Research seminar

MIB-I

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Contact Information

Associate Professor Olga Verkhovskayae-mail: verkhovskaya @gsom.pu.ruroom: 225 (Arthur Schultz Building)office hours: by appointment

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What is this seminar for?

To develop a set of skills necessary for research (academic, business analytics, policy study…)

It is NOT about master thesis only

But

We facilitate the process of master thesis writing

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How this seminar contributes to your competitive advantage

Our goal is to develop a set of SKILLS that are needed for analytical reasoning and writing as well doing research in management

By doing this we facilitate the process of master thesis writing

… we aim at developing your professional skills necessary for academic research, business analytics, policy study, and other types of intellectual output

The level of development of these skills is one of the key differentiators of master level education compared to undergrads. So, after all, this seminar is about your competitive advantage on the job market

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The aims of the seminarin the process of master thesis writing

To help students in generating and formulating the research topic in developing skills of preparing literature

review, collecting and analyzing data, writing a report

To discuss the preliminary results

To monitor the progress in thesis writing

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Organization

30 hours each semester blocks of 4 hours

Fall semester

14.10, 28.10, 11.11, 18.11, 25.11, 09.12, 16.12

…to be continued in the second year

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Organization Fall semester 1 year

Research workshopsFaculty presentationsStudents’ written reports №1 presentations

Written report №1 (min 2 pages) is devoted to generating and refining research idea and the preliminary research topic formulation

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Organization Spring semester 1 year

Research workshops

Students written reports 2.1-2.3 presentations

Written report 2.1 - research topic formulation, research questions and objectives

Written report 2.2 – research design and timescale

Written report 2.3 - literature review and hypothesis

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Grading

Pass/ Fail

but if you fail the seminar, you fail the program!

Fall semesterParticipation in workshops (20%)Requirements of handing in report in time (10%)The quality of the report (40%)The presentation of the report (30%)

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Research advisor

Opportunity to switch the topic

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Roles and responsibilities

Research advisor is an expert in a particular field

Approximately 25 GSOM faculty are available as research advisors for the MIB program

Research seminar instructor will: -teach / train general approach to doing and presenting

research -monitor your progress and give a feedback

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What are the benefits of obtaining a master’s degree?

Why do you try to obtain a degree in international business ?

Why do you try to obtain a degree in GSOM?

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Benefits of Obtaining a Master’s Degree

you would be considered an “expert” in the field and highly regarded

allow you to obtain a high-ranking position (curriculum director, program manager, or

faculty member) increase your value in the job market you have accomplished your own personal

goal, acquired by only a small proportion of the general population

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What Is a Master’s Thesis?

research study that is an original piece of work by the graduate student

The thesis must be an original piece of work because it represents the student’s culminating research and writing abilities

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The Difference Between aMaster’s Thesis and a Term Paper

the master’s thesis is based on original research on a particular topic conducted by the student

the term paper is a summary of research or other sources about a particular topic

the student is not conducting a research study in order to answer the question

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Components of a Master’s Thesis Introduction introduces the topic of the thesis to the reader and establishes the

statement of the problem and research questions

Review of the Literature introduces the research literature related to the topic and identifies the

most relevant and significant research

Methods explains the research methods and design that were used to conduct

the study and describes the actual procedures

Results reports the results of the study and presents the findings from the data

collection process

Discussion discusses the results in relation to the statement of the problem and the

research questions and draws conclusions about the study’s findings

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The structure is the same irrespective of different type of study you are conducting

Depending on your research questions, selecting research design affects how you conduct the study (methods) and analyze and interpret the data (results).

Topic 1

The nature of business and management research

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Issues covered

What Is Research? Scientific Method in Research

Distinctive features of management research Levels and outcomes of management

research The content and process of management

research

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Learning objectives

To explain what research is and what it is not, the criteria for research and the different types of research approach

To appreciate the link between models of management and different types of research.

To understand what is distinctive about management research.

To see how research may contribute both to the understanding and practice of management.

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The Oxford Encyclopedic English Dictionary defines research as:

(a) the systematic investigation into the study of materials, sources etc. in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions

(b) an endeavour to discover new or collate old facts etc. by the scientific study of a subject or by a course of critical investigation.

