Thesis Report Review and Analysis
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The document analyzes and compares three research reports related to MBA programs. It examines the structure, content, and organization of each report. The reports are evaluated based on their inclusion of sections like introduction, literature review, methodology, findings, and conclusion. Their language, tone, literature review components, and data analysis approaches are also assessed. Tables are included to summarize the presence or absence of key elements in each report. The analysis provides a framework for understanding the structure and components of effective research reports.
Thesis Report Review and Analysis
- 1. Research Report Analysis ASSIGNMENT 11: Research Report Analysis Research Methodology Dr. Sridhar TITLE: A Study on Pragmatic Approaches and Quality Initiatives for Enhancing Teachers’ Caliber in Post Graduate Institutes offering MBA Programme under Bangalore University Under the Guidance of Dr. T.V. Raju Director, RV Institute of Management, Bangalore CANARA BANK SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES BANGALORE UNIVERSITY SUBMITTED BY Shivananda R Koteshwar PhD Research Scholar, 2013, REG# 350051 Shivananda R Koteshwar, PhD Research Scholar, Bangalore University
- 2. Research Report Analysis Research Report A research report is one type that is often used in the sciences, engineering and psychology. Here the aim is to write clearly and concisely about the research topic so that the reader can easily understand the purpose and results of your research. The body of the paper comprises of the introduction, rationale of the study, limitations, review of related literature, the sample, methods, tools and techniques, analysis and interpretation, results, conclusion and suggestions followed by the bibliography, and the appendices which include the tables, graphs and figures , if any. The research paper disseminates the new contribution in the specific area. It avoids the repetition of the problem. Research Report Structure In the 2 tables below are explained is the structure of a research report. Table 1 has all the individual sections against the broad divisions, while table 2 has details on the individual sections – and provides a framework of what needs to be included into the individual areas. In the structure of the report, one can club the literature review with introduction or recommendations with conclusions. Table 1: Divisions and sections of a report Broad Divisions Individual Sections Preliminary material Title of Report Table of Contents Abstract/Synopsis Body of report Introduction Literature Review Methodology Results Discussion Conclusion Recommendations Supplementary material References or Bibliography Appendices Table 2: Content of Individual Sections Individual Sections Content for Each Section Title of Report Concise heading indicating what the report is about Table of Contents List of major sections and headings with page numbers Abstract/Synopsis Concise summary of main findings Introduction Why and what you researched Literature Review Other relevant research in this area Methodology What you did and how you did it Results What you found Discussion Relevance of your results, how it fits with other research in the area Conclusion Summary of results/findings Shivananda R Koteshwar, PhD Research Scholar, Bangalore University
- 3. Research Report Analysis Recommendations References or Bibliography Appendices What needs to be done as a result of your findings All references used in your report or referred to for background information Any additional material which will add to your report Steps to write a Research Report Research writing is divided into 7 steps to give the reader a logical way of dividing the stages to help with research, consolidation and representation. STEP 1: Analyze task As with any assignment task, one must first analyze what is expected of researcher. This involves careful reading of the assignment task as outlined in your course information book. One may find the following questions useful when analyzing the task: • What is the purpose of the report? (Analyzing, persuading or reporting on an investigation) • Who is the audience for the report? • What is the word limit? (Most times the word limit only includes the body of the report) • What is the topic of the report? (The topic may be specified by the lecturer/other times you will have a choice) • What is the expected format of the report? STEP 2: Develop a rough plan Use the section headings (outlined above) to assist with drafting a rough plan. Write a thesis statement that clarifies the overall purpose of your report. Jot down anything one already knows about the topic in the relevant sections STEP 3: Do the research Steps 1 and 2 will guide one to research for this report. One may need to report on other research on a particular topic or do some research of their own. Keep referring to the analysis and rough plan while you are doing the research to ensure that one remains on track STEP 4: Draft the body of the report • Introduction – The purpose of the report. The thesis statement will be useful here. Background information may include a brief review of the literature already available on the topic so that one is able to ‘place’ their research in the field. Some brief details of the methods and an outline of the structure of the report • Literature Review – If asked to do a separate literature review, one must carefully structure the findings. It may be useful to do a chronological format where one can discuss from the earliest to the latest research, placing their research appropriately in the chronology. Alternately, one could write in a thematic way, outlining the various themes that they have discovered in the research regarding the topic. Again, one will need to state where their research fits Shivananda R Koteshwar, PhD Research Scholar, Bangalore University
