EBQ2054 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY FOR ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS
My first step to FYP...
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Judging Research Studies
Chih Hung Chen, (2011), The major components of corporate social responsibility, Journal of Global Responsibility, Vol. 2 Iss: 1 pp. 85 - 99. Retrieved May 31,2012, from http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/20412561111128546
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a procedure for identifying a corporate social
responsibility (CSR) model with best goodness-of-fit. This research constructed a model of which CSR
was mainly influenced by four core components: accountability, transparency, competitiveness, and
responsibility.
Design/methodology/approach – The data presented in this study were collected from companies
in the year 2009 in Taiwan using questionnaires, and in total 185 companies were analyzed. Structural
equation modeling was applied to assess the proposed CSR model containing four latent factors and 13observation indicators.
Findings – The results of confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the correlation among four
latent variables was significant, and the second-order factor structure fit the observed data well.
Research limitations/implications – The result supported the proposed model that four
constructs played a dominant role toward CSR. Business leaders therefore could have clearer
perspectives while facing challenges regarding CSR issues.
Originality/value – The paper shows that while developing business strategies, companies taking
accountability and transparency as priority would strengthen their competitiveness and generate
responsibility and in turn lead to CSR. Companies would obtain great advantages in the long run.
Poster Presentation
This is a good poster but should provide some conceptual framework and hypotheses. Actually, nowadays people are still confusing about the halal logo in Malaysia.
This also a good poster but the findings is not interpreted in the most simple way. its hard to me to understand. overall this is a nice and good poster presentation.
Reference:
Poster presentation in Faculty of Economic and Business of UNIMAS,3rd year students.(23 may 2012)
This also a good poster but the findings is not interpreted in the most simple way. its hard to me to understand. overall this is a nice and good poster presentation.
Reference:
Poster presentation in Faculty of Economic and Business of UNIMAS,3rd year students.(23 may 2012)
Saturday 26 May 2012
ETHNOGRAPHY...
The term
ethnography has come to be equated with virtually any qualitative research
project (e.g., see Research Gateway)
where the intent is to provide a detailed, in-depth description of everyday
life and practice. This is sometimes referred to as "thick
description" -- a term attributed to the anthropologist Clifford Geertz
writing on the idea of an interpretive theory of culture in the early 1970s
(e.g., see The Interpretation of Cultures, first published as a
collection in 1973). The use of the term "qualitative" is meant
to distinguish this kind of social science research from more
"quantitative" or statistically oriented research. The two
approaches, i.e., quantitative and qualitative, while often complimentary,
ultimately have different aims.
While an
ethnographic approach to social research is no longer purely that of the
cultural anthropologist, a more precise definition must be rooted in
ethnography's disciplinary home of anthropology. Thus, ethnography may be
defined as both a qualitative research process or method (one conducts an
ethnography) and product (the outcome of this process is an ethnography)
whose aim is cultural interpretation. The ethnographer goes beyond reporting
events and details of experience. Specifically, he or see attempts to
explain how these represent what we might call "webs of meaning"
(Geertz again), the cultural constructions, in which we live.
Ethnographers
generate understandings of culture through representation of what we call an emic
perspective, or what might be described as the "'insider's point of
view." The emphasis in this representation is thus on allowing critical
categories and meanings to emerge from the ethnographic encounter rather
than imposing these from existing models. An etic perspective, by
contrast, refers to a more distant, analytical orientation to experience.
Originating
in anthropology, this term traditionally refers to a practice in which
researchers spend long periods living within a culture in order to study it.
The term has been adopted within qualitative market research to describe
occasions where researchers spend time - hours, days or weeks - observing
and/or interacting with participants in areas of their everyday lives. This
contrasts with interview-based research in which interaction with respondents
is limited to a conventional interview or group discussion format, is more
limited in time, and often takes place outside the participant's own environment
Advantages
- One of the more widely cited benefits of conducting ethnographic research is that due to the first-hand observation that is involved, usually conducted over an extended period of time, the research can provide extensive and in-depth findings about human behavior. In addition, because ethnographic research relies on observation rather than examinations or predetermined tests, the research can evolve and explore new lines of inquiry.
