dissertation explanation

1. Dissertation Session 3
Research Approach
Professor Colin Haslam

2. Research Approach
• There are a number of
research approaches that
you can undertaken to
complete the analysis
side of your dissertation.
• Research is a systematic
and methodical process
of enquiry and
investigation, by which
the researcher both
creates and augments
knowledge
• We are concerned with
research approach

3. Research Approach
• The challenge is to
make sure that the
research approach that
you do choose will also
help you answer the
issues/problems that
you have set up at the
end of your literature
review.
• There are three general
approaches
• Positivist research
• Interpretavist
• Narrative based

4. How we can
construct
hypothesis and
test these :
relation between
variables
Data presented
as charts and
tables with a
commentary
that interprets
these data and
provides a
critical reflection
How we can
critically review
existing
narratives
/arguments for
and against
certain
propositions to
establish a
balance of
opinion
A range of research techniques are available: database construction, case studies
approach, interviews and surveys (such as surveying narratives on a particular
topic)

5. Positivist Research
• Positivism depends
on quantifiable
observations that lead
to statistical
analyses. It has been
a dominant form of
research in business
and management
disciplines for
decades.
• Researchers warn that
“if you assume a
positivist approach to
your study, then it is
your belief that you are
independent of your
research and your
research can be purely
objective.

6. Positivist Research
• The research should
aim to explain and
predict.
• Inductive reasoning
should be used to
develop statements
(hypotheses) to be
tested during the
research process.
• Positivism often involves
the use of existing theory
to develop hypotheses to
be tested during the
research process.
Positivist researchers tend
to use highly structured
research methodology in
order to allow the
replication of the same
study in the future.

7. Positivist Research
• You should be clear that
you have the data
access that you need
and can construct the
panel data required to
undertake the analysis
• Remember that the
panel data will need to
be complete
You will need to discuss
how the data was
collected: primary or
secondary sources. Set
out clear the data
variables (descriptively
described); nature of
variables to be used and
regression model to be
employed and why

8. Interpretavist Research
• Unlike a positivist
method, where the
researcher starts with a
theory and tests
theoretical postulates
using empirical data, in
interpretive methods,
the researcher starts
with data and tries to
derive interpretations
from the observed data.
The researcher will
“interpret” the reality
though a “sense-making”
process rather than a
hypothesis testing
process.
The sense making is about
using interpretative
narratives

9. Interpretavist Research
A positivist approach would be to
establish the correlation between
GDP and Carbon emissions. This is
strong earlier one then gets weaker
The interpretivist approach would
comment on these changes using the
graph as a visual aid. In recent years
US carbon emissions are decoupled
from GDP..but then might note that
this may be the result of offshoring
carbon intensive output to
developing countries. Capturing the
displacement and complexity missed
with the positivist approach

10. Critical Narrative
• It is also possible to
undertake a critical
review of the research
undertaken in a topic area
of your choice.
• You will need to set up
the general issues
surrounding this topic
then focus in on the
specific issues / debates
your considering
• Then review the
argumentation: those
supporting the ideas and
those that are critical
observers.
• From these literatures
drawing out your own
position and why you
have chosen this relative
to the existing debates
around the problem /
issues your investigating

11. Research Techniques
• This is about how you
will go about collecting
the information you
need to construct the
investigation.
• With datasets you will
need to be able to
obtain these and also
the definitions of the
variables your using
• You may decide to
undertake survey work
or questionnaires but
here too you much
assure yourself that you
can gain access and that
work of this nature also
needs to be cleared by
the Management
School ethics
committee.

13. Observation and Interviews
• Ensure that the
questions set derive
from literature review
• Notes from
observations and
interviews as neutral
and free from bias
• Avoid trying to fit the
observations and
interview responses
into the questions set
but allow the evidence
to speak for itself –this
may or may not align
with the findings of the
literature

14. Questionnaire
• Be careful to design the
questionnaire so that it
addresses the research
questions you have set
• The total number of
questions needs
thinking about so as not
to lose the attention of
respondent
• For key questions try to
repeat these from a
different angle so as to
obtain a cross check
and response
consistency.
• Think about how the
responses will be
utilised in the analysis

15. Database
• This is often referred to as
a panel dataset: collecting
data for variables over a
period of time.
• Make sure that you are
clear if using a secondary
dataset how the variables
are defined
• Try to ensure that the
date is consistent as
possible as missing data
will impact on the
consistency of the
analysis and results.
• If constructing your own
dataset set out how this
was done –challenges etc.
and assumptions made.

16. Case Study
• You may decide to also
undertake case studies
• The case study provides a
more in depth understanding
which cannot be done through
macro data
• With care studies there are
some health warnings
• Case studies reveal more
detail about the issues /
problems your investigating.
But these will be much more
specific in nature and not
generalizable.
• Case study research consists of
a detailed investigation, often
with empirical material
collected over a period of time
from a well-defined case to
provide an analysis of the
context and processes
involved in issue /problem you
are investigating