Faculty of

Management & Law

Foundations for Effective

Learning
Good Research Service

SOM LEARNING ELS W W W. B R A D F O R D . A C . U K / M A N A G E M E N T/ E L S

University of Bradford, School of Management Foundations For Good Research

FOUNDATIONS FOR GOOD RESEARCH

There tends to be general agreement among academic staff on what

constitutes ‘good research’.

Good research includes the following elements:

1. Clarity of purpose
2. Relevance
3. Manageable research
4. Originality
5. Accuracy
6. Credibility
7. Applicability
8. Objectivity
9. Ethical approaches
10. Caution
(Denscombe 2002).

This booklet will examine each of these elements. It is meant as an

introduction only and students will need to read more about this subject
before beginning their research projects. A recommended reading list is
included at the end.

Effective Writing

In addition to these ten elements, it is also important to present your

report in a well-structured, clear and direct way.

This booklet therefore includes a section ‘Ten Steps To Effective Writing’

(see pages 16-17).

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1. CLARITY OF PURPOSE

Good research should have clearly stated aims. The purpose of the
research should be stated clearly and explicitly.

Different types of purpose

 Predictive (forecasting an Examples: economists might attempt to

outcome) predict economic growth using models and
theories; on the basis of past and current
activity, research might inform decisions about
investments, marketing & production issues.

 Explaining (explaining the Examples: research that tends to focus on

causes or consequences of testing theories or explaining economic or other
something) social phenomena.

 Criticising (or evaluating Examples: research that has as its central

something, to test how well focus the consideration of strengths and
something works) weaknesses of a particular and existing
practice, policy etc, usually with a view to
making suggestions for improvement.

 Descriptive (describing Examples: research of this nature is usually

situations & events) concerned with collecting facts and describing
situations and or events that have not
previously been subject to detailed scrutiny; it
often involves breaking down the situation into
its component parts to establish connections
and causal links.

 Development (developing Examples: the main driving force of this type

guidelines or of applied research is often to improve
recommendations for good procedures or working practices and the
practice) research will usually arrive at recommendations
for good practice that will tackle a problem or
enhance the performance of an organisation.

Research will often contain more than one element, e.g. it could be both
Descriptive and Development in focus.

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Research Questions

Research questions specify exactly what is to be investigated – the

specific things that are to be observed, measured and questioned in order
to shed light on the broader topic.

So a research project will have a clearly stated overall aim and purpose,
and it will also contain specific questions to be addressed and outline the
approaches to be taken to obtain the information required.

The researcher will also be expected to understand the two main

approaches to research: positivistic and phenomenological, and select
appropriate research methods that connect with the (1) broad aim of the
research, (2) the specific research questions to be addressed and (3) the
research methodology and methods that flow from (1) & (2).

1. Broad aim
of the
research 2. Specific
research
questions to 3. Research
be addressed methodology
& methods

For an introduction to what is meant by positivistic and

phenomenological approaches to research, read the Effective
Learning Service booklet ‘Introduction to Research and Research
Methods’.

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2. RELEVANCE

The relevance issues concern the questions ‘what is to be gained from the
research? Is it likely to have any significance to anything or anybody?

Good research should be able to demonstrate its relevance in terms of:

a. Contributing to existing knowledge

b. Addressing real problems or issues
c. Timeliness: relevance to contemporary concerns
d. Researcher’s personal agenda: research can be justified too, on
the grounds that it has specific intrinsic or extrinsic benefits for a
researcher, e.g. helps the researcher to put into perspective past
events.

a. Contributing to Existing Knowledge

It is important that all researchers are aware of previous studies in the

broad area to be researched; there is no point in doing something that
has been done before – unless the research was specifically concerned
with checking or testing previous research. Researchers should start
with what is known and then proceed to build on this. The point is to try
and advance knowledge in some way.

Researchers therefore need to present in any research report the result of

their literature review on the chosen research topic and state explicitly
how their own proposed research could move knowledge forward. The
literature review (and this section in the project report) demonstrates the
familiarity of the researcher with existing ideas, information and practices
related to the research subject.

b. Addressing Real Problems or Issues

This drives much of the research in business, but again the problem in
question needs to be considered within the context of what is already
known about similar problems.

The researcher will need to understand the problem in its historical,

cultural and social context, and explain the significance of the problem
and how it might also be seen as part of a wider set of concerns and
issues. It might be, for example, the ‘tip of an iceberg’ – the researcher
will need to identify the size of the iceberg!

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c. Timeliness

Some research findings rise to prominence, whilst others sink without

trace. The former research may be no better, qualitatively speaking, but it
is often more timely.