Disadvantages
- Due to the fact that ethnographic research relies on observation, it often takes a longer period of time to produce thorough and reliable results. Also, because the research is reliant upon the observations of just one or a few people, the conclusions about what the human subjects were doing, saying or feeling could be altered by the observers' cultural bias or ignorance.
Sunday 15 April 2012
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEORY & FACT?
In popular usage, theory can be defined as a vague and fuzzy form of fact, and always changes if it is deemed as untrue or the current situation requires it to changes. It is made up of 3 steps of methodology, Pratt (1998) which is:
On the other hand, fact usually remains perpetual & true most of the time and it can also be supported by evidences. It is what one can readily observe, and it can pertain to any objectives as well as real phenomenon such as the trajectory of a boomerang after being thrown, the motion direction of a ball after being thrown vertically upward, or other simple observation occurrences. The facts that can be gathered from the former example are that the boomerang’s trajectory will curve inwardly, while for the latter is that the ball’s motion direction will be downward during its descending. As it is acquired from observations, we can relate fact to theories. Furthermore, if the activities that create those 2 phenomenons are done repeatedly under a controlled environment that cancels all unnecessary variables; those 2 phenomenons would have become very obvious, true, & undeniable facts, and will remain so even after a long period of time unless there exist more rigid and precise methods / ways of measuring certain phenomenon. As a conclusion, the following statement can make things easier to understand:
In popular usage, theory can be defined as a vague and fuzzy form of fact, and always changes if it is deemed as untrue or the current situation requires it to changes. It is made up of 3 steps of methodology, Pratt (1998) which is:
- Making an observation.
- Come out with a theory.
- Using the theory to predict future observations.
Compared to hypothesis, which exist as the 1st base of
formulating scientific laws, theories are lighter in weight and is placed as
the 2nd base. Nevertheless, both are proposed from research. For professionals
such as scientist, theory is a conceptual framework that explains existing
observation and predicts new ones. For instance, in the case of sunrise, it is
an existing observation which is explained by the theory of gravity proposed by
Sir Isaac Newton. His theory explains why the sun is seen moving across the sky, as well as many
other phenomenon such as the trajectory followed by the sun as it move across
the sky, the phases of the moon, Venus, & the tides, just to mention a few.
Thanks to his theory, it is possible to calculate the above phenomenon’s’ occurrences
for the next 2 centuries. Nevertheless, theories are always presented to be true
even if the claims in the said theories are mere speculations or a general
agreement between a significant numbers of experts. Moreover, theories are statements
that often undergo a series of tests to nullify the claims made by those who oppose
them.
On the other hand, fact usually remains perpetual & true most of the time and it can also be supported by evidences. It is what one can readily observe, and it can pertain to any objectives as well as real phenomenon such as the trajectory of a boomerang after being thrown, the motion direction of a ball after being thrown vertically upward, or other simple observation occurrences. The facts that can be gathered from the former example are that the boomerang’s trajectory will curve inwardly, while for the latter is that the ball’s motion direction will be downward during its descending. As it is acquired from observations, we can relate fact to theories. Furthermore, if the activities that create those 2 phenomenons are done repeatedly under a controlled environment that cancels all unnecessary variables; those 2 phenomenons would have become very obvious, true, & undeniable facts, and will remain so even after a long period of time unless there exist more rigid and precise methods / ways of measuring certain phenomenon. As a conclusion, the following statement can make things easier to understand:
- Fact are observation while theories are the explanations to those observation.
- Theories are vague truths or unclear fact whereas facts are really fact.
References:
- Pratt, P. J. (1998). Fact or Theory?. Johnpratt.com. Retrieved April 3, 2012, from http://www,johnpratt.com/items/astronomy/science.html
- http://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-between-fact-and-theory/
INDUCTIVE OR DEDUCTIVE TYPES OF
RESEARCH?
The
differences
between these 2 approaches, aside from its sequences patterns & slight components differences, are at the starting and ending points. For Induction
Research Approach, it moves from the specific to the general, where this
contrasted with Deduction Research Approach. The 2nd differences are
that Induction Research Approach tends to utilized observations in its
arguments. Deductive Research Approach on the other hand favors laws, rules,
and accepted principles in its arguments.
