Minor Academic Orientation

Research Methods
Chapter 2 Problem
definition, desk research and
literature review
Dr. Vera Hartog
v.hartog@fontys.nl
Eindhoven, September 2013

The research process

http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/researchcource/
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First things first

What do you want to find out about what?
A re-search project
Distinct phases in a process that is both reiterative
and linear
Identifying the broad problem area allows for:
focus on literature search
clear definition of the problem
viewing problem as a gap between
desired and
actual state of
things in a system
solution as the narrowing of the
gap
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Defining/formulating the research problem
is as

The two research aspects

Studys population (unit of analysis):
people or an individual that provide you with
the information/about whom you collect
information

Subject area:
Problems: issues, situations, associations,
needs, profiles
Program: content, structure, outcomes,
attributes, satisfactions, service providers,
consumers, ...
Phenomenon: cause and effect
relationships/the study of the phenomenon
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Problems in applied research

Any situation where a gap exists between the actual
and the desired state
Problem analyzing: knowledge & understanding
of
organizational culture; new market opportunity.
Diagnostic: how to deal with
departmental conflict; negative corporate
image.
Design-oriented: developing
new performance assessment scheme; new
product.
Intervention-oriented: damage control of
labor union relations, legal repercussion.
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Evaluation: assessing the effectiveness
of

Research problem
considerations

Interest
Magnitude
Measurement of concepts
Level of expertise
Relevance
Availability of data
Ethical issues
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Seven steps in a literature

review

http://www.librarydevelopment.group.shef.
ac.uk/showcase/tutorials/lit_review/intro.ht
7
ml

Desk research
Guiding questions in literature
survey:
What is already known about this
area?
What concepts and theories are
relevant?
What research methods and strategies
have been used in this area?
Are there any controversies?
Are there any inconsistencies in
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findings?

A round circle
Until you go through the literature you
cannot develop a theoretical framework
and until you have developed a
theoretical framework you cannot
effectively review literature

Characteristics of literature
review
An integral part of the research process
Makes a valuable contribution to every
operational step
Brings clarity and focus to a research
problem
Improves the methodology
Broadens knowledge
Contextualizes findings
It is time consuming, daunting and can
be frustrating (re-search)
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11

deductive versus inductive

objective versus subjective
positivist versus interpretive
quantitative versus qualitative

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Theoretical formulation of
research problem
Context:
the literature review will have allowed you
to frame the research topic

Focus:
To be able to narrow down the problem
To define the problem more clearly
Identifying which concepts/variables are
important and their relationships

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How to make your life easy

Build list of keywords
Accessing on-line databases allows you to search
extant knowledge efficiently
Based on keyword search you might get >
100,000 references. Limit the number by
requesting full text, peer reviewed, 3 year old
Select from abstracts
Download the APA reference in a list
Copy/store all articles
Make a synopsis of article, colourcode
(methodological choices, sample, data collection,
data analysis, interesting references,... )
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The way to go
Source:

Search your institutions library biep.nu;

Search online (using a variety of search
engines).

Quick take:

Examine titles and abstracts for relevance;

Retrieve selected items;
Check regularly for new material.

First survey:

Read, take good notes, build up key words,

Branch out from reference lists at the end
of the materials you have read and found
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useful

Conditio sine qua non

Objective facts and proof published by
reliable sources
Presenting all significant views that
have been published by reliable
sources
Avoid stating opinions as facts
Avoid presenting uncontested assertions as
mere opinion
Indicate the relative prominence of opposing
views
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Literature review
search &
select

Dr. Noi Kwanjai, 2013

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Organizing the literature

review
Chronological:
By publication date not very useful!
By trend
Thematic:
A structure which considers different
themes/topics
Methodological:
Focuses on the methods of the researcher,
e.g., qualitative versus quantitative
approaches
Results:
Findings and conclusions
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Checklist
Focused: on materials related to your research
topic
Concise: Less is more and more is less!
Logical: flow should be a smooth, logical
progression from one idea to the next
Developed: do not leave the story half told
Integrative:
stress how the ideas in the studies are related
point out commonalities, differences and
controversies
stress how the studies reviewed contribute to your
topic

Current material:

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For lesson 3
Study Part 1 of textbook (Bryman & Bell,
2011)
Retrieve and review the articles referenced
below (based on checklist provided in
assignment 3)

CHENGYAN, L., LILI, B., & QIANG, J. (2013). LEADERSHIP STYLES OF

ENTREPRENEURIAL WOMEN IN EASTERN CHINA: CHARACTERISTICS AND
DIFFERENCES. Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal, 41(3), 421431.

Barrella, E. M., & Buffinton, K. W. (2009). Corporate Assessment of Strategic Issues

in Technology Management. Engineering Management Journal, 21(1), 27-33.

Van Hooff et al. (2011). Daily recovery from work: The role of activities, efforts and
pleasure, Work & Stress, 25(1), 55-74
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Thank you for your attention