1. Introduction to Research Methodology

2. Stages of Research Project
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Literature Review
Chapter 3: Methodology
Chapter 4: Data Analysis and Interpretation of Findings
Chapter 5: Discussion and conclusion

3. Why do we research? To acquire information/knowledge
Research – a particular way of knowing
Emphasis on systematic investigation
Scientific method- collecting observations in a systematic and objective manner
Identify problem
Generate Objectives/hypotheses/RQ
Collect data
Determine whether or not the hypotheses are supported.
Researches that use non-scientific method
Historical, etnography

4. Types of researches (by purpose)
Basic research (Fundamental Research)
Concerned with fundamental and theoretical questions.
A foundation upon which others can develop applications and solutions
while basic research may not appear to be helpful in the real world, it can direct us toward practical applications in the long run.
E.g. A study on job rotation impact (positive and negative impact) on employees.

5. Applied research
concerned with finding solutions to practical problems and putting these solutions to work in order to help others
E.g. Action Research on Best Job Rotation practices for Academic Institution

6. Chap.1: Introduction Research Introduction and background
Problem statement
Objectives (main & specific objective)
Hypotheses or research questions
Theoretical/conceptual framework (quantitative only)
Variables definition (quantitative only)
Definition of terms (include operational definition)
Contribution/Significance/important of research
Limitation of research

7. Choosing a research topic
2 things to be considered
Level of interest
Topic of interest will motivate one to do research on it
Choosing the wrong topic – you might end up or fail to discover some interesting value.
Feasibility
Your capability to complete a research conducted – e.g. data collection and analysis, report writing
Always take a research as you want to unveil a mystery

8. Getting ideas for researchers
Yourself (observation on a particular phenomena/experiences)
Discussion with expert in the field
Journal articles
Academic books (based on research work)
Proceeding and conference papers
Thesis, dissertation, final year project
Organizational Report (e.g statistic)
Others (Internet, Newspapers/magazines

9. Preparing a Problem Statement
A problem statement is a clear concise description of the issues (or problems) that need to be addressed by a researcher.
The primary purpose of a problem statement is to focus the attention of the researcher.
A research-worthy problem statement is the description of an active challenge (i.e. problem) faced by a researcher that does not have adequate solutions or theoretical foundation.
Should briefly address the question: What is the problem that the research will address?

10. More…
Define a problem or a gap that need to be researched to find a solution
Justify the need for a research
These gaps are discovered through journal articles (refer to limitations or suggestions in journal articles)
Sometimes a problem is discovered through:
personal experience of a researcher or a research sponsor
phenomena that happens around us.

11. Example of a problem statement
No known study that has looked into this specific topic. - exploratory research
There are only few studies that address this issue but most of the studies were done in Western countries especially in the United States(Mueller, 1998; Adruce, 2002; Adam, 2008) – Confirmatory research
There are several research works in this specific area but the findings are not consistent. Therefore, there is a need to do further research in this area – Confirmatory research

12. Continue …
There are several research works that have looked into a direct relationship between smoking habit and cancer; however, no known research has specifically looked into a mediator/moderator effect of a third variable (types of food consumed)
This incident (eg. Tsunami) has never happened in Malaysia, therefore, there is a need to study the post Tsunami effects in the affected region of Malaysia.
Most of the previous research in this area were done using qualitative method; therefore, there is a need to use quantitative/experimental method to test the preposition/ hypothesis.

13. Continue
Most of the previous research in this area were done using quantitative method; therefore, there is a need to use qualitative/experimental method to validate the findings.

14. How to prepare the Objective for the study
Based on the Problem Statement mentioned earlier
It is a statement that explains what the study will focus on
There are two types of objective
Main (This study is interested in studying the employees behavior related to job rotation amongst support staff)
Specific (to study the relation ship between job rotation and job satisfaction)

15. Hypothesis or research question
The purpose is to refine the objective of the study and make it easier to understand what we want to study
When to use Hypothesis or research question
Phenomena has been studied before and to test the findings we use hypotheses testing (e.g There is a relationship between job rotation and job satisfaction)
If no known study has been done in that specific area we should use research question instead (e.g Is there any relationship between job rotation and job satisfaction?
When can we use hypothesis even if there is no know research done in a specific area?
Experimental research

16. Theoretical/conceptual framework
Only to be used in quantitative study.
There is no need for theoretical/conceptual framework in a Qualitative study

17. Employees Satisfaction Based on Maslow Hierarchy of Needs Thory
Basic Needs
(Salary,
Benefits)
Job
Security
Job Satisfaction
Peer Support

18. Hypothesis
There is a relationship between Basic Needs and Employees Job Satisfaction
Better Job Security will result in Better Employees Job Satisfaction
There is a relationship between work environment and employees job Satisfaction
RQ if there is no hypothesis
Which of the above factors rank the highest contributor to job satisfaction?

