Problem statement in business research

Research Questions And Methodology

1. Develop three to four research questions. Where appropriate, develop sub-questions that address facets of the overall research questions. Following the list of research questions, you will discuss how each research question (and sub questions) addresses aspects of the specific problem sentence. Finally, you will discuss how taken together, the research questions (and sub questions) fully address the specific problem statement. Include an APA formatted reference section. How does this give insight into your specific problem? How about starting by asking why... Keep this simple, what are the things you need to know to understand the problem.

2.Discussion of Methodology:

Begin with a theme sentence: “This study will be conducted with a XXXXX design using XXXXX method(s) specifically, a XXXXX design will be used”. Then discuss why this is the appropriate methodology for your study. Provide citations to support factual assertions about the function of the design and reference your problem statement and research questions in demonstrating why this is the correct methodology.

This section provides general guidance related to the research type and methodology. Please review this information carefully. There are specific research types and methods associated with the degree plan you are pursuing.

Research Study Type

 For DBA students taking BUSI 987 – 990, the Research Study type is a Dissertation  For DBA students taking BUSI 887 – 890, the Research Study type can be either a Case Study Project or a Consulting Project

With the dissertation or case study project approach, the student begins by researching the literature to find a problem, develops a research proposal to study the problem, and then finds an organization within which to study the problem. With the consulting project approach, the student begins with an organization with a problem, researches the literature to better understand the problem, and then develops a proposed solution to the problem. In all three cases a problem statement based upon the current literature must be developed.

Methodology

The methodology is how you will study the problem at a very high level, all research will be conducted using one of the following research approaches:

 Fixed Design using Quantitative Methods  Flexible Design using Qualitative Methods  Mixed Method Design using Quantitative and Qualitative Methods

Fixed Designs are fully defined (fixed) as part of the research proposal and following the proposal, the researcher executes the research and analysis using quantitative tools as described. Flexible designs on the other hand are defined in a general sense as part of the research proposal and following the proposal, the researcher is free to execute adjust (flexible) the research as is necessary using qualitative tools as described. Mixed Method Designs as the name implies, use a combination of both. The choice of research approach is guided by the research questions.

Within each research approach there are specific methods that can be employed. The table below lists the most common methods utilized in the three research approaches. Once selected, the method becomes the methodology or specific ‘research design’ for the study.

Fixed Designs  Experimental  Quasi-experimental  Nonexperimental  Descriptive  Correlational  Causal-Comparative

Flexible Designs  Narrative  Phenomenology  Grounded Theory  Case Study  Single Case Study  Multiple Case Study  Ethnography

Mixed Method Designs  Convergent parallel  Explanatory Sequential  Exploratory Sequential Transformative

Common Methods for fixed, flexible and mixed research designs.

An effective way to begin the discussion of methodology is to start with the sentence: “This study will be conducted with a XXXXX design using XXXXX method(s) specifically, a XXXXX design will be used”

Examples:

This study will be conducted with a flexible design using qualitative methods specifically, a single case study design will be used.

- Or -

This study will be conducted with a fixed design using quantitative methods specifically, a causalcomparative design will be used.

For DBA students taking BUSI 987 – 990 (Dissertation) the following designs can be used:

Fixed Designs  Correlational  Causal-Comparative

Flexible Designs  Case Study  Single Case Study  Multiple Case Study  Phenomenology  Narrative  Ethnography

Mixed Method Designs  Convergent parallel

For DBA students taking BUSI 887 – 890 (Case Study or Consulting Project) the following designs can be used:

 Consulting Project – Single Case Study with Lean Six Sigma Framework

 Case Study Project – Single Case Study

Note: For the Consulting Project, the Lean Six Sigma Framework provides qualitative and quantitative tools to be used in the DMAIC process. For the Case Study Project, quantitative tools can be used for triangulation.

When deciding on a methodology, pay attention to the words used in the research questions. Qualitative research questions are those that seek to understand or explain while quantitative research questions seek to relate or measure. The goal here is to ensure that there is alignment from the problem statement to the research questions to the methodology.

