Research Skills for International Business - Assignment Example

? Business: Exam Questions MAR310: Research Skills for International Business Business: Exam Questions Section A Research findings are typically communicated in a report which includes six sections. List them and use examples to analyze the function of each. (60 marks) 2. Analyze the differences you would expect to find in the ways in which a research study is reported in an academic journal article and daily newspaper. (40 marks) Part 1 There are six main sections in which research findings are typically communicated. They include introduction, research questions and objectives, literature review, methodology, results and findings, discussion and conclusions. Introduction provides background of the study and the statement of the problem. Before carrying out a research, researchers need to identify the problem to be solved. Researches are used in developing solutions to particular problems. In order to create a deeper understanding on the problem, the background of the study will provide a synopsis of some of the theoretical aspects involved within the study. The second section is research questions and objectives. Once a research problem has been identified, researchers have to develop various objectives/aims attainable at the end of the research. Whilst attaining such aims or objectives, there are questions that researchers need to develop and provide their answers. It is in answering research questions that research objectives are attained. Literature review is a section that provides short description as well as critical evaluation of previous works related to the topic of study. Literature review section in most cases surveys scholarly articles, books, and other relevant materials whilst aiming at offering an overview of the importance of such works on the topic of study. Methodology defines the overall plan and materials applicable in conducting the research. Methodology section usually involves population under study, sampling methods, data collection, analysis, and presentation methods. Through this section, researchers are able to chronologically state how the study was conducted. Results and findings involve displaying of collected data from the sample. Here, the researcher provides all the results and information found during the research. It is important to provide results and findings since they form the basis or evidence of making discussion and conclusions. Discussion and conclusions section is the last of the six, which uses the results and findings to critically analyze the concepts of the study. Based on the topic of research, discussions and conclusions aim at providing an in-depth analysis of the data obtained in a view to answering research questions and attaining research objectives. In most case, conclusions of researches are accompanied by generalizations and recommendations. Part 2 Research in an academic journal article is likely to differ from research presented in a daily newspaper. Firstly, research in a journal article is likely to have the aforementioned six parts; introduction, research questions and objectives, literature review, methodology, results, discussions and conclusion, which are not likely to be found in daily newspaper research. Whereas daily newspaper researches reports aim at presenting what occurred in a given scenario, research reports on journal articles will always identify the problem within a scenario whilst developing appropriate solutions. Notably, research reports in daily newspaper will not provide a discussion of other works in relation to the topic of discussion whereas research reports in journal articles will have to identify what previous studies indicated on the topic. It is also evident that while research reports in daily newspapers do not provide a general idea of a given topic, the research reports in academic journal articles will always present a general view of the problem under scrutiny. Daily newspaper reports may not entail serious ethical standards like consent from the participants but for reports on journal articles there must be statement of ethical standards and concerns as applied by the researchers. Lastly, unlike research reports on academic journal articles, research reports in daily newspaper may not contain findings in terms of detailed data obtained from samples. Section B 1. Studies in international business often adopt a positivist research philosophy. Critically discuss such studies in relation to a. The assumptions which underpin them b. The research approach they adopt c. The research strategy they adopt Philosophy within research refers to application of reason and argument in a bid to finding or discovering truth about some aspects of study. Discovery of truth may relate to ultimate reality or general principles and causes as defined by specific environmental factors (Collis and Hussey, 2009). Positivism is a research paradigm based on empirical research that aims at discovery theories linked to reality. Positivism paradigm rests on the belief that reality and humanity are independent (Collis and Hussey, 2009). In this regards, positivism employs deductive process in order to establish the truths behind theories. As a result, positivism research philosophy operates on some basic underlying assumptions in order to provide efficient framework under which researches are carried out in a bid to discovery truths about theories. Ontologically, positivism research philosophy assumes that reality unlike other schools of thoughts is objective and singular (Collis and Hussey, 2009). Objectivity and singularity of reality makes it (reality) independent from the researcher. Positivism research philosophy also assumes that researcher is independent from the main aim of the study. Axiological assumptions assert that positivism researches are usually unbiased and free from value. It is also assumed that in positivism researchers