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

Summary

This 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.