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General Knowledge About Research

The document provides guidance on conducting rigorous research. It discusses: 1) Early research should link problems, theories, previous findings and methods in a coherent chain. Maintaining coherence and complementarity leads to robust results and conclusions. 2) Research must be conducted objectively, reliably and validly using rigorous methods. 3) Theory and literature from previous research should be critically examined and reviewed early on. Literature represents non-theoretical research findings. The document emphasizes critically reviewing literature in the context of theory and other literature to evaluate findings objectively. Personal opinions should not influence reviews.

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Demewez Asfaw
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200 views4 pages

General Knowledge About Research

The document provides guidance on conducting rigorous research. It discusses: 1) Early research should link problems, theories, previous findings and methods in a coherent chain. Maintaining coherence and complementarity leads to robust results and conclusions. 2) Research must be conducted objectively, reliably and validly using rigorous methods. 3) Theory and literature from previous research should be critically examined and reviewed early on. Literature represents non-theoretical research findings. The document emphasizes critically reviewing literature in the context of theory and other literature to evaluate findings objectively. Personal opinions should not influence reviews.

Uploaded by

Demewez Asfaw
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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General Knowledge about research

 Early in the study, links between problems (which may be either topics or issues), theories,

previous findings and methods will be postulated. The links should form a coherent chain.

 The goal must be to maintain coherence and complementarity; only by such an approach

will the results and conclusions be robust.

 Whatever method is adopted, it is essential that the research be conducted rigorously – that it

is an objective, reliable and valid study.

Theory vs literature

An essential early stage of virtually all research is to search for and to examine potentially

relevant theory and literature. Theory and literature are the results of previous research projects.

Theory is the established principles and laws which have been found to hold, such as Einstein’s

theory of relativity; theories of the firm. Thus, ‘A theory is a statement of relations among

concepts within a set of boundary assumptions and constraints’ (Bacharach 1989). Literature, in

this context, concerns findings from research which have not attained the status of theory

(principles and laws); often, it represents findings from research into particular applications of

theory

In considering the research process, attention should be given to ‘DATA’; namely:

 Definitions of the main terms involved; especially where terms have varied definitions, it is

essential to decide explicitly the definitions to be adopted, and why they have been adopted,

so that critical literature review and appropriate data collection can be made.
 Note the Assumptions which are made and the justification for them; if possible, explain

their consequences and examine what occurs when any assumptions are relaxed.

 Research, and critically review the Theories, principles and literature relating to the subject

matter of the research.

 Evaluate what Analyses may be carried out with respect to data available, the objectives and

any hypothesis, so that the most robust and rigorous analytic methods will be used, thereby

maximizing confidence (validity and reliability) in the results.

Theory: accepted concepts, standards, principles and laws


Literature: findings from previous research

Literature should not merely be found and reviewed, the body of relevant literature from
previous research must be reviewed critically. The literature must be considered in the context of
theory and other literature – the methodologies, data, analytic techniques, sampling etc. – so
that objective evaluation takes place.

Neither in considering theory nor in the critical review of literature is it appropriate for the
researcher to express personal opinion – let the theory and/or the literature ‘do the work’.
Alternative views and findings must be abstracted and ordered, to present thematic discussions
such that a coherent debate is presented through synthesis and evaluation. Bodies of acceptance
should be categorized as should arrays of issues – both of which inform sub- sequent portions of
the research. Often, weighing of arguments in the context of theories and, if applicable, the
theoretical stance adopted for the work is required. This provides and demonstrates
appreciation and understanding of the state of knowledge of the topic and its context.
A mere listing of the articles which have been read with a summary of their main points is not
sufficient; the critique – drawing out issues and arguments, setting alternative views against
each other etc. – is the essential element of the critical review.
The reason I employed PLS SEM
The reason I employed PLS SEM is because considering the analyses to be carried out with
respect to the research objectives and hypothesis as well as the data available,, it is the most
robust and rigorous analytic methods, which will maximize confidence (validity and reliability)
in the results.

Task to be done
Find and check weather I used issues and topic……theory, principle and literature correctly or
not as aforementioned definitions…..also find if any assumptions are considered

Try to replace the word “detailed” by “comprehensive”.

 Google and understand what an assumption is for a research….what things must be


assumed in a research.

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