UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA

Session Two:
The Research Question and Proposal

Professor David Walwyn

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A Reminder

• Where are we heading?

– from start to finish … how do we undertake a research
project, especially in the management sciences?
• In Session 1, we have covered some theory
– what are the types of research (knowledge) and their
associated assumptions?
• Session 2 covers …

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Session Two: The Research Question and
Proposal

• Defining the research question (the research idea)

and problem statement
• Phrasing the research objectives
• Framework of a research proposal
• The initial theory and past research review
• The research design and project plan

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A Reminder ….

• Areas of necessary competence to complete your

Masters degree:
– extensive awareness of the field of research in which you
will be engaged
– a thorough grounding in research methodology,
particularly the chosen methods for the study
– evidence of rigorous, independent and critical thinking,
particularly in analysing and defining the problem
– ability to organize the study and the write-up, including
writing lucidly

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Defining the Research Question and
Problem Statement
• This is a very important aspect of research projects
– an iterative process …. good research questions are informed
by a deep understanding of the problem obtained through
initial research and review of existing knowledge
– you cannot develop new knowledge unless you know what
has already been developed (where is the knowledge
frontier?)
• Some research questions are impossible to answer
(why am I here?)
– the ultimate question is a balance between its ‘answerability’
(can you collect the data?) and its contribution to useful
knowledge (is it relevant and novel?)

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Key Aspects of the Proposal
PROBLEM STATEMENT
What is the problem that the research will address?

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
What are the objectives of the research?

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Given the objectives, what are the research questions?

RESEARCH PROPOSITIONS AND HYPOTHESIS

What statements/hypothesis are being offered for
consideration or testing?

RESEARCH DESIGN
How will the research data be acquired and
analysed?
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Example
Problem
More than 40% of HIV-positive persons are lost-to-care (do not
return for treatment after diagnosis)

Objective
To understand the socio-economic reasons for the high rate of lost-to-care

Research Question
What are the proportions of lost-to-care by age, income
group, race, education and gender?

Research Proposition
The low rates of retention are driven by a combination of gender,
age and education

Research Design
Secondary data analysis based on information from primary
health clinics

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 Characteristics of a Good Research
Proposal
• The research problem is clearly and concisely stated
– it is significant (relevant) to an important issue (social,
economic, etc.)
– there is good evidence for the problem
• The objective of the research is clearly defined
• There is a strong link between the problem and the
research questions
• The methodology is clear and valid
– proposed work will be focussed, systematic and logical

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Characteristics (2)

• The research is located within an existing body of

academic work
– gap in theory or application
– it is not a management study (see later)
• The benefits of the research are explicit and clear
– the impact pathway is practical and plausible
– the proposal has relevance and a rationale
• The assumptions are not unreasonable

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It also helps if …

• The research question is of GREAT interest to you!

• The project can be delineated (fits within your time
and budget resources)
• It builds on existing capabilities in your institution
(not re-inventing the wheel)
• You have an excellent mentor or supervisor
• You can find a suitable supervisor, preferably in the
GSTM

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In Your Project You MUST Comply
With ….
• The research question is located within the
engineering, project or technology management
sciences (not hard science)
• The research can be completed in 8 months
• The project can be considered as academic research
(see next slide)
– it is not a management investigation (see Research Guide)
• The research question has relevance (to a broad
range of stakeholders)

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Academic Research vs. Management
Study
Aspect Academic Research Management Study
External The results can be applied more The results are only valid to the
validity widely than the unit of research specific company or individual
(company or individuals)
Theory Builds new theory or tests existing Applies theory but at a
theory simplistic level
Source of Mostly recent peer-reviewed Mostly trade articles and other
background literature management studies
knowledge
Teleology Seeks causative relationship Focussed on improvements and
results
Methodology Seeks novelty (insights) Replication of proven formulas
for success

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Research and Theory

• Application, validation and development

100%

80% Theory
Extent of New Theory

Application

60%
Theory
Testing
40%

Theory
20% Building

0%
0.00 Mini- 0.33 Full Masters 0.67 1.00
Dissertation (MEM PhD Thesis
Dissertation
or MBA)

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Phrasing the Research Objective and
Questions
• Consider the objective as the main deliverable of
your research project
– must deal with the overall research problem
• Separate sub-studies required for each question
– imagine a WBS with each question being its own mini
project
– define the methodology for each question if necessary
(secondary vs. primary research, etc)
– no more than 5 questions

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Good and Bad Questions
Good Bad
Relational Broad and vague
Empirical Philosophical meandering
Aetiological (correlation and Non-causal correlation or
causation) relationship
Existing or past system Future (speculative)
Frequency, difference or Policy issue only with limited link
correlation questions to theory
The question must have the The question is an excuse to fill
potential to create new a gap in your knowledge
knowledge
Exposes new understanding Yes/no answer only

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Questions Based on Different
Approaches to Research
• As a class exercise, analyse these pictures and
develop two research questions per photo seeking
to explain its remarkable features as follows:
– Photo One; positivist (structural engineer) and
phenomenologist (religious experience)
– Photo Two; positivist (statistician) and phenomenologist
(experience of the moment)
– Photo Three; constructivist (psychologist) and positivist
(public health)
• How would you apply the principles of triangulation
in each case?

