Year: 2012
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Understanding research philosophies
The point of this post is not about choosing one or another philosophy for your research. Actually, you could skip this topic and begin thinking about whether you will use questionnaire or secondary data method. The point here is enhancing your understanding of the way in which we approach the study of a particular field.…
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What roles do your values play?
A value is an idea what people share about what is good or bad, desireble or undesireble. Values are reflected in apparantly trivial everyday behaviors. The sociologist Robin M. Williams, Jr. (1970) identified fifteen fundamental values (in reference to american society achievement and success activity and work humanitarianism efficiency and practicality progress material confort equality…
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Critically review of literature in 11 steps
1. Select a language of publication 2. Select a geographical areFinda(e.g. China, Spain, Italy, Europe…) 3. Publication period (e.g. 2008-2012) 4. Choose literature type (e.g. academic journals) 5. Find keywords (e.g. “labor satisfaction”) 6. Search relevant information (e.g. in Google scholar) 7. Read a realistic number of documents (e.g. 10) 8. Summarize them in your…
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Working at theory level when formulating a research
Although the main role of theory is played in more advanced research stages, such as review literature or adopting a research philosophy and approach, the truth is that its importance begins earlier than this: “it should inform your definition of research questions and objectives” (Saunders, 2009). The word theory is probably one of the most…
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How to write my research objectives
Updated 16 March 2026 Many students ask how to write their research objectives, but that question cannot really be answered in isolation. Before writing objectives, it is necessary to understand three earlier stages in the research process: the research idea, the research problem, and the research question. Objectives do not come first. They are the…
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How to turn your research idea into a research question
Once you find a research idea following the questions suggested in previous posts, it is time to turn such idea into a research question. Here are suggested a number of steps you may follow: 1º Identify what scope or organization your research involves. After identifying a sub-branch or area of knowledge you should choose an…
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Integrating your research’s idea within its discipline
Try to classify your research idea first into its discipline (Management or related ones), then its branch (let´s say human resources) and finally the precise aspect or sub-branch in which you are interested. Let´s say recruitment. This process was termed as “working up and narrowing down” by Jankowicz (2005:34-6) The Russian dolls illustrate it very…
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How to come up with a research idea
Below you will find a number of questions that may help you when generating research ideas: 1º What are your strengths and interest?. Think in previous subjects throughout your graduate. Is there any subject in which your grades have pointed out? Which one have you enjoyed most? Have you ever performed a remarkable work on…