Research often benefits from being able to demonstrate how it connects

with contemporary concerns in either a specific business or wider societal
context. The wise (or shrewd) researcher will demonstrate how the
research in question connects with topical concerns in any particular
context.

d. Personal Agenda

The best research is often that in which the researcher has a strong
personal stake, combined with one or more of the other reasons, above.
This personal stake may be to do with personal career development, but it
may also be about putting into context a past experience, or about
engaging with subjects that really interest the researcher. A strong
personal stake in the research will act as a driving force when the going
gets tough, which it will!

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3. MANAGEABLE RESEARCH

This is an important issue for all researchers, but particularly for

postgraduate students working to tight time schedules.

There is absolutely no point in starting a research project that is too

ambitious in terms of its aims if it is not manageable in the time allowed.

Researchers need therefore to plan carefully the time stages for small-
scale research projects. Time has to be allowed for many of the following
activities:

 Literature review
 Preparing materials for data gathering (questionnaires, interview
schedules, focus group discussions)
 Testing or pilot stage (e.g. testing questionnaires on a sample group)
 Modification of data collection materials
 Contacting people by Email, telephone or letter/sending out
questionnaires
 Travel to and from places to meet and interview people
 Interviewing people
 Follow up contacts with people/chasing up questionnaires
 Data analysis
 Discussions with supervisors
 Draft stage of report
 More discussions with supervisors on chapters
 Final writing stage

It can be notoriously difficult to contact busy people and agree a meeting

time when both the researcher and interviewee are free. Busy people are
also bad at responding to questionnaires, which can be pushed to the
bottom of the in-tray, and often constant but polite chivvying is needed to
encourage people to reply to questionnaires.

Another big issue is also the question of access to necessary data, or

gaining permission to undertake research – particularly in-house research
within organisations. Will the researcher be able to gain access to relevant
information?

CAUTION!
Most researchers are often far too optimistic about the number of completed
questionnaires they hope to be returned, or about the number of people they
hope to interview. The time and trouble in interviewing people or in getting
back a reasonable number of completed questionnaires should NEVER be
under-estimated. This is a cause of considerable delay and frustration for
researchers! This needs to be taken into account at the planning stage.

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4. ORIGINALITY

Researchers should expect to be quizzed on their research along the lines

‘what did you find out that we did not already know?’ Researchers should
therefore set out purposefully in the direction of ‘new territory’: to try and
put a new slant on to old problems, look at something in a new way,
arrive at a new conclusion to old research.

Originality, however, does not equate with eccentricity and arriving at

unworkable conclusions. Being different means linking your research
clearly to established practice and offering insights that are relevant to the
contribution to problem solving and the progress of knowledge.

Questions to ask:

 To what extent do the findings build on what was already known?

 In what respects is the research different from previous studies?
 Does the research explain something in a new way?
 Is there some test or critique of existing knowledge?
 Does the research provide new information on a topic?

Ways that research can be original:

 Establishing a new theoretical model

 Continuing a previously original piece of work
 Carrying out original work designed by a supervisor
 Providing a single original technique, observation or result in an
otherwise unoriginal but competent piece of work
 Showing originality in testing someone else’s idea(s)
 Carrying out empirical work (data based on observation or
experience) that hasn’t been done before
 Making a synthesis (of ideas or practices) that hasn’t been made
before
 Coining a new term to describe a new synthesis of ideas
 Putting new interpretations on established practices
 Trying something, only previously tried in one country, out in
another
 Taking a particular technique and applying it in a new area or
situation
 Focusing research on a group that is under-researched in terms of
the subject discipline
 Making comparisons between dissimilar situations to see what can
be learned from the process
 Bringing new evidence to bear on an old issue
 Being cross-disciplinary and using different methodologies
 Looking at areas/issues that people in the discipline haven’t looked
at before (or long ago)
 Adding to knowledge in a way that hasn’t previously been done
before

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5. ACCURACY

Research should produce valid data using reliable methods. Questions to

ask:

 Has the research asked relevant questions of the right people?

 Is the data collected sufficiently detailed and precise?
 Does the data connect with the conclusions reached in the research?

Factors that might affect the truth of responses need to be considered,

e.g. way questions are phrased; sources of data; partial or biased
responses to questionnaires; reception of respondents to the research in
question; and anything else that might disrupt the normality of a
situation, including the presence of the interviewer.

Any possible limitations to accuracy, because of the data gathered, needs

to be stated in any research report.