19. Successful Organization Based on Systems Theory
Employees
Performance
External
Environment
Management
Capability
Organization
Performance
Services
Provided

20. Definition of Terms used in your study
Dictionary definition
Defined by dictionary
Operational definition
An operational definition defines something (e.g. a variable, term, or object) in terms of the specific process or set of validation tests used to determine its presence and quantity.

21. Continue… Theoretical Definition
A theoretical definition relies on the acceptance of theories and so it does not simply reduce to a set of observationsLike the theories that build them, theoretical definitions also improve as scientific understanding grows

22. Research Contribution
Contributions
theory/concept/model/hypothesis/proposition or knowledge in the field
Methodology
Research Framework (statement of problem, objective, hypothesis, research question)
Instrument (questionnaire, interview guide, observation guide etc.)
Data Collected
Data Analysis Framework
Practitioner and community

23. Contribution toward theory and knowledge
This study is expected to contribute toward a theory (e.g. diffusion of innovation) related to the use of technology in organization because findings from previous studies implicate lack of consistencies either in supporting or refuting the theory.
Use of ICT in organization is a developing area and not many studies have really studied Malaysian organizations pertaining to their employees usage of ICT

24. Contribution toward Methodology
Since not many research were done in this area before, the Research Framework (statement of problem, objective, Hypothesis and Research Questions) use in this study could be use by future researcher who wanted to replicate this study.
The Instrument (questionnaire, interview guide, observation guide etc.) used in this research could be used for future research in the same area.

25. Contribution toward Practitioner and community
Findings from this research especially on the office and environmental factors that ensure success in job rotation should be a good guide to Human Resource Managers.
Finding from this research should also inform the community of employees in the organization on the important of office and environmental factors to ensure success in job rotation practices.

26. Limitation of the Study
Topical/subject/field limitation (limited to study of HRD and not on Psychology or management aspect of human resource)
Methodological limitation (Data collection method)
Population and Sample
Time Frame
Area/place of research
Resources Limitation (for example Literature Review is limited to Emerald online database)

27. Chap. 2:Literature Review
Gather all related and relevant findings from previous studies.
Introduction to the Chapter
Discussion on Theories, models, concepts and philosophy related to the research
Discussion on previous studies related to the topics. Guided by the specific objectives in the study.
Summary of the chapter

28. What is a Lit Review What it is not What it is Not an essay
Not just a mere summary or annotated bibliography or abstract
What it is
Reflection of previous studies
Improve understanding on topic of interest
Status of works done in similar area
Updating you on what have been done in the past

29. How to do a Literature Review
Locate all related Previous Works on same topic to update you on what have been done.
Highlight the status of Previous research and finding Gaps or opportunities (availability, strength, weaknesses)
Uncertainties and doubts in previous findings
Limitations of previous studies that need to be dealt with
Methodological limitation
Geographical location
Time factor

30. Chap. 3:Methodology
Research Framework (Qualitative, Quantitative or Experimental)
Place and time of study
Population under study
Unit of analysis
Sample/respondent/informant (qualitative)
Sampling method and sampling framework
Method of Data Collection
Survey using Questionnaire (quantitative)
Interview (qualitative)
Document Analysis
Observation Technique
Determining method of data collection for each objective/research question/hypothesis

31. Methodology… continue
Research Instrument
Pre-Test and pilot test (quantitative)
Validity and reliability issues
Equipments (video, audio recorder etc.) to be used during data collections
Consent Form
Research Schedules and Timelines

32. Research Framework
Quantitative (mostly using Deductive Reasoning) - Confirmatory
to research questions that are best answered by collecting and analyzing numerical data (using statistical)
Qualitative (mostly using inductive Reasoning) – Exploratory
Mixed Method – Qualitative and Quantitative
To research questions that are best answered by giving descriptions on how one understand and interpret various aspects in their surroundings
Experimental (mostly using Deductive Reasoning) – Looking at Cause & Effect

33. Place and Time of Study To be determined – provide justification
Determined also time to conduct the study because both place and time could determine the outcome of the study

34. Population and Sample
Determine the population where the study will be conducted
Identify the unit of analysis (individual or group)
Determine the sampling method (simple random method, cluster, stratified, systematic, purposeful/convenient, snow balling etc.) to be used and design the sampling framework

35. Main types of research methodologies
Survey - Quantitative
Experimental – Quantitative, Qualitative
Correlation - Quantitative
Case study – Quantitative, Qualitative
Historical - Qualitative
Ethnography – Qualitative

36. Chap. 4 Data Analysis and Interpretation
Present your analysis of data – summarize the relevant findings that are crucial to your study.

37. Chap. 5 Discussion
Interpret your data to meaningful information that is understandable.
Discussion and comparison with previous studies (focusing on similarities or differences in term of result)