Research hypothesis study

Expected length of this part: (7-9 pages)

• Cover page (1 page)
• Literature Review (3-5 pages)
• Research Design (1-2 pages)
  • Interview Questions (1 page, separate)
• Reference list (1 page, if possible)

Literature Review is an important section in an academic research report. Before starting working on this section, be sure to read Chapter 3 in “Essentials of Business Research”. There is a suggested structure of a literature review on p.77. The Q&A section at the end of Chapter 3 is also very helpful!

Normally, Literature review part address the following issues:

1. what have been done in the past;
2. what gap exists in the literature?
3. what theoretical foundations that you could build your research on?
4. develop your research questions and;
5. develop at least 2-3 hypotheses/propositions that could be tested/examined with appropriate research methods.

______________________

Suggested Outline

As for this assignment, because all groups are working on different topics, the suggested outline below is only a sample. Please make changes accordingly: 

• One paragraph introducing your literature review section (there is an example on p.77-78 in our textbook.)
• Examine major concepts you are investigating one by one. 
  • Stakeholder engagement:
    • What is and how to define it 
    • Its role in business world (how have practitioners studied this concept?)
    • Summary of how previous academic studies have done with it. (use scholar.google.com or UTPB library to find articles that are related to your topic)
      • Here are some resources you could start with:
        • Business world: Deloitte report: pdf(Links to an external site.) 
        • Journals: Laplume et. al 2008 Stakeholder Theory — reviewing a theory that moves up.pdf(Links to an external site.)
      • Innovation Management
        • What is and how to define it 
        • Its role in business world (how have practitioners studied this concept?)
        • Summary of how previous academic studies have done with it. (use scholar.google.com or UTPB library to find articles that are related to your topic)
          • Here are some resources you could start with:
            • Business world: http://www.lead-innovation.com/english-blog/definition-innovation-management(Links to an external site.)
            • Journals: Adams et al. 2006 Innovation management measurement – A review.pdf(Links to an external site.)
          • If you are looking at Corporate Social Responsibility or other concepts, please follow the above structure and do the same. 
          • If you are looking at women as entrepreneur, please follow the same structure. 
        • Discuss why your subject is interesting and present research questions or your study (list them out with bullet points)
        • Summarize research opportunities and objectives that emerge from the literature review. 
        • Construct 2-3 hypotheses your study would like to test 
          • Example of hypotheses using the above sample concepts: 
            • stakeholder engagement is positively related to innovation management
            • Engaging women employes in innovation process has a positive impact on women entrepreneurship development
          • Research Design
            • This course requires a mixed-method business research design:
              • Qualitative Stage
                • Read the chapter 6-7 in “Essentials of Business Research” and Browse chapters 1-5 in “Qualitative” Book 
                • State objectives of your qualitative stage of your study
                • Choose one qualitative approach for your research 
                  • if you choose “Interview”, please explain who you would interview and attach five open-ended interview questions (not yes-no questions) 
                    • You need to conduct interviews or other qualitative methods during Week 4 and then analyze the qualitative data during Week 5. Report the results in Group Assignment 3. 
                  • Quantitative Stage
                    • Read chapters 5-7 in “Essentials” 
                    • State objectives of your quantitative stage of your study and how you plan to use qualitative results to inform the quantitative part. (Assignment 2 stops here)
                      • You will need to use results from Qualitative stage to develop 10 survey questions for your quantitative questionnaire.

ATTN: Please read “What makes a good literature review? on p. 81 of “Essentials of Business Research” before you submit your work!

Rubric for Literature Review