There are a number of ways that the validity of information gathered

might be checked:

 Benchmarking: comparing the findings with any relevant external

criteria, e.g. other research. The accuracy and precision of data can
be assessed by comparing them with findings on the same topic
produced using different research methods, produced by other
researchers.

 Check questions in questionnaires: asking the same question in

different ways to check accuracy of responses.

 Checking results with interested and objective groups or informed

people to see what their responses are to findings, e.g. how
credible are the findings to these groups or individuals?

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6. CREDIBILITY

Good research should include a full and detailed account of its

methodology to convince the reader and other interested parties that the
findings and recommendations made are reasonable ones. To enable
readers to evaluate the research, a full account needs to be given of:

 The methods of data collection and analysis used

 A justification for the choice of approach taken
 The boundaries and limitations of the methods used

There are four dimensions and associated questions related to this issue:

SCOPE BREADTH

The scope issues concern what was The breadth issues concern the
included among the questions to be research approach: did the research
addressed, and what questions or approach allow the inclusion of
issues were not addressed- and sufficient numbers and categories of
why. data to justify the conclusions
reached?

DEPTH OBJECTIVITY

Did the research deal in sufficient How objective was the researcher
depth with the complexities and or research team? Were they
connections encountered in a compromised, or potentially
particular situation? Was the compromised in some way by the
research ‘one-dimensional’ (limited) situation? Do they make it clear in
or did it try to unravel the situation the research what compromises
and make connections between they had to make between what
phenomena? they wanted to do and what they
were allowed to do?

Good research will always describe what was done – then explain why. It
may also tell you how it could have been better. This transparency adds
to the credibility of the research.

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7. APPLICABILITY

Research should aim to produce findings and conclusions that can apply to
other similar situations and from which general principles or conclusions
can be made or inferred. This is done by careful consideration of the
criteria for selection of the phenomenon to be researched.

The aim would be to either select a sample (of data, people, practices etc)
for research that would be representative of a target group, or that the
phenomenon studied is representative in terms of a particular theory
being tested.

A distinction should be made between:

Generalisations Transferability

To be able to generalise from one Transferability is, however, more

research to other situations requires informal and is the process by
representative data that has been which we may infer and interpret
rigorously gathered, tested and from one research to other
checked. Generalizability relates to situations. Research findings in this
findings that are capable of being context can act as a point of
tested by others using the same reference and comparison for
measures and with an equivalent others. This kind of transference is
sample. This tends to be associated more usually associated with more
with quantitative approaches, often interpretative research and
involving a large and representative qualitative data.
sample of a target group

Generalisations or statements about transferability are an inevitable

aspect of research, even if the conclusions reached are confined and
related to a very specific situation. However, the careful selection of data,
people, or any other material of interest for research, is a key issue here,
and is an important issue to discuss with a research supervisor.

Questions to consider would be:

 ‘has an adequate and diverse or representative number and range of

people, data etc. been included in the research’ (in the context of the
timescale and size of the research project)? A representative sample
would include a considered and balanced cross-section of the subjects
(see next page).
 ‘does the sample or cases used in the research allow comparisons with
others of their type’?

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Size and Sampling

In a quantitative study, when seeking the views of a group of fifty or less,

Henry (1990) argues against any form of sampling. He argues that you
should distribute questionnaires and collect data to the entire population,
if possible.

To elicit the views of larger groups, some form of sampling is usually

necessary to attempt to gather opinions that are likely to be
representative of the whole group.

Sampling strategies are divided into two main groups: probability and
non-probability sampling.

Probability Non-probability

Where the researcher has a Where the researcher has little initial
significant measure of control over control over the choice of who is
who is selected and on the selection presented for selection, or where
methods for choosing them. controlled selection of participants is
Sampling methods allow for not a critical factor.
representative cross-sections, or
particular groups to be identified or Main Methods:
targeted.
Convenience Sampling:
Main Methods: (sampling those most
convenient; those immediately
Simple Random Sampling: available)
(selection at random by the researchers
from a choice of subjects) Voluntary Sampling:
(the sample is self-
Systematic Sampling: selecting; they come forward
(selecting by the researchers at voluntarily in response to an appeal)
numbered intervals, e.g. every one
person in five in the target group) Purposive Sampling:
(enables you to use your judgement
Stratified Sampling: to choose people that are presented or
(sampling within particular sections of are available that best meet your
the target groups, e.g. you target a objectives or your target groups).
specific number of people based on the
percentage of the total group that ‘Snowball’ Sampling:
share the same characteristics. (building up a sample through
informants. You start with one person
So, for example, in a study of an – who then suggests another and so
organisation that had 50 supervisors & on)
800 labourers, a 10% representative
sample of this population would target Event Sampling
5 supervisors & 80 labourers to (using the opportunity presented by a
interview. particular event, e.g. a conference, to
make contacts)
Cluster Sampling:
(surveying a particular cluster of the Time Sampling
subject group) (recognising that different times or
days of the week or year may be
significant and sampling at these
times or days.