Where to Study:

Selecting where to conduct your research study will be guided by several factors:

Fixed Design Dissertations – in order to provide for statistically significant results that can be generalized to the population, you will need to use a sample size calculator (not gPower which is a great post hoc test) to determine the right number. For large populations (over 5000) this is around 380 for each group based upon a CL of 95% and a CI of 5%. This means you will very likely be studying the population of an industry or market sector rather than an organization.

Flexible Design Dissertations – The goal here is to reach saturation which is the point at which you are no longer gaining new information form participants. This is generally around 25 to 30 interviews for a group.

Consulting Project or Case Study Project – Since the results are not intended to generalize (relatedness) to the entire population, a single organization can be used. The minimum number of interviews must be 30.

Note for Consulting Project or Case Study Project: You may contact an organization to gauge their interest in being part of your proposed study once you have defined the problem and research questions. See Task 2.

Assignment Instructions

Task 1: Problem Statement Outline

Using the White Paper titled Simple but Effective Problem Statements and Research Questions as a guide, develop a bullet point outline for the problem statement. Each bullet should be a single sentence. Following the specific problem sentence include a short sentence describing how this problem is related to your cognate. Finally, add APA formatted references for the supporting reference sentences. Following the outline, you will provide an annotated bibliography for each reference provided.

You will post your submission in the assignment text window, not as a word document. Your submission will include the following:

Title Block  Last Name, First Name  Cognate  Planned Research Study Type  Proposed Topic

Problem Statement Bullet Outline  General Problem Sentence o Supporting Reference Sentence with Current Citation o Supporting Reference Sentence with Current Citation o Supporting Reference Sentence with Current Citation  Specific Problem Sentence  Relationship to Cognate  Reference  Reference  Reference

Annotated Bibliography for each Reference

APA formatted reference  Description of why this is a credible source (author(s), publication, date)  Summary of the article  Discussion of how this reference supports the existence of the general problem and the consequences of the problem identified in the general problem sentence.

Submit this assignment on Sunday of Week 1 by 11:59pm Eastern

Submit any necessary revisions based upon instructor feedback on Sunday of Week 2 by 11:59pm Eastern.

Task 2: Research Questions

Using the White Paper titled Simple but Effective Problem Statements and Research Questions and your approved Problem Statement Bullet Outline from Task 1 as a guide, develop three to four research questions. Where appropriate, develop sub-questions that address facets of the overall research questions. Following the list of research questions, you will discuss how each research question (and sub questions) addresses aspects of the specific problem sentence. Finally, you will discuss how taken together, the research questions (and sub questions) fully address the specific problem statement. Include an APA formatted reference section.

You will post your submission in the assignment text window, not as a word document. Your submission will include the following:

Title Block  Last Name, First Name  Cognate  Planned Research Study Type  Proposed Topic

Approved Problem Statement Bullet Outline from Task 1  General Problem Sentence  Supporting Reference Sentence with Current Citation  Supporting Reference Sentence with Current Citation  Supporting Reference Sentence with Current Citation  Specific Problem Sentence

Research Question 1  Sub question 1a (optional)  Sub Question 1b (optional)

Research Question 2  Sub question 2a (optional)  Sub Question 2b (optional)

Research Question 3  Sub question 3a (optional)  Sub Question 3b (optional)

Research Question 4 (optional)  Sub question 4a (optional)  Sub Question 4b (optional)

Discussion of Research Questions  Research Question 1  Research Question 2  Research Question 3  Research Question 4 (optional)  Specific Problem Statement Coverage

Reference Section

Submit this assignment on Sunday of Week 3 by 11:59pm Eastern

Submit any necessary revisions based upon instructor feedback on Sunday of Week 4 by 11:59pm Eastern.

Note for Consulting Project or Case Study Project: Once this task is approved, you may contact an organization to gauge their interest in being part of your proposed study. You may not begin to

interview any participants or gather any data until you have approval to do so in the ADRP courses. Use the Permission Request Template found in Course Content.