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Research

is a procedure by which we attempt to find systematically, and with the support of demonstrable fact, the answer to a question or the resolution of a problem

(Leedy, 1989)

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Research is about generating knowledge about what you believe the world is

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Knowledge is differentiated from facts

Knowledge is an expert’s best interpretation of the facts

Facts are discovered

Data are collected

Knowledge is created

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Research distinguishes itself from

experience

reasoning

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Knowledge and experience

Experience results in knowledge gained through day -to-day living

BUT

Learning from experience tends to be uncontrolled. Conclusions are often not exhaustively tested

Experience can be a starting point for research, may provide a wealth of questions to be investigated

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Reasoning

BUT

Reasoning is a method of coming to conclusions by the use of logical argument

Basic forms of reasoning: deductive inductive inductive/deductive

Reasoning can operate in an abstract world, divorced from reality

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Deductive and inductive forms of reasoning

All live mammals breathe. This cow is a live mammal. Therefore, this cow breathes.

General statements

A specific conclusion

All swans which have been observed are white in colour.

Therefore one can conclude that all swans are white.

Specific observations

General conclusions

logical arguments logical arguments

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Three characteristics of research

research is systematic and controlled

research is empirical and turns to experience and the world around us for validation

research aims to be self-correcting. the process of research involves rigorously testing the results

obtained, and methods and results are open to public scrutiny and criticism

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Characteristics of research which uses scientific method

1. It is generated by a question 2. It necessitates clarification of a goal 3. It entails a specific programme of work 4. It is aimed at increasing understanding by

interpreting facts or ideas and reaching some conclusions about their meaning

5. It requires reasoned argument to support conclusions

6. It is reiterative in its activities

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The nature of managementViews of

ManagementPeriod of

DominanceKey Features Type of theory

Classical

1910—1950 Functional

activities

Normative

Human relations 1940—1970 Motivating people and

managing change

Normative

Decision theory 1950—1970 Optimising decisions Analytic

Work activity 1970s What managers do Descriptive

Competencies 1980s Skills required for effective performance

Normative

Critical 1990—present Social construction

and politics

Analytic

Learning 1990—present Managing knowledge

and learning

Analytic and normative

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Different types of theory

Normative

specify what, or how managers should do their work

Descriptive

try to describe what managers do in practic

Analytic

take a particular theoretical perspective which emphasises some aspects of work

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EXERCISE

For each of the seven perspectives of management summarize in one sentence the way that research is most likely to be conducted

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Features that make management research distinctive

the practice of management is largely eclectic managers tend to be powerful and busy

people managers are increasingly educated there is often an expectation that research

will lead directly to action.

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“Dualistic” thinking

Each question has one correct answer (typical way of thinking for freshmen class)

In fact, in management and in economics it’s not always true

But this doesn’t imply that all points of view are correct or equal!

There is more than one correct answer to this question, but there are also an infinite number of incorrect answers‖

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A central question is

whether management research should lead to developments in academic theory or whether it should lead to solutions of practical problems

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Forms of research.

Pure research Applied research

Production of knowledge by detached scientists

focusing on theoretical questions and problems

Production of knowledge through direct

engagement with social practiceand problems

1½ research

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Forms of research Pure research is intended to lead to

theoretical development, and there may, or may not, be any practical implications.

its results are openly disseminated through books, articles, conference papers or theses, addressed mainly at an academic audience

Applied research is intended to lead to the

solution of specific problems, and usually involves working with clients to identify the important problems and decide how best to tackle them

the results need to be reported to the client, who is likely to evaluate the quality of the research in terms of its usability.

Can be published in practitioner or professionaljournals

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Forms of research

Pure research Action research aims to contribute both to the

practical concerns of people in an immediate problematic situation and to the goals of social science by joint collaboration within a mutually accepted ethical framework

Applied research

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Plan your research process

How to do it wrong?

«I should write and submit the first (theoretical) chapter by…,

Then I’ll write the second chapter….

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The research wheel

The research is not linear but a recursive cycle of steps that arerepeated over time.

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Basic research questions

What are you going to do? Why are you going to do it? How are you going to do it? When are you going to do it?

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The research process

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The supervisory support process (1)

Getting started and finding a topic

Finding out what was already known about a topic through review of the literature andscanning the field

It essential for there to be a close supervisory relationship. Students need support in searching the field and formalizing their perspectives, Supervisors can help shape the direction of the research by being on hand so that students can test out their ideas.

The supervisor's role as not being quite

so intense, rather the supervisor should move into a position of guidance and facilitation.

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The supervisory support process (2)

Out in the field collecting data

Writing up

Preparing for the oral defense

The supervisory responsibility is being on tap, but not on top.

It is important for supervisors to reengage with the research project (to check the quality of the work, the writing style and to give feedback.

Students are often so close to their work that they don't recognize the contributions that they had made and they often need help to stand back and see what they have achieved in perspective