Dissertation / Research Dissertation / Research WorkshopWorkshop

Workshop Structure

Day Topic Your Resp.

1

(Oct 13)

• Literature Review • Choose a topic• Perform Lit. Review

2

(Oct 20)

• Plagiarism, Referencing & Citation

• Introduction to Research Strategy and Methods

• Refine and submit Lit. Review• Begin work on research methods :

quantitative, qualitative, pros’ and cons’, etc.

3

(Oct 23)

• Quantitative & Qualitative Research Methods

• Research Ethics and Reminders

• Present report on research methods

4

(Oc 27)

• Deep vs. Surface Learning• Closing Tips

Structure of Your Paper• Title page• Statement of authenticity• Acknowledgements• Abstract• Contents• Introduction

• Literature review• Research Methods• Research Background and Findings• Analysis• Conclusions

• References / Bibliography• Appendices

WHY do a literature review?

The literature review

• Purpose– To demonstrate your knowledge of theory– Shows how you research relates to previous work– Explains main points of relevant theory– Discusses themes - critical comparison – Provides theories which form analytical tools for your

project - informs primary research– Helps in evaluation of your arguments– Provides basis for evaluating your evidence and

drawing your conclusions

To ensure your argument is strongly rooted in theory and previous works

To understand the themes of the topic

HOW do you select a research topic?

Be passionate about your topic!

Topic should not be too narrow or too broad

Samples of Topics

• The Rapid development of international micro-finance. • Micro-finance in the banking industry. • The demand for collective investment schemes in the; A strategic

analysis, discussion and recommendations. • Constraints to the development of a fully-fledged microfinance market in

Malaysia. • The awareness of microfinance in developing economies and its

impact. • How important it is access to credit and other financial services to

growth and investment? • Partnership between the public and private sectors is crucial: Is it true? • Access to financial services, in particular for the poor, including through

microfinance and microcredit: An empirical study in Malaysia• Financial innovation in Europe and Asia: A comparative study. • Financial viability of selected financial products available in the local

market.

Finance

• Order recording and order processing solutions of a commercial firm (storage).• Organization of commercial good distribution; line planning solutions in

practice.• Carrying trade solutions, contractual connections in practice.• Results and problems in commercial logistics showing a special firm.• Statement of combined transportation, development opportunities,

organizations.• The role of train transportation, its regulation and practical solutions.• The role of highway transportation, its regulations and practical solutions.• Critical analysis of the technology and logistics of a wholesale storage.• Critical analysis of a choosen logistics service centre.

Logistics

• Marketing mix for a brand-new restaurant in Chinatown?• Comparing dis-intermediation strategies• Revamping the marketing image of government organisations• Global marketing strategies of American car industry versus the

Japanese car industry. • How do McDonalds market its products to its customers as

compared to KFC? • Online marketing versus direct marketing. Which is a better strategy?• Evolution of Services marketing

Marketing

Questions you must ask

• What has been published on the topic? Who are the popular writers? From which country or context are they writing from?

• What are the key issues or problems of the subject? What are the main theories, ideas and arguments?

• What are the unanswered questions?

Can use or not?!

Task 1

1. Select a research topic research topic (incl. the research question)

2. Perform a literature review literature review a) Write a 300-word (minimum) essay

reviewing the literature of your topic

b) Produce references from at least• 10 e-articles or e-book accessed from the e-

library• 5 books (other than your textbook)

Submission Deadline: October 20th, 9.00am

You are NOT allowed to cite Wikipedia!

http://elib.kdu.edu.my

http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/sd/central/library/