Topic 2
Research topic and
objectives
Chuyên đề 2
Xác định chủ đề nghiên cứu
và mục tiêu nghiên cứu
Mục tiêu
Có khả năng thực Có khả năng phát
hiện lựa chọn chủ triển mục tiêu và
đề nghiên cứu câu hỏi nghiên cứu
Hiểu các đặc
điểm của một chủ
đề nghiên cứu tốt
2
Nội dung
Đặc điểm của một chủ
đề nghiên cứu tốt
1 3 5
2 4 6
Lựa chọn chủ đề Mục tiêu và
nghiên cứu câu hỏi nghiên cứu
3
Lựa chọn chủ đề
nghiên cứu
Finding a Research Topic
• Identify broad area: Narrow the focus
from accounting in general to a stream
The associated with financial accounting,
research management
accounting
accounting,
education or
auditing,
accounting
sequence information systems.
• Select topic: Specification of a sub-area
to provide a tighter focus, and one for
which supervision capacity is available, but
one which may be modified in the light of
subsequent developments.
Smith (2022), p16 - 38
The
research
sequence
Smith (2022), p16 - 38
Emergence of the research topic
The source of the topic can be from anywhere, but most
commonly:
• a problem at work with potentially wider implications;
• a problem or application spotted in the newspaper or from
television;
• a conference presentation revealing the directions being
explored by other researchers;
• working papers and completed theses elsewhere – the contents
of which are usually at least two years away from publication;
Smith (2022), p16 - 38
Emergence of the research topic
The source of the topic can be from anywhere, but most
commonly:
• textbooks – particularly in management-related areas – which are a
constant source of untested theories;
• review articles, analysis of the literature in a particular area, to
reveal the current boundaries of knowledge and a potential research
agenda.
• Refereed journal articles, particularly the final sections, revealing
flaws in existing research, gaps in our knowledge and research
opportunities
Smith (2022), p16 - 38
Generating research ideas
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
Refining research ideas
The Delphi technique
The preliminary inquiry
Integrating ideas
Refining topics given by your
employing organisation
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
The Delphi technique
This involves using a group of
people who are either involved or
interested in the research idea to
generate and choose a more specific
research idea (Robson 2011).
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
The Delphi technique
1 to brief the members of the group about the research idea (they can
make notes if they wish);
2 at the end of the briefing to encourage group members to seek
clarification and more information as appropriate;
3 to ask each member of the group, including the originator of the
research idea, to generate independently up to three specific research
ideas based on the idea that has been described (they can also be asked
to provide a justification for their specific ideas);
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
The Delphi technique
4 to collect the research ideas in an unedited and non-attributable form
and to distribute them to all members of the group;
5 a second cycle of the process (steps 2 to 4) in which individuals
comment on the research ideas and revise their own contributions in
the light of what others have said;
6 subsequent cycles of the process until a consensus is reached. These
either follow a similar pattern (steps 2 to 4) or use discussion, voting or
some other method.
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
Refining research ideas
The Delphi technique
The preliminary inquiry
Integrating ideas
Refining topics given by your
employing organisation
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
The preliminary inquiry
This process is to refine your research idea to turn it into a
research question and then into your research project.
• This is likely to involve searching for and evaluating
relevant literature and other related sources.
• This may lead to the first iteration of your critical
literature review, or help to inform it.
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
The preliminary inquiry
• This process may also include informal discussions
with people who have personal experience of and
knowledge about your research ideas.
• It may also involve shadowing employees that are
likely to be important in your research and who may
therefore be able to provide some initial insights.
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
Refining research ideas
The Delphi technique
The preliminary inquiry
Integrating ideas
Refining topics given by your
employing organisation
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
Integrating ideas
‘working up and narrowing down’
• The integration of ideas from these techniques is
essential if your research is to have a clear direction
and not contain a mismatch between objectives and
your final project report.
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
Integrating ideas
It involves classifying each research idea first into its area,
then its field, and finally the precise aspect in which you
are interested.
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
Refining research ideas
The Delphi technique
The preliminary inquiry
Integrating ideas
Refining topics given by your
employing organisation
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
Refining topics given by your
employing organisation
If, as a part-time student, your manager gives you a topic,
this may present particular problems.
• You will have to weigh the advantage of doing
something useful to the organization against the
disadvantage of a potential lack of personal motivation.
• You are not particularly interested in this project.
• Other problems may involve your political relationships
in the organisation.
• The biggest potential problem may be one of your own
making
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
Refining research ideas
The Delphi technique
The preliminary inquiry
Integrating ideas
Refining topics given by your
employing organisation
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
Nội dung
Đặc điểm của một chủ
đề nghiên cứu tốt
1 3 5
2 4 6
Lựa chọn chủ đề Mục tiêu và
nghiên cứu câu hỏi nghiên cứu
23
Attributes of a good
research topic
Attributes of a good research topic
Single (2010) recommends taking into account three
constraints when choosing a topic of research: “resources,
time, and knowledge”
Blair (2016), p28
Attributes of a good research topic
• Is the project ‘doable’ (khả thi) in a reasonable time frame
(e.g., the period of candidature)?
• Will the project fit the NIRD acronym in that it is new,
interesting, replicable and defendable?
• Will the data required be readily available?
Smith (2022), p16 - 38
Attributes of a good research topic
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
Nội dung
Đặc điểm của một chủ
đề nghiên cứu tốt
1 3 5
2 4 6
Lựa chọn chủ đề Mục tiêu và
nghiên cứu câu hỏi nghiên cứu
28
The Research Question and objectives
The Research Question
• A research question best states the objective of the
business research study.
• It is a more specific management question that must be
answered.
• A business research process that answers this more specific
question provides the manager with the information
necessary to make the decision he or she is facing.
Cooper and Schindler (2014), p112
The Research Question
• Questions may be divided into ones that are descriptive,
evaluative and/or explanatory.
• A question that commences with ‘What’, ‘When’, ‘Where’,
‘Who’ or ‘How’ will lead to an answer that will be at least
partly descriptive.
• Questions that seek explanations will either commence with
‘Why’ or contain this word within the question.
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
The Research Question
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
The Research Objectives
• Your research question may be used to generate more
detailed investigative questions, or you may use it as a base
from which to write a set of research objectives.
• Objectives are more generally acceptable to the research
community as evidence of the researcher’s clear sense of
purpose and direction.
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
The Research Objectives
Your research Research objectives
question allows you to allow you to operationalise
say what the issue or your question – that is, to
problem is that you wish state the steps you intend
to study. to take to answer it.
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
The Research Objectives
Saunders et al. (2009), P26 - 69
The Research Objectives
The research objectives state
how you will go about it
• Break a large goal into a number of more
manageable tasks.
• Need to be achievable, necessary, and
sufficient for meeting your goal
Baimyrzaeva (2018), P21 - 22
Nội dung
Đặc điểm của một chủ
đề nghiên cứu tốt
1 3 5
2 4 6
Lựa chọn chủ đề Mục tiêu và
nghiên cứu câu hỏi nghiên cứu
37
THANK
YOU!