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8. OBJECTIVITY

Can researchers ever be completely objective?

Many commentators argue that it is impossible to be completely objective,

as our responses to the world are coloured by our own experiences,
perceptions, attitudes and values. This can lead us to consciously or
unconsciously shape research to connect with our own frames of
reference.

Others with a stake in the research can also influence outcomes.

Sponsored research can be problematic in this respect, as sponsoring
bodies can exert subtle (or unsubtle) pressure on researchers to arrive at
conclusions that may suit a cause or political purpose. There may be
pressure on researchers to frame questions and select data that takes the
research in a direction that suits the sponsor, rather than the researcher.

However, researchers still treat the quest for objectivity as the ‘Holy Grail’
of research and will endeavour to be as open-minded as possible to the
outcomes of their research. The need to be open-minded is very
important, as research can often throw up unexpected results that may
challenge beliefs and feelings that may have prompted the research in the
first place!

Guidelines for Good Practice

 It is important to acknowledge any vested interests in the research

that could potentially compromise the objectivity of findings. It is
important for researchers to be open about sponsorship and whether
the research was conducted with financial support and to what extent
the researcher had autonomy over the design and analysis of the
research.

 Researchers need to be clear about their own values and to what

extent these may have influenced the direction of the research; adding
a short biographical note to the research can be helpful to readers to
understand the reasons why a particular research topic was selected.

 Researchers will often benefit from mentally ‘stepping back’ from

research and looking at it as if from a stranger’s perspective; the role
of the research supervisor is a key one in challenging the research and
asking the ‘why’ questions.

 Good research does not ignore opposing ideas. Indeed, it

acknowledges their existence, engages with them, may partially accept
some of them, but then presents another perspective; another point of
view.

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9. ETHICAL APPROACHES TO RESEARCH

Ethics concerns the system of moral principles by which individuals can

judge their own actions and the actions of others as right or wrong, good
or bad.

Ethical concerns may emerge at all stages of research.

Saunders et al. (2003:131) summarise the main issues to consider,

although the ethical issues surrounding these items are not always clear-
cut:

 The rights of privacy of individuals

 Voluntary nature of participation – and the rights of individuals to
withdraw partially or completely from the process
 Consent and possible deception of participants
 Maintenance of the confidentiality of data provided by individuals or
identifiable participants and their anonymity
 Reactions of participants to the ways in which researchers seek to
collect data
 Effects on participants of the way in which data is analysed and
reported
 Behaviour and objectivity of the researcher

Confidentiality

This is an important – perhaps the most important – issue to consider in

research. Students need to be aware therefore, what the School of
Management has to say about this, for example in the MBA Management
Project Guidelines:

Frequently, the nature of a project necessitates the student having access

to sensitive information about a company's business. The company may
require the student to keep such information confidential, and
occasionally may ask the student to sign a formal confidentiality
agreement.

If the project report contains confidential information the company may

ask the University to keep the report confidential. Any such request
should be sent in writing to the Projects Co-ordinator. After marking,
confidential reports are kept under restricted access for 2 years instead of
being placed in the library. If access needs to be restricted for a longer
period, application must be made again in writing at the end of this time.

Similarly, if a student is employed by a company to do research, he/she

does so on behalf of the company and this should be declared to other
parties. It is not acceptable practice to use 'MBA student' as a cover to
obtain competitor information (Section 12.6 ‘Confidentiality’, from MBA
Management Project Guidelines).

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Checklist for Ethical Research

1. Will the research process harm participants or those from whom

information is gathered?

2. Are the findings likely to cause harm to others not involved in the
research?

3. Are you violating accepted research practice in conducting the

research and data analysis, and drawing conclusions?

4. Are you violating community or professional standards of

conduct?
(Kervin 1992:38)

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10. CAUTION

Researchers need to be cautious about their findings; research rarely

‘proves’ anything, although it often ‘suggests’ a particular or significant
cause-effect, suggests an approach to problem solving or lends support to
a particular theory.

Be particularly cautious about making emphatic cause-effect claims. When

analysing and reporting observed links between factors, researchers need
to eliminate those that are chance or coincidence related.

There is often a range of connected factors that cause a particular

response and the researcher must try and identify these and trace the
connections between them. The researcher may be able however, to
identify significant contributory factors to a particular observable
situation.

