10Min Research Methodology - 2 - How to Start the Research Process?

Research With Fawad

29 Aug 202207:24

Summary

TLDRThis session delves into basic research, emphasizing its importance for scholars aiming to extend academic literature. It outlines steps for identifying research areas, narrowing down to specific sub-areas, and understanding prevalent trends. The speaker highlights the systematic nature of research, culminating in publications, and introduces the concept of journals and databases as essential resources for finding relevant articles and papers.

Takeaways

🔍 Basic research is the foundation of academic research aimed at extending existing literature.
🎓 To conduct basic research, one must first identify their research area, such as HRM, marketing, or finance.
📚 Sub-areas within a field of study, like HRM, include topics like leadership, organizational learning, and employee development.
🤔 It's crucial to narrow down the research focus to a specific topic or leadership style to conduct meaningful research.
📈 New scholars can use systematic research methods to identify prevalent styles or trends within their chosen sub-area.
📚 Research culminates in a dissertation, thesis, or research paper, which is the outcome of a systematic process.
📘 To understand the current state of a research area, one should look at books, articles, and existing research papers.
🗞️ The latest research findings are typically published in articles within academic journals.
📖 Journals are periodic publications that contain multiple articles, each with a volume and issue number for identification.
🔑 To find specific articles and journals, one must search databases, which will be discussed in the next session.
🔄 The process of narrowing down a research area involves understanding the existing literature and identifying gaps to fill.

Q & A

What is basic research?
-Basic research, also known as fundamental research, is a type of scholarly or academic research aimed at extending the existing literature without a specific practical application in mind.
Why is it important to know the area for research before conducting basic research?
-Knowing the area for research is crucial because it helps to define the scope and direction of the research, ensuring that the work contributes meaningfully to the existing body of knowledge in that field.
What does it mean to extend the literature?
-Extending the literature means adding new knowledge, theories, or findings to what is already known in a particular field, thereby advancing the understanding of the subject matter.
Why is narrowing down the research area important for new scholars?
-Narrowing down the research area is important for new scholars to focus their efforts and resources effectively, and to ensure that their research is manageable and contributes to a specific area of study.
What are some sub-areas within Human Resource Management (HRM) mentioned in the script?
-The script mentions several sub-areas within HRM, including Training and Development (T&D), Leadership, Knowledge Management, Internal Marketing, Employee Development, and Organizational Learning.
What types of leadership styles are discussed in the script?
-The script discusses various leadership styles such as Servant Leadership, Charismatic Leadership, Transactional Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Smart Leadership, and Knowledge Oriented Leadership.
How does a new scholar identify prevalent leadership styles or trends in a field like organizational learning?
-A new scholar can identify prevalent leadership styles or trends by reviewing the latest research articles and papers published in academic journals.
What is the role of a systematic research process?
-A systematic research process ensures that the research is conducted in a structured, methodical way, leading to reliable and valid results that can be published as a dissertation, thesis, or research paper.
Where can one find the latest research on a specific topic like organizational learning?
-The latest research on a specific topic can be found in academic journals, which publish articles and papers that have been peer-reviewed and are current in the field.
What is a journal in the context of academic research?
-A journal in academic research refers to a periodical publication that contains articles and papers on specific subjects, published regularly, such as annually, biannually, monthly, or quarterly.
How are journals and their articles accessed by researchers?
-Journals and their articles are accessed by researchers through databases that index and provide access to a wide range of scholarly publications.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Understanding Basic Research

The speaker begins by differentiating between basic research and other forms of research, such as fundamental research. They emphasize the importance of extending the literature as a scholar. The process of conducting basic research starts with identifying one's area of interest, such as HRM within business. The speaker then narrows down to sub-areas of HRM, such as leadership. They discuss the need to understand different leadership styles and the importance of narrowing down one's research focus. The speaker also introduces the idea of systematic research leading to a dissertation or research paper and suggests that to understand the current state of a field, one should read existing research, articles, and papers.