In his book, which is the Relationship Marketing: Exploring Relational Strategies in Marketing (Financial Times/Prentice Hal, 2004), John Egan (2004) stated that Inductive
Research Approach
creates empirical (meaning that something that is experienced or seen rather
than on theory) generalization via the observations of particular examples. The
conclusions acquired are beyond the facts, making it as nothing more than
strong possibilities. This approach is usually associated with qualitative
methods.
(Prof. Dr. S. M. Aqil Burney (2008). Inductive & Deductive Research
Approach. http://www.drburney.net. Retrieved April
15, 2012, from http://www.drburney.net/INDUCTIVE%20&%20DEDUCTIVE%20RESEARCH%20APPROACH%2006032008.pdf)
There are 2 types of research exist, which are the Inductive & Deductive Research Approach. The 1st one, which is the Inductive Research Approach, works by moving from the more specific observations to a broader generalizations and theories. It can be pictured as moving from the bottom to the top. Any conclusion derived from this approach is based on the premises. However, this approach involves a lot of uncertainty.
(Prof. Dr. S. M. Aqil Burney (2008). Inductive & Deductive Research
Approach. http://www.drburney.net. Retrieved April
15, 2012, from http://www.drburney.net/INDUCTIVE%20&%20DEDUCTIVE%20RESEARCH%20APPROACH%2006032008.pdf)
The 2nd one is the Deductive Research Approach. This approach works the other way, which is from the more general to the more specific. Basically, it moves from the top to the bottom. The conclusion acquired from this method follows logically from the premises, which are the facts available.
(Prof. Dr. S. M. Aqil Burney (2008). Inductive & Deductive Research
Approach. http://www.drburney.net. Retrieved April
15, 2012, from http://www.drburney.net/INDUCTIVE%20&%20DEDUCTIVE%20RESEARCH%20APPROACH%2006032008.pdf)
The
differences
between these 2 approaches, aside from its sequences patterns & slight components differences, are at the starting and ending points. For Induction
Research Approach, it moves from the specific to the general, where this
contrasted with Deduction Research Approach. The 2nd differences are
that Induction Research Approach tends to utilized observations in its
arguments. Deductive Research Approach on the other hand favors laws, rules,
and accepted principles in its arguments.
In his book, which is the Relationship Marketing: Exploring Relational Strategies in Marketing (Financial Times/Prentice Hal, 2004), John Egan (2004) stated that Inductive
Research Approach
creates empirical (meaning that something that is experienced or seen rather
than on theory) generalization via the observations of particular examples. The
conclusions acquired are beyond the facts, making it as nothing more than
strong possibilities. This approach is usually associated with qualitative
methods.
Egan (2004) also
stated that due to its workings especially that of its arguments, the Deductive
Research Approach is considered as analytical and certain. This is also
contributed by it being able to be deduced from the premises. This approach
usually is associated with the scientific view of research.
(Andreana Drencheva (June 15, 2011). Inductive Corporate Social Responsibility: A Business Strategy .http://andreanadrencheva.com. Retrieved April 15, 2012, from http://andreanadrencheva.com/2011/06/15/corporate-social-responsibility-a-business-strategy/
For my proposed research topic, which is the “Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) impacts on the consumers”, I have categorized it as having both type of Research Approach. The reasons behind my decision is that during the progress of this research, I will utilized previously related researches regarding the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the processes of identifying & gathering data & information, where this is known as Deductive Research Approach (Creating 1st impression based on other individuals’ observations). As for the Inductive Research Approach (Creating empirical generalization via ways such as personal observations), it will be implemented during my personal research processes to identify &gather as many data & information in order to prove that my hypothesis is true.
I have narrow down my topic from Corporate Social Responsibility into its impacts on the consumers. I also narrow it down into several other related sub-topics, such as its impact on the business organization, and its roles & purposes. The area that I will use in order to conduct my research will be Kuching city, Sarawak, Malaysia, and I intend on acquiring the data & information for this narrowed topic via asking questions related to the CSR to the target audiences. Examples of the questions are:
- What are
CSR?
- What are its impacts
on the consumers and business organizations?
- What is its role and
purposes?
- Does CSR very vital
in business?
- What are the
benefits it can provide, whether directly or indirectly?
- What are the
consumers’ perceptions and receptions towards it?
Utilizing the above questions, I will be able to sort out the exact
things that need to solved in the business area of the Decision / Problem
Statement (Does CSR generate profits or losses to the
consumers, or both?), and find out its impacts mainly on the consumers, as well as on
the business organizations.