Good Practice Guidelines

 Do not assume the ‘facts’ speak for themselves - researchers

need to demonstrate the reliability of their claims by reference to
evidence

 Be careful not to make unwarranted claims or conclusions from

the evidence – show how the evidence links with the theories,
arguments or recommendations made

 Draw attention to any aspect of the research that is built on theories

that are the subject of current challenge, debate and controversy

 Consider alternative explanations – explain what assumptions the

research was built on and draw attention to any alternative ways of
explaining the findings; invite further future research in these areas

 Recognise the limitations of the research – draw attention to any

possible gaps in the research and, again, invite further future research
in these areas

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Ten Steps to Effective Writing

1. Good writers have to continually revise and rewrite until they are
satisfied with the final result. Don’t underestimate the time this
takes.

2. Talk to people about your research and explain it to them. By

explaining it to others you will explain it to yourself.

3. Always keep in mind your original research aims and research

questions and remind the reader of these at regular intervals:
in the introduction, literature review, methodology, findings – in
virtually in every section - you need to remind the reader (and
yourself) what your research is about.

4. Always keep in mind the central point or findings of your report

and emphasise these in your writing. Emphasise them in the results
section and emphasise them again in the conclusion.

5. Start writing early. Write a section at a time as you complete

them; don’t try writing the report all at once. Show your supervisor
each section at a time as you write them, unless you have agreed
another arrangement. Give yourself plenty of time for revision,
correcting and for formatting the document – this can be very time-
consuming.

6. In a long report, it is necessary to remind the reader of the main

points in each section. Summarise the main points made at the
end of each section and build the anticipation of the reader for what
is to come in the subsequent sections. The example below
illustrates how a student concludes his literature review and sets
the scene to move on to the next section.

The literature has demonstrated a range of views regarding change agency and
the extent of their adoption can now be assessed through a survey relating to the
role of the personnel management function in UK SMEs. This study assesses the
extent to which modern conceptions of the personnel function, in particular
business change, exist among UK SMEs and the nature of such a business change
role.

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7. Write with the ear. A sentence may look correct on paper, but often
sounds jumbled or rambling if read aloud. ‘Listen’ to your sentences
in your head as you write, and do not write anything that sounds
false or uncomfortable to say aloud.

8. Write for the eye as well. Make the document visually appealing,
and use plenty of white space in margins, between sections and
paragraphs to make the document look attractive. There are
guidelines in your project handbooks for the way dissertations are
presented and you should read these.

9. Keep your writing clear and simple. Avoid long, convoluted

sentences - and don’t fill them with jargon or pretentious waffle.

For tips on good writing visit the Plain English Campaign website
www.plainenglish.co.uk

10. If you are concerned about your spelling and grammar, try and
get your sections proof read before you hand them to your
supervisor. Proof-reading is not a task you should expect your
supervisor, tutor or any member of staff at the School of
Management to do, as it is time-consuming and not their
responsibility. You could ask a friend, relative or another student
to help - or ask a self-employed proof-reader to do it. The
Effective Learning Service website contains a list of local or
regional proof-readers. Their fees vary, so you would need to
negotiate directly with them and give them plenty of time to read
your work.

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Recommended Reading

Collis, J. and Hussey, R. (2003) Business Research: a practical guide for

undergraduate and postgraduate student. 2nd edition. Basingstoke:
Palgrave Macmillan.
Denscombe, M. (2002) Ground Rules for Good Research. Maidenhead:
Open University Press.
Gill, J. and Johnson, P. (1997) Research Methods for Managers. 2nd
edition. London: Paul Chapman.
Saunders, M, Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2007) Research Methods for
Business Students. 4th edition. Harlow: Prentice Hall.

References:

Blaxter, L. Hughes, C. and Tight, M. (1998) How to Research.

Buckingham: Open University Press.
Denscombe, M. (2002) Ground Rules for Good Research. Maidenhead:
Open University Press.
Henry, G.T. (1990) Practical Sampling. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Kervin, J.B. (1992) Methods for Business Research. NY: Harper Collins.
Saunders, M, Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2003) Research Methods for
Business Students. 3rd edition. Harlow: Prentice Hall.

This booklet has been influenced by the work of Martyn Denscombe,

whose book on the ground rules for good research is highly recommended
(see above).

Colin Neville 2007.

Booklet last amended July 2016.

If you have any queries please contact Dr Martin Sedgley, Effective

Learning Advisor, University of Bradford School of Management.
Telephone: 01274 234320
Email: [email protected].

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Management & Law

Effective Learning Service

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Yvette Jacobson Building

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[email protected]

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