Steps in Research Studies | Variables in Research | Literature Review is the documentation of a comprehensive review of the published work. Purpose is to ensure no important variable is ignored that has in the past been found repeatedly to have had an impact on the problem. Helps integrate information gathered - gives a framework for the investigation.

1. THE RESEARCH PROCESSTHE RESEARCH PROCESS
–– STEPS 1 TO 3STEPS 1 TO 3

2. OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES
• Identify the steps in the research processIdentify the steps in the research process
• Identify problem areas that are likely to be studied inIdentify problem areas that are likely to be studied in
organizationsorganizations
• Discuss how problem areas can be identified in workDiscuss how problem areas can be identified in work
settingssettings
• State research problems clearly & preciselyState research problems clearly & precisely
• Develop relevant & comprehensive bibliographies forDevelop relevant & comprehensive bibliographies for
any organizational research topicany organizational research topic
• Write a literature review on any given topic,Write a literature review on any given topic,
documenting the references in the prescribed mannerdocumenting the references in the prescribed manner
• Apply all you have learned to a group project that mightApply all you have learned to a group project that might
be assignedbe assigned

3. 1. Observation
Broad area of
research interest
identified
1. Observation
Broad area of
research interest
identified
2. Preliminary
Data Gathering
Interviewing
Literature survey
2. Preliminary
Data Gathering
Interviewing
Literature survey
3. Problem
Definition
Research problem
delineated
3. Problem
Definition
Research problem
delineated
7. Data Collection
Analysis, and
Interpretation
7. Data Collection
Analysis, and
Interpretation
8. Deduction
Hypotheses substantiated?
Research question answered?
8. Deduction
Hypotheses substantiated?
Research question answered?
4.
Theoretical
Framework
Variables
clearly
identified
and
labelled
4.
Theoretical
Framework
Variables
clearly
identified
and
labelled
5.
Generation
of
Hypothesis
5.
Generation
of
Hypothesis
6.
Scientific
Research
Design
6.
Scientific
Research
Design
9. Report
Writing
9. Report
Writing
10. Report
Presentation
10. Report
Presentation
11.
Managerial
Decision
Making
11.
Managerial
Decision
Making
NoNo YesYes
The Research Process for Basic
& Applied Research

5. LITERATURE SURVEYLITERATURE SURVEY
• Literature Review is the documentation of aLiterature Review is the documentation of a
comprehensive review of the published work.comprehensive review of the published work.
• Purpose is to ensure no important variable is ignoredPurpose is to ensure no important variable is ignored
that has in the past been found repeatedly to havethat has in the past been found repeatedly to have
had an impact on the problem.had an impact on the problem.
• Helps integrate information gathered - gives aHelps integrate information gathered - gives a
framework for the investigation.framework for the investigation.

6. LITERATURE SURVEYLITERATURE SURVEY
Reasons fora literature surveyReasons fora literature survey
• have not missed anythinghave not missed anything
• determine the important variablesdetermine the important variables
• integrate information from literature into the researchintegrate information from literature into the research
designdesign
• develop theoretical frameworkdevelop theoretical framework
• not reinventing the wheelnot reinventing the wheel
• determine originality of studydetermine originality of study

7. WRITING UP THE LITERATUREWRITING UP THE LITERATURE
REVIEWREVIEW
• The write up needs to:The write up needs to:
• convince the reader that the researcher is knowledgeableconvince the reader that the researcher is knowledgeable
about the problem area and has done the backgroundabout the problem area and has done the background
workwork
• the theoretical framework will be built on work alreadythe theoretical framework will be built on work already
done and will add to the foundation of the existingdone and will add to the foundation of the existing
knowledgeknowledge

8. HOW TO WRITE A LITERATUREHOW TO WRITE A LITERATURE
REVIEWREVIEW
• Identify the key journals relevant to your area of study.Identify the key journals relevant to your area of study.
Some important ones that will be of use to most are:Some important ones that will be of use to most are:
• MIS QuarterlyMIS Quarterly
• Journal of Systems ManagementJournal of Systems Management
• Communications of the ACMCommunications of the ACM
• IEEE publicationsIEEE publications