- 4. Research Report Analysis • • • • • Methodology – Here one clearly outlines what methodology is used in their research i.e. what they did and how they do it. It must be clearly written so that it would be easy for another researcher to duplicate one’s research if they wished to: o It is usually written in a “passive” voice (e.g. the participants were asked to fill in the questionnaire attached in Appendix 1) rather than an “active” voice (e.g. I asked the participants to fill in the questionnaire attached in Appendix 1) o Clearly reference any material one has used from other sources. Clearly label and number any diagrams, charts, and graphs. Ensure that they are relevant to the research and add substance to the text rather than just duplicating what has already been said. One does not include or discuss the results here Results – This is where one indicates what they have found in their research. One only give the results of their research , but does not interpret them Discussion – This is where one discusses the relevance of the results and how their findings fit with other research in the area. It will relate back to the literature review and the introductory thesis statement Conclusion – This is a summary of the most significant results/findings. One should not include any new material in this section. Sometimes one could indicate some areas where their research has limits or where further research would be useful Recommendations – This includes suggestions for what needs to be done as a result of your findings. Recommendations are usually listed in order of priority STEP 5: Draft the supplementary material • References or Bibliography – This includes all references used in one’s report or referred to for background information. This must be done using the referencing convention specified by one’s lecturer /tutor • Appendices – These should add extra information to the report. If one includes appendices they must be referred to in the body of the report and must have a clear purpose for being included. Each appendix must be named and numbered STEP 6: Draft the preliminary material • Title of Report – Make sure this is clear and indicates exactly what one is researching • Table of Contents – List all sections, sub headings tables/graphs appendices and give page numbers for each • Abstract/Synopsis – This gives a very brief overview of the report in a condensed form. STEP 7: Polish your report • The final step is checking the report to ensure one has followed all of the guidelines as outlined in your course information. Shivananda R Koteshwar, PhD Research Scholar, Bangalore University
- 5. Research Report Analysis Research Reports selected 1. Thesis 1: An Exploratory Study of Factors affecting MBA Students’ Attitude towards Learning via Case Study Pedagogy: Insights from Advertising Literature By: Ramendra Singh and Piyush Kumar Sinha Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, Nov 2006 Abstract of the paper: Case based pedagogy has become popular in most business schools today, since the pioneering efforts made by Harvard Business School, several decades ago. Although the case method approach stands firmly on grounds its effectiveness in ‘simulating reality of the business world’ in the classroom, yet it has its own limitations and cannot be used in all learning situations This article delves into both sides of the debate on the efficacy of case method for learning and through an exploratory study, models the attitude of MBA students towards the perceived learning aspects of the pedagogy. The premise of our beliefs-only attitude model rests on the conceptual analogy between a case study and an advertisement message as two similar forms of communication technology. Drawing heavily from the insights available in the advertising literature, the article suggests several hypotheses for future empirical validation. 2. Thesis 2: Measuring MBA Student Learning: Does distance make a difference? By Mark Kretovics and Jim McCambridge Kent State University and Colorado State University, Oct 2002 Abstract of the paper: This article reports on an exploratory research effort in which the extent of MBA student learning on twelve specific competencies relevant to effective business performance was assessed. The article focuses on the extent to which differences in student learning outcomes may be influenced by one of three different types of instructional delivery: on-campus, distance, and executive MBA. It affirms the high quality of learning that can occur via distance education and proposes a strategy to conduct summative, program-level assessment. Specific findings include participants in all three groups self-reporting significantly higher scores on seven of twelve outcomes (e.g., goal setting, help, information gathering, leadership, quantitative, theory, and technology skills). It also notes that distance MBA students self-reported significantly higher scores than on-campus students on the learning outcomes related to technology, quantitative, and theory skills, and higher scores on technology skills than the executive MBA group. Implications for further research are discussed. 