Task 3: Methodology

You will post your submission in the assignment text window, not as a word document. Your submission will include the following:

Title Block  Last Name, First Name  Cognate  Planned Research Study Type  Proposed Topic

Discussion of Methodology:

Begin with a theme sentence: “This study will be conducted with a XXXXX design using XXXXX method(s) specifically, a XXXXX design will be used”. Then discuss why this is the appropriate methodology for your study. Provide citations to support factual assertions about the function of the design and reference your problem statement and research questions in demonstrating why this is the correct methodology.

Reference Section

Task 4: Research Framework Outline

You will post your submission in the assignment text window, not as a word document. Your submission will include the following:

 Concepts – The concepts (i.e. higher productivity is related to higher job satisfaction) that are related to your research study. Use sub points for each concept.  Theories – The theories (i.e. Maslow’s Motivational Theory, Transformational Leadership Theory, etc.) that are related to your research study. Use sub points for each theory.  Actors – The people groups (i.e. leaders, followers, accountants, etc.) or organizations that are related to your research study.  Variables – The variables found in your research study (i.e. profit, leadership style, intrinsic motivation, etc.)  Reference list

Provide citations for each factual assertion in each category.

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Task 5: Draft Research Concept

You will post your submission in the assignment text window and as a word document. Title your word document:

Last Name_Draft Research Concept_DDMMMYY.docx

Use APA 6th Edition formatting for word document.

Your submission will include the following:

Title Page  Last Name, First Name  Cognate  Planned Research Study Type  Proposed Topic

Table of Contents

Research Concept (Level 1 Heading)  Start a new page  Introductory paragraph for the research concept

Problem Statement (Level 2 Heading)  Convert the bullet point outline into a single paragraph with less than 250 words.  Citations to support all factual assertions

Research Questions (Level 2 Heading)  Create an introductory paragraph  List the research questions and sub questions (if used).  Describe how the research questions relate to the problem statement.

Methodology (Level 2 Heading)

 Discussion of Methodology  Citations to support all factual assertions

Research Framework (Level 2 Heading)

 Create an introductory paragraph  Convert the bullet point outline into a narrative discussion  Add a diagram showing the relationship between all the elements included in the framework and discuss the diagram.

 Create a summary paragraph  Citations to support all factual assertions

Conclusion (Level 2 Heading)

References (Level 1 Heading)

Note for Consulting Project or Case Study Project: Submit the signed and dated Permission Request Template from Task 2 as a .pdf document.

Use the following title format:

Last Name_Organizational Permission_DDMMMYY.docx

Submit this assignment on Sunday of Week 7 by 11:59pm Eastern

Task 6: Final Research Concept

Add two Level 2 Headings following Research Framework in your approved Research Concept Narrative from Task 5; 1) “Potential Research Location(s)” and 2) “Biblical Perspective on Research”. Update your table of contents, introductory paragraph, summary, and reference section as required.

You will post your submission in the assignment text window and as a word document. Title your word document:

Last Name_Final Research Concept_DDMMMYY.docx

Potential Research Location(s)

 For DBA Dissertation students (BUSI 987-990) – Develop a list of at least potential industries, markets, regions, or organizations where your research could be conducted. Explain how and why this is a good choice. Include appropriate citations for all factual assertions. Note: Do not contact any organizations to solicit their involvement in your proposed study.  For DBA Case Study Project students (BUSI 887 – 890) - Develop a list of potential industries, markets, regions, or organizations where your research could be conducted. Explain how and why this is a good choice. Include appropriate citations for all factual assertions. Note: Do not contact any organizations to solicit their involvement in your proposed study.  For DBA Consulting Project students (BUSI 887 – 890) - Identify a potential organization where your research could be conducted. Explain how you might gain access to this organization as well as how and why this is a good choice. Include appropriate citations for all factual assertions.

Biblical Perspective on Research

 Introductory paragraph  A 200 – 300 word narrative discussing the process of conducting business research from a Biblical perspective.  A 200 – 300 word narrative discussing how your research in particular will fulfill this requirement.  Summary paragraph

Use APA 6th Edition formatting for word document.