LECTURE 2
P r o b l e m I d e n t i fi c a t i o n I n t r o d u c t i o n To B r o a d P r o b l e m A r e a
P r e l i m i n a r y I n f o r m a t i o n G a t h e r i n g
D e fi n i n g T h e P r o b l e m S t a t e m e n t
R e s e a r c h Q u e s t i o n s A n d O b j e c t i v e s
Recall a research process
A research must begin from a topic. From a topic, you need to identify a problem
A problem can refer to any of the followings:
Area of concern
Condition to be improved
Troubling question in mind
Difficulty that needs to be removed
What is a problem?
What is a problem?
BROAD PROBLEM AREA
• Think of the BIG PICTURE
– Consider your field: finance – public finance, corporate finance and personal finance.
– What is the problem you are trying to solve?
– Think of something you like to learn more about – Consult text books, journal or your supervisor
• Pick one based on (narrowing the focus):
– Interest and relevance
– Magnitude of work involved – Level of expertise
• yours and your advisors
PUBLIC FINANCE
Government spending
• Govt final consumptio n expenditure
• Govt
operations
• Redistributi on of
wealth
• Transfer payment
Government revenue
• taxation
• Non-tax revenue
Deficit spending
• budget
• Surplus / deficit
Government debt
• Domestic
• foreign
CORPORATE FINANCE
Accounting
audit Capital budgeting
Credit rating agency Financial
statement Leveraged
buyout Mergers and
acquisition Financial risk
management Structured
finance
Venture
capital
PERSONAL FINANCE
Credit and debt
Employm contract ent
Financial
planning Retireme nt
Financial
aid
BROAD TOPIC TO NARROW TOPIC
Broad topic Narrow topics
Efficiency and productivity
of economic units Factors behind the efficiency of commercial banks
Factors influencing the productivity of labour force in Malaysia
Performance of equity
market and external factors
Performance of Bursa Malaysia and role of foreign interest rate
Structure and performance Capital structure and firm performance Sustaining Malaysia’s
economic growth Determinants of national debt Determinants of households debt
Determinants of private expenditure in Malaysia
Outward FDI and foreign pulling factors
How much choice you
have
Your motivati
on
Regulations and
expectation s
Your subject or field of
study The size of
your topic The time
you have available The cost of
research
The resources
you have available Your need
for support
Access issues Methods
for researchin
g
Issues to consider
before
choosing a
topic
Never try a topic that you
believe can change the
world !!!
WHY???
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION GATHERING
• Have you generated and refined research ideas?
• Have you identified potential variables involved?
• Are the variables measurable or not?
• Do you have access to the data? As for quantitative
research, data are mandatory.
GENERATING RESEARCH IDEAS
Techniques for generating and refining research ideas
Rational Thinking Creative ThinkingExamining your own strengths and interests
Keeping a notebook of your ideas
Examining staff research
interests Exploring personal
preferences using past projects
Looking at past project titles Exploring relevance to
business using the literature
Discussion Relevance trees
Searching the literature Brainstorming
Scanning the media
D E F I N I N G A P R O B L E M S TAT E M E N T
Research as a problem-oriented approach
Problems can be identified as evidence that objectives are not being achieved.
Thus a problem can be identified by referring to a set of objectives
But the two concepts, objectives and problems, are two sides of the same coin.
We can start either with objectives or problems and come to the same conclusions. Normally starts with a problem
the basic question is
‘how do we know we have got a
problem?
Research
QuestionsAnd Objectives
• Research ideas must be turned into research projects
• Defining research questions is not a straight forward matter (Saunders et al, 2012). The research questions will lead to research objectives.
• Consider a research idea about job preference of Malaysian graduates and the following questions:
“ What is the percentage of graduates who get job within 6 months after their graduation?”
“Why are bumiputra graduates more likely to enter public sector in Malaysia?”
“Why are the bumiputera graduates less preferred to be employed in the private sector?”
Why are non-bumiputra graduates less likely to join public
sector?
• Consider a question that commences with
What
When
Where
Who
How
Why
To what extend
EXAMPLES OF RESEARCH IDEAS AND RESULTING RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Research ideas Research questions Outflow of FDI and investment
incentives in the host country Do the tax incentives offered by
Vietnam have impact on the outflow of FDI from Malaysia?
Corporate social responsibility and firm
performance What is the impact of CSR upon Bank
Rakyat performance?
The value of a currency and trade
balance To what extend the trade balance
affect the currency value?
Internet and banking operation What is the impact of internet on
banking operation?
WRITING RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
• Research question is about the issue or problem that you want to study.
• Research objective is about how to operationalise the question i.e.
to state the steps you intend to take to answer it.
Criterion Purpose
Transparency The meaning of the research objective is clear and unambiguous.
Specificity The purpose of the research objective is clear and easily understood.
Relevance The research objective’s link to the research question and wider research project is clear.
Interconnectivi
ty The research objectives illustrate the steps in the research process from its start to its conclusion.
Answerability The intended outcome of the research objective is achievable.
Measurability The intended product of the research objective will
be evident when it has been achieved.
WAYS TO THINK OF A RESEARCH TOPIC
• Ask your supervisor, manager, colleagues, clients, customers etc
• Look at previous research works of one’s research area
• Develop some of your previous research or your practice at work
• Related to your other interests
• Think of a title
• Start from a quote that engages you
• Follow your hunches
• Draw your self a picture or a diagram
• Just start anywhere
• But be prepared to change direction
Source: Blaxter, Hughes and Tight (2001)
