E-Book - Research-Methodology

The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dissertation in Business Studies: A Step-by-Step Assistance (7th edition)

Date

January 2024

Author

John Dudovskiy

$ 9,99
One time payment

Proceed to Checkout

“Of all the research books I have read, this is the easiest to understand. I now feel like I know exactly what I need to do”
- Jonathan, Pittsburgh, USA

Why this e-book?

The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dissertation contains step-by-step guidance derived from the experience of assisting hundreds of students who have successfully completed dissertations in business studies. Unlike many other books devoted to this topic, The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dissertation explains the whole process starting from the selection of the research area to the completion of the final draft in simple words. The e-book can be used by students on both levels – Bachelors and Masters, as it explains the underlying principles and rules of writing dissertation in business studies, and these principles are equally effective for Bachelors and Masters Dissertations.

"A fantastic book and a big help"
- Lewis Scollen, Leeds Beckett University, England

Writing a research project can prove to be one of the most challenging experiences in life. For the majority of students writing a dissertation as a final part of studies for a degree is their first engagement in a research that requires primary data collection. Collecting a primary data and analyzing the primary data, regardless of the method chosen, can prove to be a very challenging task for students to accomplish. This is mainly due to the lack or absence of the previous research experience. To put it simply, it may not be easy to find a gap in the research area of your interest or identify a practical problem to address in an organization of your choice. More importantly, selecting the most suitable method of primary data collection, collecting the primary data and analyzing the data to find answers to your research questions or to test hypotheses are not straightforward tasks for many business students.

Even for desk-based studies that do not require primary data collection, formulating research aims and objectives or developing hypotheses and critically analyzing a wide range of relevant literature appears can be difficult for inexperienced writers. However, no need to panic. Millions of dissertations have been written up to date and many millions of dissertations are going to be written in the future. You have a chance of turning the next several months of your life, during which you will be writing your dissertation into a rewarding and satisfying period and this e-book will be your assistant to achieve this. The e-book aims to assist students to deal with these challenges in an effective and enjoyable manner. The process of writing a dissertation is explained in this e-book in step-by-step. Moreover, challenges likely to be faced in each step and the ways of dealing with these challenges are explained in simple terms.

"Comprehensive is the right word for this guidance." - Rajendra, New Dehli, India

1. Getting Started
1.1 Selecting Research Area
1.2 Formulating Research Aims and Objectives
1.3 Writing Dissertation Proposal

2. Introduction Chapter
2.1 Writing Research Background
2.2 Explaining Rationale for the Study
2.3 Providing the Research Structure

3. Literature Review Chapter
3.1 Structure for Literature Review Chapter
3.1.1 Introduction.
3.1.2 Types of Literature Review
3.1.3 Explanation of Literature Search Strategy
3.1.4 Definitions
3.1.5 Classifications
3.1.6 Presentation and discussion of major theoretical frameworks
3.1.7 Discussion of contradictions in the research area
3.1.8 Conclusions
3.2 Sources for literature review
3.3 Referencing

4. Methodology
4.1 Research Process
4.2 Research Philosophy
4.2.1 The Essence of Research Philosophy
4.2.1.1 Axiology
4.2.1.2 Epistemology
4.2.1.3 Ontology
4.2.1.4 Phenomenology
4.2.2 The Choice of Research Philosophy
4.2.2.1 Pragmatism
4.2.2.2 Positivism
4.2.2.3 Realism
4.2.2.4 Interpretivism
4.2.2.5 Constructivism
4.3 Types of Research Methods
4.3.1 Applied Research
4.3.2 Fundamental Research
4.4 Research Approach
4.4.1 Deductive Approach
4.4.2 Inductive Approach
4.4.3 Abductive Approach
4.5 Research Design
4.5.1 Exploratory Research
4.5.2 Conclusive Research
4.6 Data Collection Methods
4.6.1 Secondary Data Collection Methods
4.6.2 Primary Data Collection Methods
4.6.2.1 Survey Method
4.6.2.2 Futures Research
4.6.2.3 Action Research
4.6.3 Quantitative Data Collection Methods
4.6.3.1 Questionnaires with Closed-Ended Questions
4.6.3.2 Experiments Research
4.6.4 Qualitative Data Collection Methods
4.6.4.1 Interviews
4.6.4.2 Questionnaires with open-ended questions
4.6.4.3 Focus Group
4.6.4.4 Observation Data Collection Method
4.6.4.5 Case Studies
4.6.4.6 Grounded Theory
4.7 Sampling
4.7.1 Probability Sampling
4.7.1.1 Simple Random Sampling
4.7.1.2 Systematic Sampling
4.7.1.3 Stratified Sampling
4.7.1.4 Cluster Sampling
4.7.2 Non-Probability Sampling
4.7.2.1 Convenience Sampling
4.7.2.2 Multistage Sampling
4.7.2.3 Purposive Sampling
4.7.2.4 Quota Sampling
4.7.2.5 Snowball Sampling
4.8 Methods of Data Analysis
4.9 Reliability and Validity
4.10 Ethical Considerations