References:
- Prof. Dr. S. M. Aqil Burney (2008). Inductive & Deductive Research Approach. http://www.drburney.net. Retrieved April 15, 2012, from http://www.drburney.net/INDUCTIVE%20&%20DEDUCTIVE%20RESEARCH%20APPROACH%2006032008.pdf
- Egan, J. (2004). Relationship Marketing (2nd Edition). Harlow, England: Pearson Education Limited.
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
& CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
A theoretical framework is a collection of interrelated
concepts, like a theory but not necessarily so well worked-out. (Borgatti,
1996).This is mean by theoretical framework is set of data we gathered to
approved that our hypothesis is true.By knowing our scope of theoretical ,we can give strength to our
hypothesis hence making the theoretical framework are very important and they are support
by general knowledge of related topic.Take an example of a research conducting the effect of smoking on
health,thus we gather data related to many people having sick are related to smoking will
be our theoretical framework to show that smoking does affect our health.
Miles and Huberman (1994) defined a conceptual framework as a visual or written product, one
that “explains, either graphically or in narrative form, the main things to be
studied—the key factors, concepts,or variables—and the presumed relationships
among them” (p. 18).As stated
,anonymous (2003) stated that conceptual
framework is the basis for thinking about what we do and about what it means,
influenced by the ideas and research of others.
From here,we can conclude that theoretical framework is making a new theory
based on perception on ,other related
research (conceptual
framework) and gathering data to prove our theory is true.
Reference:
- Borgatti, P. S. (1996). Elements of Research. Analytictech.
Retrieved April 3, 2012, fromhttp://www.analytictech.com/mb313/elements.htm.
- Anonymous (2003).What is a
conceptual framework?. Healthy
Women – Healthy Communities project. Retrieved April 3, 2012, from
http://www.lazogroup.ca/msproject/framework1-e.php
Reference:
- Borgatti, P. S. (1996). Elements of Research. Analytictech. Retrieved April 3, 2012, fromhttp://www.analytictech.com/mb313/elements.htm.
- Anonymous (2003).What is a conceptual framework?. Healthy Women – Healthy Communities project. Retrieved April 3, 2012, from http://www.lazogroup.ca/msproject/framework1-e.php
PROPOSED TOPIC
Different from the
business activities during the Industrial Revolutions, which mainly emphasizes
profits and productions as the main aspects, today’s business consists of many
complex aspects that were never thought of before. One of the aspects that have
been realized by today’s business organizations is the Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), where
this aspect also contributes to their sales and profits margins, as well as
reflecting their images and responsibilities. Simply speaking, the CSR relates
to the responsibilities of the companies towards the entities surrounding them,
such as towards the shareholders and the environments.
Consumers must use
their positions and power via their purchases, investments, and feedbacks to
the organizations in order to influence and force the organizations into
executing and advancing their CSR so that any impacts resulted will be that of
positive ones.
1. Topic’s Title:
Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) impacts on the consumers.
2. Decision / Problem Statement:
Does CSR generate profits or losses to the consumers, or both?
Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) impacts on the consumers.
2. Decision / Problem Statement:
Does CSR generate profits or losses to the consumers, or both?
3. Research Objectives:
i.
Studying the impacts
of CSR on consumers.
ii.
Studying the impacts
of CSR towards the business organizations.
iii.
Understanding the
roles & purposes of CSR.
iv.
Studying &
analyzing consumers’ perceptions and receptions towards CSR.
4. Research Questions:
i.
What are CSR?
ii.
What are its impacts
on the consumers and business organizations?
iii.
What is its role and
purposes?
iv.
Does CSR very vital
in business?
v.
What are the
benefits it can provide, whether directly or indirectly?
vi.
What are the
consumers’ perceptions and receptions towards it?
5. Identified variables:
i.
Dependent Variable: The
organizations and their CSR activities.
ii.
Independent
Variable: Consumer’s perceptions and receptions.
6. Survey respondents:
i.
Individuals (Consumers).
ii.
Business organizations.
7. Scope of research:
Target will be the individuals (consumers) and business organizations
in Kuching, Sarawak.
This research will
be an applied research which will only involve solving the problem statement (Does
CSR generate profits or losses to the
consumers?).
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