develop their findings in formal style whilst using passive voice. Quantitative words as well as definition sets are acceptable within this research philosophy (Collis and Hussey, 2009). The last assumption is that truth of theories is attainable through deductive process. Generalization is allowed within positivism research philosophy. Validity and reliability measures make findings accurate and reliable (Collis and Hussey, 2009). Positivists within international business usually adopt objective approach, which may either be quantitative or a combination of both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Objectivist approach applied in positivism research philosophies always aims at deductively using empirical observations to understand the truth behind specific theories. Notably, through objectivity approach and the concept of deductive reasoning, international business researches that adopt positivism research theory always move from general to specific (Collis and Hussey, 2009). Even though such research approaches may combine quantitative and qualitative, the former is the mostly or commonly applied. Research strategy developed or applicable within international business studies involving positivism research philosophy is in most cases descriptive, experimental, and surveys. Descriptive, experimental, and survey research strategies entail acquisition of quantitative data, which will help in making general statements that aim at solving research statement of the problems. Descriptive, experimental, and survey research strategies involve application of big samples, identification of artificial locations, testing of hypotheses, providing precise, objective, and quantitative data, as well as ensuring that reliable and valid results are provided (Collis and Hussey, 2009). From the results of the sample, positivism research strategies ensure that a general statement is made about the population, which was under study. An example of an international business research involving positivism research philosophy is establishing whether financial rewards are the main motivating factor. In this research, the research will have to employ deductive reasoning whilst collecting quantitative data from different employees in various organizations and sectors. 2. The main ethical issues that need to be considered by researchers Ethical issues refer to principles or concepts that researchers must adhere to in order to ensure that studies are acceptably and rightly conducted. The main ethical issues include consent from participants, confidentiality, ethical principles of professional bodies, debriefing, openness and integrity, effects on participants, data fabrication, maintaining objectivity, data processing, data analysis and reporting, and use of language (Collis and Hussey, 2009). Every research must obtain consent from participants. Obtaining consent involves either implicit or explicit consent either written or orally. Studies without informed consent would mean that the participants were forced into the study. In line with consent acquisitions, researches must also uphold the confidentiality and privacy of participants. Studies that violate confidentiality and privacy are regarded as unacceptable and wrongly placed hence their results are not reliable or valid (Collis and Hussey, 2009). Debriefing is directly connected to acquisition of consent from the participants. Debriefing involves aspects of indicating the purpose and significance of the study to participants. While engaging in debriefing aspect of research ethical issues, researchers must be open and uphold integrity. Any debriefing that involves misrepresentation of data or information is considered unethical. Once a participant has accepted to take part in the study, he/she should not be tied (Collis and Hussey, 2009). It is ethically correct to provide room for withdrawal of participants whenever they feed like. Another important ethical issue that should be taken into consideration is the impact or effect of research on participants. Every study must identify the impact of the study on participants. In the event that the end results will have more positive impact than the negative impact on individuals during the study then it is ethically acceptable to engage in the said research (Collis and Hussey, 2009). Moreover, data processing, analysis, and reporting must also observe openness, integrity, and objectivity principles (Collis and Hussey, 2009). Tuckman’s model proposes a framework that researchers may follow in order to fulfill requirements of researches. The framework establishes that studies must have forming, storming norming, and performing. The forming stage requires individual researchers to have guidance and direction. The storming stage demands that team members should be involved in making appropriate decisions regarding the subject under study. Norming stage defines that researchers must clearly state roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders. In this stage, the framework defines unity and commitment involved in order to ensure that aims and objectives of the study are adequately met. Lastly, the performing stage defines strategic ways that the team should employ in meeting aims and objectives of the research. In this perspective, it is ethical for researchers to follow the framework in order to enhance validity and reliability. In the above example of establishing whether financial rewards are the main motivating factors, there is need to identified sample and obtained informed consent from the participants. In addition, there must be high integrity and openness in conducting this international business study. Data from the study must adhere to ethical principles and practices. Bibliography Collis, J. and Hussey R., 2009, Business Research: A Practical Guide for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students, Palgrave-Macmillan, Basingstoke. Read More