Functions Of Literature Review

Functions Of Literature Review

Question 1

There are three general functions of a literature review. Firstly, a literature review identifies the context of the research. Secondly, it sets out the current state of knowledge about one’s research question and finally, it states why the research is important and what contribution it hopes to make in the discipline or field of study. Everything in a research proposal flows from a literature review. It is crucial to determine the theoretical orientation of the research, define concepts that have arisen from the conclusions of various researchers, identify the problems that have been encountered by previous researchers and identify the gaps in research and, thus, acknowledge the significance of the current research proposal in the discipline.

Question 2

As the name suggests, literature reviewing involves a great deal of presenting and analyzing previous literature on the subject of the project proposal. For that reason, data sources are crucial in building a literature review for a research proposal. A good researcher refers to primary sources to build their literature review as they are original resources and, thus, have a leading edge over secondary and tertiary sources in research.

Charles can use peer reviewed scholarly articles in his literature review. These published sources provide concrete data, discussions and conclusions that have already been critiqued to provide an unbiased stance. Secondly, he may use research reports from various researchers who have conducted research on the subject. Research reports can either be published or unpublished. Unlike scholarly reviewed journals, these reports do not undergo a thorough review and critique by other researchers and, therefore, there is the risk of bias. Third, Charles may use the diaries and other accounts of traders of the stock market to present original records and reactions created and recorded at the time of trading as a resource. All the pertinent information from these sources may be summarized in the literature review.

Chapter 5: Research Process

Question 1

Every good theoretical framework has to identify important variables in the situation that are relevant to the research problem. Jesse’s research problem concerns the willingness of members to participate in online brand communities. He identifies the variables that influence participation in online brand communities as, informational value, self-discover value, social interactivity value, social enhancement value, entertainment value and reward value, also, member satisfaction and online brand community loyalty.

It is important that a theoretical framework define all the identified variables to simplify reading and comprehension of the research even to people who do not belong in the discipline. This aspect of a good theoretical framework is missing from Jesse’s proposal. He does not define the variables.

Thirdly, any good framework must describe and explain interconnections among these variables. Jesse’s literature review attempts to draw a connection between the variables by explaining that the perceived informational value, self-discovery value, social interactivity value, social enhancement value, entertainment value and reward value among the members of an online brand community influence their satisfaction and, in turn, determines their loyalty to participating in the online brand community. Jesse graphically represents this relationship to solidify his theoretical framework.

Question 2

Jesse could use an annotated bibliography to develop a conceptual model in his research paper.

Question 3

Many advantages accrue from the writing of a literature review. A literature review allows a researcher to go through previous research on the subject, thus, helps them to develop a solid conceptual framework of the research they intend to embark. Further, it informs the researcher of the hurdles that previous researchers had to go through in investigating the subject, therefore, aiding in preparation for the research. Conducting a literature review also deepens the understanding of the subject and improves the researcher’s analytical skills.

On the other side, conducting a literature review can be time consuming and costly as it requires finding research material and summarizing them. Additionally, it requires skills of analysis to develop a conceptual framework of one’s research using a different research.

Question 4

Annotated bibliographies enable a researcher to familiarize themselves with their research and sources. It also helps the researcher in organizing their work and prepares them thoroughly for the drafting of their research proposal.

This alternative however, has some disadvantages. Preparation of an annotated biography is time consuming and does not costly. It requires the acquisition of sources and their analysis to understand and analyze them for annotating.

Question 5

The independent variables in Jesse’s conceptual model include, informational value, self-discover value, social interactivity value, social enhancement value, entertainment value and reward value

The mediating variable in Jesse’s conceptual model includes only member’s satisfaction.

The dependent variable in Jesse’s conceptual model includes only online brand community loyalty.

Question 6

The distinction between moderating and mediating variables lies in their working. Moderating variables influence the strength of the effects of the intervention while mediating variables explain the process by which the effects of the intervention are achieved. Moderating variables exist prior to the conduct of the research while mediating variables are assumed to come up depending on the working of the intervention.

Question 7

Perceived informational value, self-discovery value, social interactivity value, social enhancement value, entertainment value and reward value among the members of an online brand community and their satisfaction are related.

As satisfaction of the members of an online brand community increases, their loyalty to the online brand community increases.

Question 8

Involving interventions such as photos, videos, contests and games have an effect on fun and relaxation, which is the entertainment value that consumers attach to online brand communities and, in turn, this increases their satisfaction and, thus, their likelihood of participating in the online brand community.

Question 9

The increase in quality and quantity of independent variables by engaging interventions has a direct effect on member satisfaction. Member satisfaction is the construct behind the motivation and intent to participate in online brand communities. Additionally, as member satisfaction increases, so does consumer loyalty in the online brand community.

Question 10

Fun is the variable that moderates the relationship between one of the independent variables and member’s satisfaction.

Question 11

The fun derived from online brand community use depends directly from how a consumer values the games offered on the website. As such, the more fun a consumer has, the more satisfied they are likely to be.

Question 12

The entertainment value a consumer attaches to an online brand community is directly associated with their satisfaction and their future intention to participate in the community.