3. Thesis 3: The motivation and satisfaction of the students towards MBA at Karlstad University By Sochipan Chantasuwanno and Sineenat Suasungnern Karlstad Business School, 2011 Abstract of the paper: This study shows the motivation and satisfaction factors influencing international students to continue study Master of Business Administration (MBA) and the reasons of international students to select Karlstad University as their alternative. Theoretical framework had been collected form Shivananda R Koteshwar, PhD Research Scholar, Bangalore University
- 6. Research Report Analysis secondary data. The study had explained the main factors those lead students decide to study MBA at Karlstad University. The factor such as requirement of MBA increases because of globalization change. Organizations prefer efficiency business solving-problem skill, at the same time people need to improve their professional career. In addition to labor market and human need, secondary data did not provide other reasons affecting student’s decision making. The study explains reasonable impacts on student’s decision making related to secondary data which are European education system, education system in Sweden, MBA in Europe, Europe and the world-wide boom in MBA program, trend Master of business administration toward affects labor market , human motivation theory, satisfaction measurement theory, and decision making/reasoning skill. To survey population sampling, interviews of ten international students were conducted as primary data. The result has both related and unrelated to the previous study. The result indicated that the reason of respondent to continue study MBA was because they needed to improve their specific knowledge skill, career advancement, increased their value. This is the internal factor while external factor is labor market. While the factors leading students to choose Sweden for their higher education are free tuition fee, location and environment such as a place of famous business or cultural differences. On the other hand, they selected Karlstad University because of its marketing, for example, it provides specific programs and courses which match their requirements, its location is nice, and it has partnership in host countries. Satisfaction aspect indicated that students were satisfied with the flexible education system, open class for discussion and non-focus on grade. At the same time, there were some unsatisfied points. There were problems about insufficient communication for international students, about teaching style that lacks of motivation, and about the support from teachers, these are what should be improved in the perspective of the students. Shivananda R Koteshwar, PhD Research Scholar, Bangalore University
- 7. Research Report Analysis Research Reports Analysis Research report sections on the order of inclusion Report Modules Title page Authorization signature Thesis 1 Thesis 2 Prefatory information Y N N N Table of Contents Introduction Problem Statement Research Objectives Background Methodology Sampling Design Research Design Data Collection Limitations Findings Thesis 3 Y N Executive summary Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y N Y Y N N Y N Y Y Conclusions Summary and conclusions Recommendations Appendices Bibliography Reports analyzed on language and tone Language/ Tone parameters Reading ease Passive voice Average sentence length (approx. 15 words) Average word length (1.50 syl) Average paragraph length (about 5 sentences) Thesis 1 Thesis 2 Grammar and style Y Y Y Y Y Y Thesis 3 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Tone Y Y Y Thesis 1 Thesis 2 Thesis 3 Y Y Y Positive Reports analyzed on literature review Literature review parameters Identify literature to review Shivananda R Koteshwar, PhD Research Scholar, Bangalore University
- 8. Research Report Analysis Analyze literature Summarize literature Y Y N Y Y Y Reports analyzed based on data analysis Data analysis parameters Data preparation for analysis Data summarization and visualization Data analysis and modelling Paragraph format Thesis 1 Y Y Thesis 2 Y N Thesis 3 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Appendix 1. Writing a Research Report (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/learning_guides/learningGuide_wri tingAResearchReport.pdf) 2. Business Research Methods textbook – By Donald R Cooper and Pamela S Schindler 3. An Exploratory Study of Factors affecting MBA Students’ Attitude towards Learning via Case Study Pedagogy: Insights from Advertising Literature (http://www.iimahd.ernet.in/publications/data/2006-11-05_rsingh.pdf) 4. Measuring MBA Student Learning: Does distance make a difference? (http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/108/188) 5. The motivation and satisfaction of the students towards MBA at Karlstad University (http://www.divaportal.org/smash/get/diva2:427345/FULLTEXT01.pdf) Shivananda R Koteshwar, PhD Research Scholar, Bangalore University