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Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 1
Conclusion
Lecturer/Convenor:
Richard Boateng, PhD.
Email:
Office: UGBS RT18 (rooftop)
CONCLUSION – DOES IT
MATTER?
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 2
Examine the Structure of Long Essay
• Abstract
• Chapt. 1 – Introduction
• Chapt. 2 – Literature Review
• Chapt. 3 – Context of the Study
• Chapt. 4 – Research Methodology
• Chapt. 5 – Results and Discussion
• Chapt. 6 – Conclusion
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 3
Session Objectives
• This session examines the components of
concluding chapter of a long essay or
concluding section of a journal article.
• The conclusion covers three key sub- sections:
summary of the paper and revisiting the
research model, implications (research, practice
and policy) and future research directions. Some
authors prefer to addresses these sub-sections
as main sections..
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 4
Recap: Discussion and Analysis
In this section the author analyzes the findings or results from
the study. The analysis may require the triangulation of data
from various research methods to create, explain or predict
social phenomena. The author is required to:
1. What do the findings tell you about your research?
2. How do the findings compare with previous studies
highlighted in your literature review?
3. Are there any contradictions with previous research?
4. Why do these contradictions exist?
5. What are the key and new lessons?
6. How do the new lessons relate to the theoretical
framework?
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 5
Conclusion
The conclusion covers three key sub- sections:
1. Summary of the paper and revisiting the
research model/framework,
2. Implications to research, practice and policy
and
3. Future research directions.
Some authors prefer to addresses these sub-
sections as main sections.
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 6
Conclusion Part A – Summary
• What is the ‘takeaway’
– Summarize in few words what the study did
and what has achieved
– Revisit the research model (this can be done
in the discussion and analysis for a journal
article but for a long essay or dissertation, it
can be done in the conclusion).
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 7
Writing the summary
1. The study set out to …
achieve/investigate/explore….
2. Using the framework
3. Findings tend to suggest that….
4. Now what is the way forward
Fair outline very good for dissertations but
for journal articles the style varies…
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 8
Sample - Summary
• We began this dissertation with the quest of determining
how organisations can learn and transfer knowledge in
and between technology projects. To this quest we drew
on theory of meaning structures in organisations, which
was extended into a theoretical framework, the
organizational learning cycle, as a means of facilitating a
transformational learning process within technology
projects and generating knowledge definable into actions
which maximise success in technology projects.
Evaluating this framework within a case study, we gained
empirical evidence to strengthen its internal validity. At this
stage we then ask ourselves, what is the way forward?
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 9
Revisiting the research framework
• In our literature review we proposed a research
framework which suggests or proposes ……
• However, the discussion and analysis of our
findings, then to bring the following new insights
and confirmations to the earlier propositions or
hypothesis.
• First – new insight/confirmation
• Second – new insight/confirmation
• …. Last – new insight/confirmation
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 10
Conceptual Model before Data Collection
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 11
Revisiting the research framework
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 12
Implications to Research, Practice and Policy
• Discuss the each of the following in a
paragraph/sub-section:
– Implications to research: how does it inform research
area? This is an extension of the discussion on the
research model.
– Implications to Practice (managers, practitioners,
employees, organizations etc)
– Implications to Policy (if applicable)—what do your
findings tell the organization, government,
international community, development agencies etc.
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 13
Future Research Directions
• In relation to your findings, what should
future research do?
– Acknowledge the limitations of your research
– Highlight what new or future research should
do
– Suggestions could be using new methods or
new unit of analysis
– Suggestions should be relevant to your topic
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 14
References
• Reference citations should follow the
style recommended by the journal or
institution (for a dissertation or long essay)
• For Harvard style. Please refer to:
– http://tinyurl.com/harvardrefstyle
• For APA style. Please refer to:
– http://tinyurl.com/aparefstyle
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 15
Abstract – Writing An Abstract
• How do we write a good abstract? Emerald, the
academic journal database
(www.emeraldinsight.com), offers a set of
guidelines for authors on how to write a good
abstract.
• The guidelines advise that an abstract should
summarize these key elements of the research
paper or study.
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 16
Abstract – Writing An Abstract
What
Why
How
Whom
1. Purpose
2. Methodology
3. Findings
4. Implications – Practice,
Policy and Research
5. Originality
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 17
Abstract – 150-250 words 17
Purpose What are the reason(s) for writing the paper or the aims of the research?
Design/methodology/approach How are the objectives achieved? Include the main method(s) used for the research and include the paradigm. What is the approach to the topic and what is the theoretical or subject scope of the paper?
Findings What was found in the course of the work? This will refer to analysis, discussion, or results.
Research implications (if applicable) What are the contributions to research? Which aspect of your work changes current research? What can researcher do with your research? What is new and how will that shape future research?
Practice and Policy implications What outcomes and implications for practice, policy, applications and consequences are identified? How will the research impact upon the business or enterprise? How is it influence policy? What changes to practice/policy should be made as a result of this research? What is the commercial or economic impact?
Originality/value What is new in the paper? State the value of the paper and to whom.
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 18
Read through the work
1. Structure and Presentation Counts
2. Check references
3. Each paragraph presenting a key argument or statement
should have reference.
4. Don’t begin sentences with brackets – – (Danielson, 2003) argues that inflation is not affected by price of goods.
5. Know where to position your full stops – The price of goods does not affect inflation. (Danielson, 2003). In
Nigeria and Ghana inflation is now a single digit.
6. Don't put initials into your in line reference. – The price of cocoa was affected by smuggling into other countries
(Mensah, J., 2004).
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 19
Check your paragraphs
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 20
Check your paragraphs
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 21
Check your paragraphs
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 22
Check your paragraphs
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 23
Marking for MBA
Research Methods – Dr Richard Boateng [[email protected]] Photo Illustrations from Getty Images – www.gettyimages.com 24
Your work is going to be challenged….
Conclusion -
Does it
Matter?