05:02

🔍 Finding Research Articles and Papers

The second paragraph discusses where to find research articles and papers, which are crucial for understanding the latest developments in a field. The speaker explains that the latest research is often found in journals, which publish articles on various topics. They describe the structure of journals, including volume and issue numbers, and how articles within them are page-numbered for easy access. The paragraph concludes by mentioning that journals are found in databases, which will be discussed in the next session. The speaker also highlights the importance of finding and referring to these articles for conducting basic research.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Basic research

Basic research, also known as fundamental research, is the pursuit of understanding the fundamental principles of topics within a field without any immediate practical application in mind. It is foundational to the advancement of knowledge. In the script, the speaker discusses how basic research is integral to extending the literature in a field, which is a key objective for scholars and academicians. The speaker's aim to conduct basic research in Human Resource Management (HRM) exemplifies this concept.

💡Literature extension

Literature extension refers to the process of adding new knowledge to an existing body of scholarly work. It is a critical aspect of academic research where scholars aim to contribute to the existing pool of knowledge. The script emphasizes the importance of understanding what is already available in the literature before attempting to extend it, which is a crucial step in conducting basic research.

💡Research area

A research area is a specific field or discipline in which a researcher conducts their study. The script uses the example of HRM within business research to illustrate how a researcher might choose a particular area to focus their investigation. Identifying a research area is the first step in narrowing down the scope of one's research.

💡Sub areas

Sub areas are the specific topics or themes within a broader research area. The script mentions various sub areas of HRM such as leadership, organizational learning, and employee development. These sub areas allow researchers to focus their investigation on a more specific aspect of their chosen research area.

💡Leadership styles

Leadership styles refer to the different approaches and behaviors exhibited by leaders. The script lists several types of leadership styles such as servant leadership, charismatic leadership, and transformational leadership. Understanding various leadership styles is crucial for a researcher interested in the leadership sub area of HRM.

💡Narrowing down

Narrowing down is the process of refining one's research focus to a specific topic within a broader area of interest. The script discusses the importance of narrowing down for a new scholar, as it helps in identifying the precise research question or problem to be addressed. This is essential for conducting focused and meaningful research.

💡Systematic process

A systematic process is a methodical and orderly approach to conducting research, which ensures that the study is thorough and reliable. The script mentions that research culminates in a dissertation, thesis, or research paper, which are outcomes of this systematic process. This process is vital for producing credible and valid research findings.

💡Dissertation/thesis

A dissertation or thesis is a lengthy, formal treatise that presents the research findings of a scholar. In the script, the speaker refers to these as the outcomes of the research process. They are typically required for completion of graduate degrees and represent a significant contribution to the body of knowledge in a particular field.

💡Research papers

Research papers are scholarly articles that contain original research results and are published in academic journals. The script indicates that to understand the current state of research in a field, one should look for the latest research papers. These papers are crucial for identifying gaps in knowledge and informing one's own research direction.

💡Journals

Journals are periodicals that publish scholarly articles in various fields of study. The script explains that journals are where research papers are published and that each article is assigned a page number for easy reference. Journals play a central role in disseminating research findings and are a primary source for researchers to stay updated on the latest developments in their field.

💡Databases

Databases are organized collections of information, often digital, that can be searched and retrieved. In the context of the script, databases are mentioned as the repositories where journals are housed, making them accessible to researchers. Databases are essential tools for finding and reviewing literature in conducting research.

Highlights

Introduction to basic research and its importance in extending literature.

The necessity of knowing what is available to extend the literature.

Defining the area of research, such as social sciences or business research.

Sub-areas within business research like HRM, marketing, and finance.

Focusing on a specific area of interest within HRM, such as leadership.

Identifying different types of leadership styles for research.

The challenge of narrowing down research focus for new scholars.

Methods for narrowing down research areas.

The role of systematic research in producing a dissertation, thesis, or research paper.

Importance of reading books, articles, and research papers to understand the current state of the field.

The process of finding the latest research in a specific area.

Understanding where to find articles and research papers in journals.

The structure of journals, including volume and issue numbers.

Accessing specific articles within journals using page numbers.

Locating journals and articles through databases.

The next steps for a researcher after identifying sub-areas of interest.

Introduction to the topic of databases for finding research articles in the next session.