How to develop specific ideas/questions
In stage two we will elaborate on the development of a research question. You already might have a first idea or a field of interest. This is a great starting point. Anyway, to really understand your idea, to become familiar what is already known in a specific field, and to get an idea of possible research methods, it is important to develop a clear research question or intended contribution.
Further reading
Recommended:
- Alvesson, M., & Sandberg, J. (2013). Constructing research questions: Doing interesting research. Sage.
- Bryman, A., & Bell, E. (2015). Business research methods. Oxford University Press, USA. (corresponding chapter)
Additional sources:
- Alvesson, M., & Sandberg, J. (2011). Generating research questions through problematization. Academy of management review, 36(2), 247-271.
- Alvesson, M., & Sandberg, J. (2013). Has management studies lost its way? Ideas for more imaginative and innovative research. Journal of Management Studies, 50(1), 128-152.
- Alvesson, M., & Sandberg, J. (2014). Habitat and habitus: Boxed-in versus box-breaking research. Organization Studies, 35(7), 967-987.
- Birkinshaw, J., Healey, M. P., Suddaby, R., & Weber, K. (2014). Debating the future of management research. Journal of Management Studies, 51(1), 38-55.
- Colquitt, J. A., & Zapata-Phelan, C. P. (2007). Trends in theory building and theory testing: A five-decade study of the Academy of Management Journal. Academy of management journal, 50(6), 1281-1303.
- Levy, Y., & Ellis, T. J. (2006). A systems approach to conduct an effective literature review in support of information systems research. Informing Science, 9.
- Randolph, J. J. (2009). A guide to writing the dissertation literature review. Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 14(13), 1-13.
- Rowley, J., & Slack, F. (2004). Conducting a literature review. Management research news, 27(6), 31-39.
- Webster, J., & Watson, R. T. (2002). Analyzing the past to prepare for the future: Writing a literature review. MIS quarterly, xiii-xxiii.
- Whetten, D. A. (1989). What constitutes a theoretical contribution?. Academy of management review, 14(4), 490-495.