Research Strategies for Online MBA Students By: Douglas S. Brown, J.D. Table of Contents I. Introduction... 1 II. What is Applied Research?... 2 III. Researching Strategies... 2 A. Plan the Work Work the Plan: Basic Strategies... 3 B. Critical Thinking in Research... 4 C. Research Constructs... 5 1. Scientific Method... 5 2. IRAC Method... 6 3. CREAC Method... 6 IV. Researching Techniques... 7 A. Resources and Expectations... 7 B. Types of Applied Research... 7 C. Finding Sources... 7 D. Post University Database Sources... 8 1. Getting your Library Barcode... 8 2. Touring the Post University Virtual Library... 9 E. Internet Sources... 9 1. Search Engines:... 9 2. Web Directories... 9 3. Metasearch Agents... 9 V. Evaluating Research Sources... 10 VI. VII. VIII. Research Tips & Pointers... 11 Tracking your Research The Annotated Bibliography... 11 References... 11 I. Introduction Researching is part art and part science. This Lecture explores the essentials that students will need in the program and serves as a reference for further learning and development. It is not intended as a comprehensive manual on research. This Lecture draws from materials you will see in other places in the MBA Curriculum for the purpose of bringing the information together in a single place. Special thanks to Prof. Susan Lapine and Caroline Lieber for their 2012 Douglas S. Brown Page 1 of 12
work on the Quick Research Guide Presentation which is the basis for much of Section IV and V. We start by focusing on Applied Research. Then we ll move onto strategies and techniques for gathering research. Finally, we will cover how to evaluate the research, provide some research tips and finish up with how to create an Annotated Bibliography. II. What is Applied Research? Applied Research is original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledge directed towards a specific practical aim or objective. (Gulbrandsen & Kyvik, 2010). It s the purpose of the research that makes it applied or basic. Basic research advances knowledge in a general way so that others can apply it to a particular situation. Traditional academic programs focus on basic research. The basic researcher does not know how the information will be applied and performs the research without a specific aim in mind. We see basic research primarily in the academic sector (e.g., articles and journals) or in government. The Post MBA program is an applied program. We expect that the research conducted in the program is focused on a specific objective or business situation. You may have a particular problem and a good idea of how you want it to be resolved. Applied research would back up your intention or it might contradict what you originally thought. You may have a situation and no idea how it ought to be solved. Applied research would help chart a course to reaching a sound decision and provide the rationale to support the conclusion. In all cases, we expect the research to consider all relevant factors that may drive a business decision. In practical terms this means researching multiple sides of an issue or position including those that may contradict what a student wishes to accomplish. III. Researching Strategies Our students often use their experience and intuition to develop ideas an about solving business problems. Often this experience leads to a conclusion about how a situation should or should not be handled. We expect students to use the right research techniques to explore and find support for their ideas and assumptions. One of our program goals is to 2012 Douglas S. Brown Page 2 of 12
develop scholarly practitioners who find solutions and can back up their solutions with relevant data. We also view ideas and research with a skeptical eye. We will look for research into opposing ideas or points of view. Thorough research explores a diverse set of ideas even those contrary to your assertions to reach a solid conclusion. A. Plan the Work Work the Plan: Basic Strategies If you don t know where you re going, any road will get you there Lewis Carrol. Start with a research strategy that works for you. At the simplest level a research strategy is an outline. (Refer back to Unit 2 where you talked about how to outline a paper that information is on-point here too). A basics research strategy would include the following steps in a cycle. Break it Down Evaluate / Review Make a List Problem / Situation Capture / Document High Level Learning Deep Dive 1. Problem or Situation (Idea for Research). Identify this as clearly and specifically. This will drive the research plan. It is the destination you want to reach. 2012 Douglas S. Brown Page 3 of 12
