].


Diagrams in the text

Figure 21: Population of developing countries

Source: Smith, J.P. (1999) Developing countries. Joe Press. NY. pp.53


Endnote

• Referencing System • PC Caledonia


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


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


Next week

• Task – Sketch an outline “mind map” on acetate of lit

review– Questions– Objectives

• Research strategy• Data collection methods