Finding a Research Topic
Finding a Research Topic Once you have selected your research topic can you begin to work on actually doing your research. However . . . It is important to note that the purpose of the Research Report in the MBA programme is to teach you how to identify and solve a problem / issue in the business environment. It is not primarily about the topic – the topic simply gives you a subject to work with. The Research methodology course is designed to support you through the process of, firstly writing your Research Proposal (essentially your research plan), assisting you to get through the panel (a quality assurance and ethics check), then point you in the right direction to conduct your own research, write it up to completion and finally see you graduate. You can find research topics from, amongst other sources, the following places: 1. Existing Research Reports – the final Chapter in the Research Report is “Conclusions and Recommendations”. The recommendations are a) to those who have an interest in or may be affected by the research and b) Recommendations for future research. 2. The application of an existing theory in a different setting or a different context. Much published research (eg in Journal articles) relates to overseas situations – what would that research find if carried out in South Africa? 3. An investigation into whether a particular early theory (eg about strategy, leadership, customer relations, diversity management, the financial markets, globalisation, economic theory etc etc) still applies today. 4. A replication study (choose a good study to replicate if you do this) of previous research in a different setting, context or time‐frame, eg in a different market sector, or after democracy in South Africa. 5. The exploration of a gap or contradiction in existing theory / research. 6. The exploration of any links between two or more different ideas or concepts, eg what are the effects of teaching style and class size on MBA