2. Break it Down. Break the situation into it s component parts. If you played with Lego Blocks it s like taking them apart to see what s really happening. This is how you identify the things you know, what you don t and what you need to learn more about. 3. Make a List. What are the most critical areas you have to learn about? What are you fairly sure about, but need to know a little more? What are you sure of but need to find backup for anyway? Once you know what s most important you start on learning. 4. High Level Learning. Start learning about the problem or situation at a high level. You may start with general high level sources. These might include sources encyclopedias or sources that you can t use in your final research (e.g., WikiPedia or similar sources). The key here is to expand your knowledge and refine (or complete) the Break it Down and Make a List Steps. 5. Deep Dive. Go into detail on the areas you need to research. Find the kinds of sources you can you can use in your paper. You will look for books, periodicals and other academically relevant sources. 6. Capture / Document. Part of your strategy needs to include how you will capture what you re finding so you can use it later. The best way to do this is with an Annotated Bibliography that includes all of the relevant APA citation information along with links to find the information again. Most importantly however, is to include a short annotation (note) about how you will use the source in your research. We recommend doing this in a version of our outline (or at least cross-referencing to the outline). Tip: You will need to do this in BUS 698 (Capstone) as a graded activity. 7. Evaluate / Review. The Deep Dive phase can often pull you off course into other things that are interesting, but may not be relevant. Be sure you are consistently reviewing what you ve found against what you need. Be mindful of over-researching the concepts you know and like; and under-researching the more difficult, technical or troublesome areas. B. Critical Thinking in Research Critical Thinking is an essential still for all successful business leaders. Quite simply Critical thinking is the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it. A well cultivated critical thinker: raises vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely; gathers and assesses relevant information, using abstract ideas to interpret it effectively; 2012 Douglas S. Brown Page 4 of 12
comes to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions, testing them against relevant criteria and standards; thinks open-mindedly within alternative systems of thought, recognizing and assessing, as need be, their assumptions, implications, and practical consequences; and communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems. Critical thinking is, in short, self-directed, self-disciplined, selfmonitored, and self-corrective thinking. It requires rigorous standards of excellence and mindful command of their use. It entails effective communication and problem solving abilities and a commitment to overcoming our native egocentrism and sociocentrism. (Foundation for Critical Thinking, n.d.) We expect MBA students to exhibit the following traits in research (Foundation for Critical Thinking): Raise vital questions and problems in a clear and precise way; Gather and assess relevant information using abstract ideas to interpret the information. Reach well reasoned conclusions and solutions which are tested against relevant criteria and standards. Think open-mindedly, considering alternative ways of thinking and assessing information. Testing assumptions and consequences Communicating conclusions effectively. C. Research Constructs This section reviews three research and writing methods MBA students can use to organize and present information. The Scientific Method, the IRAC Method and the CREAC Method. All methods share the same essential steps but provide alternatives to presenting and organizing the information. 1. Scientific Method The Scientific Method is the basic research approach taught in secondary and post-secondary education. As a refresher for you it has the following essential steps: Hypothesis your suggested explanation 2012 Douglas S. Brown Page 5 of 12
Predictions what you think will happen based on logical deductions. Testing Predictions based on observation (and research) Conclusions what actually happens based on testing. Experiment Resources (2008). 2. IRAC Method The legal community predominantly uses the IRAC Method of research and writing. It is a scalable construct that can reduce large complex problems down to small components for analysis. This construct is also very useful for business problems. It is not the only way, but it is a useful way to start research and a solid way to build a paper as well. The IRAC Method: Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion. This is the predominant way the legal profession analyzes and resolves complex problems Step 1: Issue. Identify the specific problem that needs to be solved. You will often begin by identifying a big issue that can be broken down into sub-issues, sub-sub issues and the like. When you re writing, start by identifying the issue you ll be addressing in the relevant paragraph or section. Step 2: Rule. What are the rules that apply to this issue? Some rules may be black-and-white. Others may not be so clear. The key here is to find out what the rules are (or might be). You ll apply them in the next step. Step 3: Analyze and Apply. In this step you analyze the rules and apply them to the issue(s) your studying. This is where you explore multiple sides of the issue and determine what it means in a specific and applied way. Step 4: Conclusion. This is the final outcome that resolves the issue based on research. 3. CREAC Method Another technique for writing is known as TREAT or CREAC. It uses the same essential elements but in a different order. C Conclusion (or Thesis in academic circles). R Rule 2012 Douglas S. Brown Page 6 of 12
