This document provides guidance on designing a research proposal for a business research project. It discusses choosing an appropriate research methodology and methods based on one's research paradigm and questions. Key points covered include identifying qualitative or quantitative approaches, selecting sampling and data collection techniques, and justifying choices based on strengths and weaknesses. The document also outlines common sections of a research proposal, such as reviewing relevant literature, developing a theoretical framework, stating the research question, and demonstrating a cohesive design. Tips are provided on ensuring ethical standards and feasibility are addressed.

1. Week 4 and 5
BUS8101 & BUS8102
Design the Research and Writing the Research Proposal

2. Approach to Your Business
Research Project
• Once you have identified your research paradigm, you can start
designing your research by choosing the methodology and
methods you will use to investigate your research question(s)
• A methodology is an approach to the process of the research,
encompassing a body of methods
• A method is a technique for collecting and/or analysing data
• Inductive versus Deductive
2

3. Main methodological issues
3
The main issues are
Why collect certain data?
What data you will collect?
From where you will collect it?
When you will collect it?
How you will collect it?
How you will analyse it?
You need to consider the strengths and
weaknesses of potential methods in order
to justify your choice when writing your
methodology chapter

4. Link between Paradigm and Methodology
(See Understanding Mixed Method Approach
Johnson & Onwuegbuzie, 2004)
4
A research paradigm ‘is a
philosophical framework that
guides how research should be
conducted, based on people’s
philosophies and their assumptions
about the world and the nature of
knowledge’ (Collis and Hussey,
2014, p. 43)
Therefore, certain methodologies
and their associated methods are
used by researchers sharing the
same philosophical assumptions
about reality and what constitutes
valid knowledge

5. Methodologies associated with the
main paradigms
Positivism Interpretivism
Philosophical Issues Debates
See Understanding Mixed Method Approach Johnson &
Onwuegbuzie, 2004
5

6. Methodologies associated with
positivism
6
• A variable is a characteristic of a
phenomenon that can be observed
or measured
Experimental studies are used to
investigate the relationship
between variables where the
independent variable (IV) is
deliberately manipulated to
observe the effect on the
dependent variable (DV)
• May be difficult to control the effect
of confounding variables (eg change
in behaviour due to being watched)
Eg The relationship between
noise level (IV) and productivity
(DV) in an artificial or natural
setting

7. Methodologies
associated with
positivism
7
Eg An analytical survey to investigate
customer’s views on service quality and test
relationships between certain variables
Surveys are designed to collect primary or
secondary data from a sample, with a view
to generalizing the results to a population
A population is a precisely
defined body of people or
objects under consideration
for statistical purposes
A sample is a subset of a
population that represents
the population

8. Methodologies associated with
positivism
8
Cross-sectional studies are
used to investigate variables
or a group of subjects in
different contexts over the
same period of time
A snapshot of
the phenomena
under study
E.g. Data collected once
from firms in a range of
industries to study similarities
and differences of economic
characteristics

9. Methodologies associated with
positivism
• Longitudinal studies are used to
investigate variables or a group of
subjects over a long period of time
• Investigate the same variables or the same
group of people several times or
continuously over the period (may be
several years)
• E.g. Primary or secondary data collected
at regular intervals to reveal the relative
stability of the phenomena under study
using time series analysis
9

10. Methodologies associated with
interpretivism
10
Hermeneutics is a methodology
that focuses on the interpretation
and understanding of text in the
context of the underlying
historical and social forces
Requires constant reference to other
parts of the text and to the historical and
social context
E.g. For interpreting historical
documents for reasons behind legal
judgements or statutes

11. Methodologies associated with
interpretivism
• Ethnography – The researcher uses
socially acquired and shared knowledge to
understand the observed patterns of
human activity
• Involves direct participation in the
activities taking place and normally
takes place over a long period of time
• Provides a full or partial description
of a group of people, generally
through participant observation in a
natural setting
11

12. Methodologies associated with
interpretivism
• Participative enquiry – The participants are
involved as fully as possible in the study, which
is conducted in their own group or
organization
• The research may even be initiated by a
member of the group and the participants
are involved in the data collection and
analysis
• The participants also determine the
progress and direction of the research,
thus enabling the researcher to develop
questions and answers as a shared
experience with a group as co-researchers
12

