Research Methods

Producing the Project Report and Dissertation

Colin Clarke-Hill

Producing The Dissertation

Approaches  Structure  Style  Referencing  Advice  Examples


Colin Clarke-Hill

Introduction
   

More time than ordinary essays Major contribution to the MBA Independent study Shows the application of management theory in a practical setting The examiner has only the final work to go on for assessment purposes

Colin Clarke-Hill

Introduction
    

Links with your supervisor is vital through out the process There is no right way to write-up a dissertation Many style guides Originality is to be celebrated Writing-up is a creative process

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Two Approaches


 

Serialists - Plan their writing at length before they start and correct their work methodically as they proceed Holists - tend to think as they write and usually produce a series of drafts before final copy. Which style are you? Does it matter?

Colin Clarke-Hill

Structure
 

 

Structure and presentation of the written product are vitally important to the finished dissertation. The report needs to follow a logical sequence and this needs some thought Deciding on structure is critical to success Think of structure early in the process

Colin Clarke-Hill

Structure


The creation of a detailed structure plan - chapters and sub-headings. Such an approach is both informative, in that it highlights omissions and it can be motivational as it allows the writer targets to aim at Structure is not set in stone - it can be changed as the research progresses.

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Structure


 

Flexibility is important - often structure can change as the research takes new twists and original weights given to sections are reviewed Update the structure to reflect this new emphasis Keep your supervisor informed

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Structure


Various formal aspects of structure can be identified, but the dissertation must be clear, logical and informative to the reader. Typically:  Abstract  Acknowledgments  Contents  Appendices

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Wine glass or Splodge?



Wine Glass - A research plan that is a well focused study situated within a broad background framework of literature that links the research questions clearly within that body of work The Splodge - an over detailed analysis providing little or no general context

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The Wine Glass

General topic of Interest to Managers - (YOU) Questions which arise Suitable area to study Specific Research Questions Your Research Your Analysis Answers to your questions Discussion in Context of the Literature
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Wine Glass
   

Funnels down from a broad approach to a narrowing down to specifics The research question is placed in context of the wider literature The analysis seeks answers to specific questions that can adopt existing or modified frameworks The answers are contextualised back to the literature

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The Splodge
The Topic Questions which arise Suitable area to study Specific Research Questions Your Research Your Analysis Answers to your questions
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Omitted

Discussion in Context of the Literature

The Splodge
  

A rather unbalanced dissertation Narrowly focused with a poor literature section The research questions and analysis are usually good but the contextualisation is poor Answers and implications that arise from the investigation are not discussed

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The Reality


The reality is that most dissertations fall between these two stools. Clearly, dissertations should be anchored into the broad context and discussion of findings should reflect that situation. For MBA dissertations some managerial implications need discussing and recommendations need spelling out.

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The Importance of Service Quality and Relationship Marketing in the Marketing Strategies for NPPSOs
Research Objectives

Environmental Analysis PEST 5-Force Analysis Regulation Framework Services Mktg. Service Quality NPOs Relationship Mktg. Literature Review

Internal Analysis Role & Objectives SWOT/TOWS etc. Systems, Strategies, Skills KSFs Research Methods Interviews & Questionnaires SERVQUAL Qualitative & Quantitative Data

Main Findings; Analysis and Discussion; Conclusions; References and Appendices Colin Clarke-Hill

An MBA Dissertation Structure

        

Title of the Work and Its Objectives Introduction and Setting of the Scene Link with Research Methods and Objectives Literature Underpinnings Linked with Objectives Choice of a Model (s) Analysis of Literature and Linked with Findings Discussion of same Conclusions and Recommendations References and Appendices
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Dissertations and Theses

Referencing
 Citation
A citation or bibliographic citation is a reference to a book, article, web page or other published item, with sufficient details to uniquely identify the item. Unpublished writings or speech, such as personal communications, are also sometimes cited. Citations are provided in scholarly works, bibliographies and indexes. The word citation may be used of the act of citing a work as well as to a reference itself.

 APA Style  MLA Style

Dissertations and Theses Colin Clarke-Hill

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition

Referencing


Look carefully at the reference sections of the following journals to see how the references are laid out.:  Journal of Marketing  Strategic Management Journal Avoid the use of reference numbers in the body text. This can cause severe problems during editing.

Colin Clarke-Hill

Layout and Style Issues



Using Tables, Figures and Diagrams  Number logically  Clearly label  Show the source at the bottom of the diagram, particularly if it is not your own  Use appropriate point size and font to relate to the body text. Exceptions are when you import data from your SPSS files. They are usually in courier font.
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Layout and Style Issues



Tables etc. continued  Golden Rule to follow using tables, figures, diagrams and charts in the body text  Introduce  Exhibit  Comment

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Style Issues in the Body Text

 Multiple Authors
Often in a literature section you will wish to show that you have looked at a number of authors work, and you wish to reference that work from the extant literature. ADVICE - good style is to reference this in chronological order by date. Keep to this throughout the work.
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Example
... skills and capabilities, as sources of competitive advantage, have received increasing attention in the recent literature, (Hunt and Morgan 1997; Ahroni 1993; Amit and Shoemaker 1993; Stalk et al 1992; Grant 1991; Hamel and Prahalad 1990, 1993; Irvin and Michaels 1989 and Wernerfelt 1989).

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Example


By using multiple authors like this it allows you to cover a lot of ground very succinctly and at the same time show the reader the depth of your knowledge and the width of the literature you have covered. Use key phrases from the journals abstract to give a flovour of an authors work. This saves space in the dissertation.

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Example


Dyer (1997) has shown that close interfirm collaboration reduces transaction costs and increases transaction volumes to the benefit of both the firm and its supplier.

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Contents Page
   

Chapters and Sub-heading List of tables List of Figures List of Appendices

The Contents, Abstract, Acknowledgements etc. are numbered using Roman numerals in the lower case format

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Document Style


 

Use a Numbering System for the:  Headings  Sub Headings etc  Link Chapter Numbers to Figures & Tables Do not have too many Levels Most Word Processors have Built in Style Templates for you to use

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Appendices
 

Number your Appendices sequentially Use Appendices to show:  Your Questionnaire  Models used with detailed analyses  Maps, pictures, layout diagrams etc.  Attach a sample of an interview transcript  etc..

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Appendices


Use the Appendix section of the Dissertation to Elaborate your argument Reference it clearly in the Body Text to show the reader where to go Use to give the reader a feel for your data - show a transcript of an interview for example

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Appendices
 

Do not use the Appendix for the body of the work. The Appendix should help you and the reader understand the complexity of the situation it does not replace the analysis Use Appendices sparingly.

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