Making Sense of The Research Process

The document discusses the structure and purpose of chapters in a dissertation. It outlines what should be included in an introduction chapter, literature review chapter, methodology chapter, results chapter, and conclusion chapter. The document provides guidance on how to present each chapter to ensure the research process and findings are clearly presented and make sense to readers.

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Making Sense of The Research Process

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Making Sense of the

Research Process
Dr. Robin Nunkoo
Associate Professor
University of Mauritius
r.nunkoo@uom.ac.mu
Associate Editor:
• Annals of Tourism Research
• Journal of Hospitality Marketing and Management
• Tourism Review
• Journal of China Tourism Research
Introduction
 As researchers, we study reality; we study how things are
around us.
 We express that reality in our writings that take the form of a
dissertation, journal articles, conference papers, books, book
chapters etc.
 Research is a process of knowledge creation
 That knowledge should be accepted by the academic/scientific
community.
 The key challenge for any researcher to ensure that the
knowledge created is valid, reliable, and ‘makes sense’ to
everyone.
 Otherwise, people reject the knowledge.
 How do we ensure that the knowledge we create in a piece of
research is sound and “makes sense”?
Introduction
 We need to follow a research process that is scientifically
proven/driven; you need not re-invent the wheel.
 A dissertation should evidence generativity.
 Unless, the dissertation and its arguments are built on existing
knowledge, a reader will have little confidence in the research.
 Generativity grants our research with theoretical and
methodological sophistication.
 The quality of knowledge we create from a research exercise
depends on the theoretical/conceptual and methodological
grounding.
 The research process is design in such a way that it embeds the
theoretical and methodological aspects of any piece of research
investigation.
 The research process is manifested in the different chapters of
your dissertation.
The Structure of Your Dissertation
 A dissertation normally consists of 5-6 chapter

 Each chapter serves a specific purpose and explains one part

of the research process

 They are interlink (interdependent)

 Together, your dissertation is a story

 This is the story you want to narrate to your reader

Chapter 1: Introduction
 Introduce your readers to the theoretical concepts of your study and the
research question(s) that follow.
 Convince your reader that the topic you have chosen deserves academic
investigation.
 The research question should be academically and practically importance for
the scientific and practitioner community
 The topic should be of a scholarly nature
 What are the issues with the topic that prompted you to investigate it?
 Introduce your research questions and their theoretical foundations
 Show evidence of generativity
 Remember that in the first chapter, the baby is born!!
 You need to convince your reader that the baby is legitimate and not
illegitimate!!
 How to ensure this?
Chapter 2: Literature Review
 A comprehensive component of your dissertation.
 Your reader does not want to know something about everything
related to the topic.
 Know what to write before you start writing.
 Review of existing research relevant to your research questions
and their theoretical and empirical foundations.
 You need to further convince your reader that your research
questions are important and are informed by existing research.
 Define and articulate important variables relevant to your
study.
 Convince your reader about the theoretical and empirical
foundation of your hypotheses (if any).
 Adopt the CSR criteria.
Chapter 3: Research Methodology
 Chapters 1 introduces the research question of your study.
 Chapter 2 clarifies your research question further and situates
the research question within the broader literature in the field.
 Chapter 3 informs your readers how are you going to do what
you said you will do!
 Chapter 3 is not about all the research methodologies that
exist
 It is about what you did you find answers to your research
questions
 Provide all details so that others can replicate what you did
(study context, study sample, study method, questionnaire
design, data analysis)
 Once again, you need to show evidence of generativity in
Chapter 3.
Chapter 4: Results
 This chapter usually has two dimensions: Presentation of findings
and discussion of findings.
 In the presentation of finding section, you also present what you
found.
 The discussion of findings section bring life to your findings.
 You should situate your findings in the light of the broader literature
in the field.
 When your findings corroborate existing studies, say it explicitly.
And if so, what does this mean for theory development?
 It is very normal that your findings contradict existing studies. If so,
explicitly say it, but also discuss possible reasons for such
contradictions.
 Confirmation bias has to be explained/justified and is very often the
most interesting part of your dissertation.
 This section gives life/meaning to your findings.
Chapter 5: Conclusion
 Re-state the purpose of your study
 Tell your reader about the main findings and their
implications for future research.
 What are the practical implications of your research?
 What are the limitations of your study?
 How can your study be used as a basis for future research?
i.e. its scope for future research.
 What are the take home lessons for researchers?
 How can your study be used as a basis for future research?
i.e. its scope for future research.