13. Methodologies associated with
interpretivism
13
Action research is used to find
an effective way of bringing
about a conscious change in a
partly controlled environment
The main aim is for the researcher to enter
into a situation, attempt to bring about
change and to monitor the results
E.g. A study aimed at
improving communications
between management and
staff in an particular firm

14. Methodologies associated with
interpretivism
14
According to Yin (2014), case study research is the preferred method if:
Main research questions are
‘how ‘or ‘why’ questions
Researcher has little/no control
over behavioural events
Focus of the study is a
contemporary phenomenon
Case studies are used to explore a single phenomenon (the case) in a
natural setting using a variety of methods to obtain in-depth knowledge
The case may be a particular business, group of workers, event, process, person or other
phenomenon

15. Methodologies associated with
interpretivism
15
FEMINIST STUDIES ARE USED
TO INVESTIGATE AND SEEK
UNDERSTANDING OF
PHENOMENA FROM A
FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE WHERE
THE FOCUS IS ON THE ROLE OF
WOMEN IN SOCIETY VIS À VIS
MEN
GENDER STUDIES ARE USED TO
INVESTIGATE THE
EXPERIENCES OF MEN AND
WOMEN IN SOCIETY
ETHNICITY STUDIES ARE USED
TO INVESTIGATE THE
EXPERIENCES OF ETHNIC
GROUP(S) IN SOCIETY

16. Examples of a cohesive research design
Research design
Methodology: Survey Case study
Sampling
method:
Stratified random sample Convenience sample
Method of data
collection:
Self-completion
questionnaire or content
analysis
Semi-structured,
face-to-face
interviews
Method of data
analysis:
Statistics to test hypotheses Thematic analysis of
interview transcripts
• Choose a methodology and methods that reflect your paradigm
and enable you to answer your research questions

17. 17

18. Review of the Literature
• Your preliminary literature review should be an evaluation of the
main studies and other items that are relevant to the research
problem
• Cite the key authors and develop a conceptual framework or
theoretical framework by referring to the concepts/ theories in
the literature
• Conclude by explaining where your research fits into the gaps
or deficiencies in the literature and state your main research
question(s).
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19. Methodology
• This is where you describe and justify your research design
• Identify your paradigm
• Explain your choice of methodology and methods for selecting a sample
or cases, and for collecting and analysing your research data – justify your
choice by compare the strengths and weaknesses of with alternative
methods
• Explain the scope/delimitations of the research (e.g. the particular group
of people, organizations, industry, geographical sector, period of time)
• Discuss any limitations and how you will address ethical issues
• Demonstrate that the study is feasible (e.g. you will have access to data,
skills, any funding necessary and sufficient time) 19

20. Ensuring a cohesive approach
• All students need to take a cohesive approach when designing the
research
• The research problem should dictate the focus of your
preliminary literature review and this in turn should lead to
your research question(s).
• Your methodology should be chosen to enable you to
investigate your research question(s) and your methods should
be selected from those associated with your research paradigm.
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21. 10 ways to get your proposal turned down
(Adapted from Robson, 2011, p. 395)
• Ignore the requirements/guidelines for your course
• Obscure the purpose and the research problem
• Write your literature review like a shopping list
• Quote extensively or make unsupported assertions
• Let some routine task or data trawl masquerade as research
• Don’t worry about any theoretical framework – too fancy
• Let the reader guess the details of your methodology
• Make it clear you know what your findings will be
• Write your own rules for referencing, spelling and grammar
• Plan a timetable suitable for Superman/Wonder Woman
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22. References
Collins, J. and Hussey, R. (2014). Business research: A practical guide for
undergraduate and postgraduate students. (4th edn.). New York: Palgrave,
Macmillan Education.
Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2016). Research Method for
Business Students. (7th edn). Essex: Pearson.
Zikmund, WG, Babin, BJ. Carr, JC. and Griffin, M. (2013). Business
research methods, (9th ed.). Ohio: SouthWestern, Mason.