E - Explanation A Analysis B - Conclusion The key with any technique is to clearly identify the Rules and conduct a thorough Analysis and be able to explain it in a logical and reasoned way. IV. Researching Techniques A. Resources and Expectations These Lecture and accompanying resources are intended to provide you with a short, user-friendly guide for research papers. They should not, however, be used as the sole, definitive source for your work. Students are responsible for appropriate and correct sources, format and style in their papers. Links to comprehensive sources are included. B. Types of Applied Research We are concerned with two basic types of applied research Primary and Secondary. Primary Research - experiments, data-gathering surveys and interviews, observations and examination of historical documents. Secondary Research - based on the works of others. Found in print sources, online databases and on the web. All sources used must be cited properly. C. Finding Sources Finding the right kinds of academically valid sources takes work and patience. Online search engines are very useful tools to help you find relevant sources, which can include: Books: often in-print but can be found in online and audio formats. May include a chapter or the entire book. Scholarly Journals: may be found in print, but often found in online library databases. Harvard Business Review, for example, can be found in Post University s database selection. 2012 Douglas S. Brown Page 7 of 12
Popular magazines and newspapers: now distributed both in print and online. Online Sources, including websites, discussion forums, blogs, online magazines, online government documents and email messages. Multimedia sources: films, CDs, DVDs, television programs, cartoons, maps, advertisements, performances, etc. Library databases: access through Post University's library website, containing scholarly journals, magazines, newspapers, government documents and sources of other information. D. Post University Database Sources Database sources are often academically reliable, organized, comprehensive, as well as free of overt bias and commercial slant. Using these sources can benefit the credibility of your research work in contrast to unauthenticated web sources. At Post, we have databases that provide authenticated sources. The Library also subscribes to Lexis Nexis, accessed directly from your Blackboard account. Link to the Library Website at http://www.post.edu/online/virtuallibrary.shtml. Here you can access: EBSCOHost Connecticut Virtual Library Reference USA Encyclopedia Britannica Online 1. Getting your Library Barcode To obtain a Post University library bar code number, please email library@post.edu and state the following: Your Name, Your Home Address, Your Phone Number, Your E-mail Address. State that you are an online student at Post and would like to obtain a library barcode. It should take about 2 days for the library to email you back with your bar code. Be sure to check your spam folder if it you don't receive it within two days. **Note: at the start of each module, the 2012 Douglas S. Brown Page 8 of 12
library is busier than usual, so if you don't receive a response, email them back and indicate "2nd request." 2. Touring the Post University Virtual Library There will be information in each of your Blackboard Courses about touring the Virtual Library. To find Library resources simply click the Library button in the navigation bar in Blackboard. E. Internet Sources The Internet contains a wealth of electronic information. Searching on the web can be like looking for a needle in a haystack, and finding credible sources even harder. Remember, anyone can post information on the web- so misleading or incorrect information is prevalent, and ultimately worthless for your research. 1. Search Engines: Search Engines are the most common method of finding information. Search Engines such as Google, Ask.com and Yahoo! permit keyword searching of files accessible through the Internet. It is important to know how to use your chosen search engines and learn its search tips. This site can help you navigate your search engine effectively: http://www.infopeople.org/search/chart.html. Being selective is the most important element in choosing a source for your academic work. 2. Web Directories Web Directories, such as Britannica.com and Yahoo Directory, classify websites into categories, are similar to the library cataloguing system, and often regulated by professional editors. 3. Metasearch Agents Such as Dogpile, HotBot and Metacrawler, allowing you to use more than one search engine at a same time. Metasearch agents, however, may have few hits. 2012 Douglas S. Brown Page 9 of 12