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 Photo One: Kyaiktiyo Pagoda

• According to legend, the

Golden Rock is tethered by
a strand of the Buddha's
hair
• A glimpse of the "gravity
defying" Golden Rock is
believed to be enough of
an inspiration for any
person to turn to Buddhism

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Photo Two: Eric and the Lion

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Photo Three: Celebration of Churchill

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Research Hypothesis

• A hypothesis is a tentative proposition (prediction or

explanation) posited as a methodological guide for
researching a problem
• 3 types of hypothesis
– Research hypothesis (deductive argument)
– Working hypothesis (inductive argument)
– Null and alternate hypothesis (generalisation of sample
data to population, thereby establishing significance based
on rejection or acceptance of the hypothesis)
• Only used in quantitative research (in the strict
sense)

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Good Hypotheses

• Simply stated
• Testable using standard empirical techniques
– stated in terms of objectively measurable variables
– relate to available and accepted research techniques
• Logically derived from available evidence and theory
• Located within existing body of knowledge

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Framework for a Research Proposal

• See structure of Research Idea; Assignment 1

– load the template
• See structure of Research Proposal; Assignment 2
(will be covered in the lecture 7)

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Overall Scheme

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Problems with Assignment 1/2
• Commencing a research with a pre-determined path
and solution
• Misconstruing the research as
– an expression of one’s opinion and creativity
– a technical or engineering project
– a management study
• Not enough literature work
– major statements not supported by evidence from the
peer-reviewed literature
– inadequate outline of existing theory and background
concepts
• Selecting a complex research idea for postgraduate
level (too many broad research questions)
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Examples of Questions (Previous
Years)
• Problem Statement:
– The objective of this section is to define the research problem
statement. Hence, the focus of this research is to develop a
recycling method and processing technologies, leaving a less
hazardous residue. The key strategy is to minimize as well as
reuse the volume of such hazardous waste.
• Research Questions
– What will the recovery of zinc cost vs. the cost of disposal?
– How much will it cost to build a plant that will treat the silo dust
before recycling into smelting process?
– What are the prospects of recycling silo dust back to smelting
process?
– Will the recycling of silo dust be beneficial?

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Asset Management
• Problem Statement: Preliminary investigation suggests
that there is no connection between maintenance
activities carried out in local authorities and the
organisational goals
• Questions:
– Does the organisation have a maintenance strategy?
– What components should be included in a maintenance
strategy for Local Authorities?
– How should a maintenance strategy support the
organisation’s strategy?
– How to gain acceptance of the maintenance strategy among
stakeholders?

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Technology Management (Diffusion)

• Problem Statement
– it appears that in RSA some industries have not realized the
potential benefits of using XX to compliment operations;
traditions skills and knowledge are relied upon and new
technologies are unfamiliar or not trusted
• Objectives
– to evaluate the disparities in the diffusion (rate of uptake
or adoption) of XX between different industries (YY and ZZ)
in South Africa
– to evaluate disparities in the diffusion of XX between South
African industries and other countries

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Research Questions

• What are the possible benefits and advantages of

using XX in industries YY and ZZ
• What are the possible disadvantages?
• Are there disparities in the diffusion of XX in YY and
ZZ?
• What reasons exist for the disparities between the
industries?
• Are there disparities in the diffusion of XX between
South Africa and other countries within the same
industries?
• What are the reasons for the disparities between SA
and other countries?
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Consistency Matrix
Research Question Literature Data Data Analysis
Collection
What was the cost of the Walwyn et al 2015 Archival or Time series
REI4P over its first four secondary
rounds? data
What was the REI4P Report 2015 Archival or Time series
consequence of this secondary analysis
investment? data
What is the cost/benefit Correlation
ratio? analysis
How does this ratio Content
compare with similar analysis to
localisation programmes in uncover
other countries? perceptions

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E O Wilson TED Talk

• Class Exercise:
– List the five Wilson rules for becoming a ‘good’ researcher
– Is Wilson a positivist or constructivist in his approach?
Explain your answer
– Do you agree with him? Explain.
• Other sites:
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0HxMpJsm0I&t=2s

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