• When you have got your topic set up a research Plan – what do you need to do how long will it take?
– A Gantt chart is helpful – record progress against plan
2. Developing a research plan 3. Models 4. Data
Published, existing, to be collected, qualitative and quantitative
5. Analysis 6. Writing, presentation, review
STRUCTURE(2)
1 Searching the literature for ideas, previous experience and a plausible way forward
– Week 1 information bases available – Project – select the broad area in which you plan to work
THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PRO5CESS
Research Topic
Research Problem
Hypotheses
Data / Sample
Research Design
Variable Measurement
Analyses
Interpret Results
Conclusions
COURSE OUTLINE Part 1:Research Methods in ACC/FIN Part 2: Basic Theoretical Issues in ACC/FIN
Part 3: Special Topic in ACC/FIN
ACC/FIN RESEARCH METHODS
• Findings will be tentative • Human beings are complex we can only model part of
INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
Cui Zhe School of Business Nantong University
OBJECTIVE
• To ensure you have the skills necessary to produce an excellent dissertation
something narrow • Listen to advice • Look at some examples of successful work • Find a supervisor you think you can work with!
STEP 1 – GET A NOTEBOOK
• Over-riding theme BБайду номын сангаас METHODICAL
• When you get to the literature review take careful notes – set up some sort of filing system
– It is your choice whether it is electronic, physical or a combination but Endnote is useful for references
find 10 (or more) useful articles written on the topic read them and set out their main features
this develops a knowledge base – Assignment – make a detailed appraisal of an article
GETTING STARTED
• Don’t rush • Choose something you are interested in • Something which is useful to the rest of your
work or what you want to do next • It must be achievable, which normally means
How does it go about the research process Critical appraisal - pluses/minuses, what do I learn from it for my
research?
2 Designing the analysis
– General issues - myself – Specific examples from subject areas Cahan/Berkman/Rouse
• A research ‘diary’
• Record your thought process and your actions
• Make a note of what you agreed with your supervisor –
you might even want to send them a copy
• Good research is systematic, logical, objective and critical – enthusiasm is good, passion dangerous
A WARNING
• Accounting and finance deal with human behaviour – it is not hard science
STRUCTURE
• From developing the idea to presenting the completed piece of research
1. Developing the idea
Formulating testable hypotheses – traditional approach Theoretical modelling