9. WRITING A LITERATURE REVIEWWRITING A LITERATURE REVIEW
CONT...CONT...
• Get as many relevant articles as possible.Get as many relevant articles as possible.
• Read all and highlight points of interest or importance.Read all and highlight points of interest or importance.
• Note down key issues that are arising across theNote down key issues that are arising across the
articles.articles.
• Plan the writing up of the literature review aroundPlan the writing up of the literature review around
these key points.these key points.
• Begin writing by drawing on the points you found andBegin writing by drawing on the points you found and
discussing each authors’ workdiscussing each authors’ work

10. WRITING A LITERATURE REVIEWWRITING A LITERATURE REVIEW
CONT...CONT...
• Keep a record of all citations and quotations - keep aKeep a record of all citations and quotations - keep a
running reference section. It is easy to forget whererunning reference section. It is easy to forget where
you read something.you read something.
• Keep reading while you are writing to add to theKeep reading while you are writing to add to the
literature review.literature review.
• Take note of key references / citations made byTake note of key references / citations made by
authors you are reading. Check these out.authors you are reading. Check these out.
• References must be current unless it is a seminalReferences must be current unless it is a seminal
piece. Eg Doll (1988) on user satisfaction factors.piece. Eg Doll (1988) on user satisfaction factors.

11. WRITING A LITERATURE REVIEWWRITING A LITERATURE REVIEW
CONT...CONT...
SUPPORTING YOUR CASESUPPORTING YOUR CASE
• Back up all points except motherhood statements. eg:Back up all points except motherhood statements. eg:
‘Databases are widely used in business today’‘Databases are widely used in business today’
accepted as true by most people.accepted as true by most people.
• ‘‘Most organisations use SQL’ not necessarily true,Most organisations use SQL’ not necessarily true,
need to support this statement with proof from theneed to support this statement with proof from the
literature.literature.
• If in doubt provide evidence from the literature.If in doubt provide evidence from the literature.

12. WRITING A LITERATURE REVIEWWRITING A LITERATURE REVIEW
CONT...CONT...
SUPPORTING YOUR CASESUPPORTING YOUR CASE
• To provide evidence either use quotations from aTo provide evidence either use quotations from a
reliable source or follow statement with citation e.g.reliable source or follow statement with citation e.g.
‘Most organizations use SQL’ (Smith 1998, Lo‘Most organizations use SQL’ (Smith 1998, Lo
1992)1992)
• When citing a book as evidence, include the pageWhen citing a book as evidence, include the page
number even if you are not quoting from the book.number even if you are not quoting from the book.
See pg 52 Sekaran e.g.See pg 52 Sekaran e.g.
The failure o f info rm atio n syste m s is o fte n cause dThe failure o f info rm atio n syste m s is o fte n cause d
by po o r co m m unicatio n.by po o r co m m unicatio n. (Bresko 1993, 41)(Bresko 1993, 41)

13. REFERENCE STYLEREFERENCE STYLE
• You are expected to use the Harvard style forYou are expected to use the Harvard style for
referencing. Examplereferencing. Example
• Norman, D. A. (1990).Norman, D. A. (1990). The De sig n o f Eve ryday Thing sThe De sig n o f Eve ryday Thing s ..
New York, Currency Doubleday.New York, Currency Doubleday.
• Pieratti, D. D. (1995). “How the Process and OrganizationPieratti, D. D. (1995). “How the Process and Organization
Can Help or Hinder Adding Value.”Can Help or Hinder Adding Value.” Jo urnalo f the So cie tyJo urnalo f the So cie ty
fo r Te chnicalCo m m unicatio nfo r Te chnicalCo m m unicatio n 42(1): 61-68.42(1): 61-68.

14. ETHICS IN THE PRELIMINARYETHICS IN THE PRELIMINARY
STAGES OF INVESTIGATIONSTAGES OF INVESTIGATION
• It is necessary to inform all the employees aboutIt is necessary to inform all the employees about
the researchthe research
• It is important to keep information related toIt is important to keep information related to
employees confidentialemployees confidential
• Every step should be transparentEvery step should be transparent