5. Presentation of Findings
5.1 Presentation of Quantitative Data
5.1.1 Tabulation
5.1.2 Pie-Charts
5.1.3 Bar Charts
5.1.4 Histograms
5.1.5 Line Graphs
5.1.6 Scatterplots
5.2 Presentation of Qualitative Data

6. Data Analysis
6.1 Quantitative Data Analysis
6.1.1 Correlation Analysis
6.1.2 Regression Analysis
6.1.3 Mean, Mode and Median
6.2 Qualitative Data Analysis

7. Conclusions
7.1 Achievement of Research Aim and Objectives
7.2 Research Limitations
7.3 Suggestions for Future Research
7.4 Personal Reflection

8. Time Management
8.1 Fighting procrastination
8.2 Breaking Down Tasks into Smaller Components
8.3 Prioritizing
8.4 Dealing with Distractions/Distracters
8.5 Getting Adequate Amounts of Sleep
8.6 Pursuing Hobbies and Socializing

9. Interactions with Supervisor

Appendices
Appendix A: Referencing Systems
Harvard Referencing System
APA Referencing System
Vancouver Referencing System
Appendix B: Resources
Recommended Texbooks
Online Resources

List of Tables
Table 1 Examples of SMART research objectives
Table 2 A sample Gantt chart for the completion of a dissertation
Table 3 Main differences between research background and literature review
Table 4 Components of each chapter in research structure
Table 5 Sources for literature review and examples
Table 6 Axiology of research philosophies and relevant data collection techniques
Table 7 Epistemology of popular research philosophies in business research
Table 8 Key philosophical concepts and questions
Table 9 Ontology of research philosophies
Table 10 Advantages and disadvantages of positivism and phenomenology
Table 11 Research philosophies and data collection methods
Table 12 Positivism, interpretivism and epistemologies
Table 13 Ontology, epistemology, axiology and typical research methods associated
with positivism research philosophy
Table 14 Differences between positivism and social constructionism
Table 15 Positivist and phenomenology paradigms
Table 16 Ontology, epistemology, axiology and research methods associated with
critical realism research philosophy
Table 17 Assumptions and research philosophies
Table 18 Constructivism and other philosophical approaches
Table 19 Types of constructivism paradigm
Table 20 Differences between applied and fundamental research
Table 21 Main differences between exploratory and conclusive research
Table 22 Differences between fundamental and applied research
Table 23 Differences between deductive, inductive and abductive approaches
Table 24 Choice between deductive and inductive approaches
Table 25 Research approach and research methods
Table 26 Research approach and patterns of data analysis
Table 27 Research approach and research attributes
Table 28 Major differences between exploratory and conclusive research design
Table 29 Examples for descriptive research design
Table 30 Examples for studies with causal design
Table 31 Main differences between conclusive and exploratory research design
Table 32 Main characteristics of research designs
Table 33 Major survey methods and their descriptions
Table 34 Advantages and disadvantages of popular survey methods
Table 35 Futures research methods techniques
Table 36 Main differences between quantitative and qualitative methods
Table 37 Main differences between laboratory experiments and field experiments
Table 38 Sources and procedures associated with qualitative data collection
Table 39 Strengths and weaknesses associated with qualitative data collection
methods and qualitative research
Table 40 Advantages and disadvantages of popular sampling techniques
Table 41 Main differences between probability and non-probability sampling
Table 42 Application of stratified sampling
Table 43 Sizes of non-probability sampling
Table 44 Non-probability sampling methods
Table 45 Tabulation data presentation
Table 46 Qualitative data coding
Table 47 Dissertation timetable Gantt-Chart
Table 48 Time Management Matrix

List of Figures
Figure 1 Formulation of research question, aim and objectives
Figure 2 Research philosophy in the ‘research onion’
Figure 3 Impact of research philosophy on the choice of research method
Figure 4 Illustration of direct realism and critical realism
Figure 5 Deductive process in research approach
Figure 6 Inductive process in research approach
Figure 7 Difference between abductive reasoning and alternative approaches
Figure 8 Basic Model of Action Research
Figure 9 Kemmis and McTaggart’s (2000) Action Research Spiral
Figure 10 Survey Monkey as a popular platform for primary data collection
Figure 11 Population, sample and individual cases
Figure 12 Categorisation of sampling techniques
Figure 13 Simple random sampling
Figure 14 Random number table
Figure 15 Systematic sampling
Figure 16 Stratified sampling
Figure 17 Cluster sampling
Figure 18 Convenience sampling
Figure 19 Multistage sampling
Figure 20 Purposive sampling
Figure 21 Theoretical sampling and generation of grounded theory
Figure 22 Linear snowball sampling
Figure 23 Exponential non-discriminative snowball sampling
Figure 24 Exponential discriminative snowball sampling
Figure 25 Pie-chart data presentation
Figure 26 Bar Chart data presentation
Figure 27 Histograms data presentation
Figure 28 Line Graphs data presentation
Figure 29 Scatter Plot data presentation