V. Evaluating Research Sources Not all sources are created equal. How do you know if a source is credible? Consider the following questions: Who published the article? Scholarly journals are reviewed by experts in the field before published, so may be considered credible. Who wrote the article? It is important to know what are the author s qualifications, and what organization he/she represents. Credible sources are written by respected authors in their field. What is the author s purpose? Determine the author s purpose or point of view. Is the author presenting a neutral or balanced perspective or promoting one specific view which may bias the source? Who is funding the research or writing of the source? You need to understand the bias in order to present your findings accurately. Where does the evidence in the article come from and is it cited? Does the evidence, (facts, interviews, observations, surveys, or experiments) support the author s claims? Responsible authors cite their sources, which you can verify for accuracy. How current is the source? In the fast-paced world of business, currency is very important to bring credibility to your work. If you are using a source that is older be sure that it is still relevant. Some works remain valid for many years. Take special care when evaluating online material because there is no quality control Look for this additional criteria: What organization sponsors the website? Look for a sponsor or ownership in the web address. If not indicated, then you have to decide who posted the information and why. Are sources of information listed? Any information of a factual nature needs to provide sources. Does the website offer a balanced point of view? Always recognize the bias of an online source, even if the information is presented in a factual manner. Look carefully at the links and sources cited. Is the website trying to sell you something? Determine if the site is advertising a product, and therefore not a reliable source of information. Remember that virtually every company website is trying to persuade you to do something (e.g., buy their products or services). 2012 Douglas S. Brown Page 10 of 12
VI. Research Tips & Pointers Keep track of your sources. Be sure to put the sources immediately into APA format for the full citation. Even if you don t use the source, it is better to keep it organized in the event that you do use it. Put direct quotes in quotation marks. It may be easy to confuse what is a note and what is quote. Note summaries as such. When summarizing several pages or more into one or a few sentences, indicate in the writing that the note is summary, and include the range of pages or portion of the source summarized with the note. Note: Microsoft Word has a Citation tool with optional styles, including APA. It enables you to create and insert sources/citations, and build your reference list during your research. VII. Tracking your Research The Annotated Bibliography The Capstone is the culminating project of your MBA journey. Part of that course is the creation of an Outline and Annotated Bibliography. Our students have consistently told us that they wish they had learned about the Bibliography earlier so that they could have build one as they went through the Program. An Annotated Biblography is: a list of citations to books, articles, and documents. Each citation is followed by a brief (usually about 150 words) descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited. (Engle, Blumenthal & Cosgrave, 2011) This is more than just a citation list or a list of books. You ought to be able to use this list and the annotations you wrote at the time for future reference. Make it meaningful for you. Be sure to: evaluate the authority or author, comment on the audience, compare this work to others and explain how you ll use the work either for a particular topic or at a future time. (Engle, Blumenthal & Cosgrave, 2011) For more information you visit: The Purdue Online Writing Lab: at: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/01/ VIII. References 2012 Douglas S. Brown Page 11 of 12
Engle, M., Blumenthal, A & Cosgrave, T (2011) How to Prepare and Annotated Bibliography. Retrieved July 24, 2011 From http://olinuris.library.cornell.edu/ref/research/skill28.htm Experiment Resources (2008). Research Methodology. Retrieved July 24, 2011 from Experiment Resources: http://www.experiment-resources.com/researchmethodology.html Foundation for Critical Thinking (n.d.) Critical Thinking: Where to Begin. Retrieved July 24, 2011 from http://www.criticalthinking.org/aboutct/ourconceptct.cfm#top Gulbrandsen, M., & Kyvik, S. (2010). Are the concepts basic research, applied research and experimental development still useful? An empirical investigation among Norwegian academics. Science & Public Policy (SPP), 37(5), 343-353. doi:10.3152/030234210x501171 Faigley, L. (2009). The penguin handbook (3 rd ed.). New York: Pearson Education. Lapine, S. & Lieber, C. (2009) Post University Quick Research Guide. 2012 Douglas S. Brown Page 12 of 12