Chapter 6: Research Process

Question 1

The purpose of Jonathan’s study was to test the hypothesis. He formulated the hypothesis that the availability of calorie information has a straight impact on the fulfillment of the consumer of a healthy food item. To test this hypothesis, he provided a healthy item with calorie information to a group of subjects. He also had two control groups; those who were presented with health items whose calorie content was not provided and those who did not conduct a taste test. All groups were asked to record their satiety at the beginning and end of the experiment.

Question 2

Causal studies involve the collection of data to determine the causative factor of a phenomenon or event. Correlational studies, on the other hand, involve the collection of data to determine the relationship between two variables.

Question 3

Jonathan’s study is correlational. Through his tests, he seeks to determine how calorie data labels on food influence people’s hunger experiences. He does not try to find an explanation for a previously identified difference in the hunger experiences of consumers of foods with calorie labels and those of foods without it.

Question 4

Jonathan moderately interferes with the normal flow of events in his study.

Question 5

Field studies engross the compilation of information in the natural environment. The researcher must be careful to cause as minimal interference as possible to prevent the occurrence of the ‘Hawthorne effect’. A field experiment is conducted where moderate interference features. The researcher varies certain aspects in order to test the hypothesis but allows the experimental setting to remain natural, i.e., a depiction of the real world. Laboratory experiments involve the creation of artificial situations where the researcher manipulates variables and standardizes the subjects in a highly controlled environment.

Question 6

Jonathan’s study is a field experiment. He randomly selects samples and allocates them to control and treatment groups. Between the treatment and one of the control groups, only one independent variable is varied (the presence of caloric information). The setting is natural and does not exhibit high control and standardization characteristics.

Question 7

The unit of analysis in Jonathan’s study experiment is hunger.

Question 8

Jonathan’s study is cross sectional as the 90 available participants were randomly divided and assigned to the three different conditions to carry out the experiments. In cross sectional studies, different samples are tested under different conditions. If it were longitudinal, all the 90 contributors would have been represented to the three different conditions to measure them repeatedly.

Question 9

The purpose of Jonathan’s experience is to determine the relationship between the provision of calorie information and the experience of hunger in humans. As such, this is a correlational study. To the most accurate data, he provides the treatment groups with a healthy food choice with calorie information, one control group with the same health food choice and provides no caloric information while the second control group receives no health food choice. It is important that he maintains natural setting in his field research but still varies the independent variable to test his hypothesis.

Chapter 7: Data Collection Methods

Question 1

Structured interviews would require pre-formulated questions aimed at determining the objectives of the project. Hoshimi has to predetermine and structure interview questions. Essentially, he would also ask every shopper the same questions. On the contrary, an unstructured interview would not require the pre-formulation of interview questions. Unstructured interviews depend on the free flow of conversations to gather data.

Question 2

Distinguishing characteristics of face-to-face interviews is that they allow for the communication of non-verbal cues by both the interviewer and interviewee. Additionally, they can be conducted on groups of persons that would or else be barred for reasons of physical disability, illiteracy, or age. Face-to-face interviews present an opportunity for immediate feedback by both the researcher and the interviewee. That way, it is easier to get additional information and clarify issues on the spot.

Question 3

Hoshimi must identify all the potential biases that may be introduced by the interviewer interviewee and the situation, acknowledge them, and, structure the interview and interview questions in such a way as to minimize the biases as much as possible.

Question 4

Hoshimi must be careful to choose participants who are willing to provide information and who understand either of the languages she can speak as the language barrier can be a big hindrance to good interviewing.

Chapter 8: Observation

Question 1

Observation is the selection and recording of the behavior of people in their natural environment. Mystery shopping falls under this category as mystery shoppers present themselves into the organizations natural environment. This represents the premises where business is run without the awareness of the organizations people and collection of data about people, processes and culture of that organization The routine activities of the organization are not interrupted thus the process can be deemed to be observation as a technique of filed study.

Question 2

Dawson’s Study

Controlled observation takes place where a researcher in a controlled environment records data where the variables are artificially doctored to prove or disprove a hypothesis. Uncontrolled observation involves minimal interference and data is collected in the natural environment or situation.

Participant observation is observation where the researcher goes into the subject’s environment and conducts research under intensive social interaction. In this type of observation, data is selected and recorded while the researcher participates actively with the subjects over a long period. Non-participative observation is a data collection method where data is selected and recorded with the researcher having limited interaction with the subject. The researcher’s role is that of an eavesdropper and he/she observes while allowing the subjects to lead their normal lives uninterrupted by his/her presence.

Question 3

If I were Sebastian Koch, I would not inform them. People act most naturally when they are not aware that they are being observed, and this would lead to the collection of the most accurate data.

Question 4

A coding system allows data to be classified according to the bearing it has on the research. Data collected is matched to the aspects of the research questions. This simplifies the process of analyzing data.

Question 5

Mystery shopping is a less time consuming way of evaluating an organization from the viewpoint and experience of a customer.

Question 6

Professional evaluation may not be as genuine as the customer’s experience as the customer’s experience is more natural. Therefore, mystery shopping is less valuable. Additionally, mystery shopping may not cover all aspects of the business.

Question 7

Mystery shopping should be supplemented with customer feedback channels through which customers can relay comments on the company’s performance.