Core and non-core focus domains in the theoretical framework diagram

In the agile literature review approach (ALRA), a theoretical framework is constructed in a way to possess one prime characteristic: it is sufficiently complicated, comprehensive and responsive to the management concerns of the client system as depicted in the management-concerns diagram. As such, at level 0 of the theoretical framework diagram, it comprises 5-7 components. These components are expressed with academic jargon, so as to expressly point to key topics and key words for the conduct of literature search and literature review by the researcher. The label of a theoretical framework component very often starts with the verb "evaluate", e.g., "evaluate the team leadership of ABC Ltd". Nevertheless, unavoidably, the components of the theoretical framework are not all equally important; some are more focused on and more vital than others in an applied research project. As such, it is useful to group the components into the "core focus" domain and "non-core focus" domain. The following diagram is illustrative:

The implication is that the researcher would spare more effort to do more literature review on the components in the "core focus" domain and, subsequently, to apply the academic ideas in the "core focus" domain than those in the "non-core focus" domain. By doing so, the overall applied research project, e.g., the applied business research project" possesses a sharper research theme. At the same time, the research avoids having major conceptual blind spots in the investigation.

Management concerns diagram and a related theoretical framework: an example

Management concerns diagram and a related theoretical framework: an example related to the Initial Public Offer (IPO) theme 

Diagram 1a: A management concerns diagram with to the IPO theme. Each of the components at level 0 can be expanded into a level 1 diagram:

Diagram 1b: Relationship between a Level 0 diagram and the Level 1 diagrams

Diagram 2: A level 1 management-concerns diagram for component 1 of the Level 0 diagram (re: Diagram 1a)

Diagram 3: A related theoretical framework: A level 0 diagram

Using the theoretical framework (re: Diagram 3), a student can conduct literature review, notably on academic journal articles to populate each of the components of the theoretical framework with 2-3 relevant academic ideas. Each academic idea could be related to several points (e.g., viewpoints, analytical concepts and definitions) from a number of academic articles. This is illustrated in Diagram 4, as follows:

Diagram 4: Gathering academic ideas from literature review to populate the theoretical framework (re: Diagram 3) [In this example, a level 1 theoretical framework diagram on the component of "Updating IPO requirements"] :

After populating all the components of theoretical framework (re: Diagram 3) with several academic ideas from different sources (re: Diagram 4), you should now have a theoretical framework that synthesizes a set of academic ideas (e.g. 5 components with 3 academic ideas = 15 academic ideas).  If each academic idea is based on 3 academic articles; then the preliminary reference list should have 15 x 3 academic articles = 45 academic articles. It is quite satisfactory for a proposal to have considered 45 academic articles (note: 20 articles are quite sufficient at the proposal stage; 30-50 academic articles for the final report are also enough in general; on top of that, students could also have references on Youtube videos, dissertation reports, textbooks, newspaper articles, blog articles, and consulting reports, etc... In general, universities also expect that some of the academic articles are ones recently published within the last 2-3 years.

Diagramming with two levels (i.e., level 0 and level 1) can apply to management concerns diagrams and theoretical framework diagrams.  In our examples above:

Regarding the management-concerns diagrams:
Level 0 diagram: Diagram 1a
Level 1 diagram: Diagram 2

Regarding the theoretical framework diagrams:
Level 0 diagram: Diagram 3
Level 1 diagram: Diagram 4 (although no concrete points are used in the diagrams; it just indicates academic idea 1, academic idea 2, etc....; concrete points could only be available via actual literature review done by the student concerned)


The overall evolutionary process of management concerns and theoretical framework construction should follow the agile literature review approach (ALRA). Subsequently, the student should develop a number of research methods (e.g. interview, survey questionnaire and focus group; plus the companion data analysis methods, e.g., multiple regression analysis, pivot table analysis) that can be mapped onto the theoretical framework. To do that, the students should do some study on research methods by reading textbooks and watching some relevant Youtube videos.

The theoretical framework (re: Diagrams 3 and 4) are important for writing up the chapter on Literature Review in the dissertation report. When the various research methods are mapped onto the theoretical framework, the resultant diagram is also important for writing up the chapter on Research Methods in the dissertation report.

Housing dissertation proposal template on its sections and corresponding report template items

Housing dissertation proposal template on its sections and corresponding report template items

Dissertation Proposal Sections (re: module guide on dissertation)	Relevant final report template items
Title/research areas 1. Research areas 2. Specific aims 3. Relevance of the topic to the fields of human geography/ planning 4. Relevance to the literature of the field	Chapter on Introduction: http://josephho33.blogspot.hk/2018/05/chapter-structure-on-introduction.html Chapter on Literature review: http://josephho33.blogspot.hk/2018/05/chapter-structure-on-literature-review.html
Research questions 1. Clear, appropriate and realistic.	Chapter on Introduction: http://josephho33.blogspot.hk/2018/05/chapter-structure-on-introduction.html
Research methods	Chapter on Research methods: http://josephho33.blogspot.hk/2018/05/chapter-structure-on-research-methods.html
Sources of information	Chapter on Research methods: http://josephho33.blogspot.hk/2018/05/chapter-structure-on-research-methods.html
Bibliography	Also appear in the final report
Timetable for research	Somewhat also covered in the Chapter on Research methods: http://josephho33.blogspot.hk/2018/05/chapter-structure-on-research-methods.html
Overall 1. Writing skill 2. Overall comments	NA

Preparation works required to produce a housing studies dissertation proposal

Preparation works required to produce a housing studies dissertation proposal (information to my supervisees):


1. Study the module guide on dissertation, especially on the proposal template. Note the key sections and key words of the proposal; if you are not familiar with the relevant research methods concepts, use Youtube to search for some relevant brief videos to watch.

2. Do some literature search to browse through some academic articles, books, newspaper articles, consultancy reports and university dissertation reports on your chosen housing theme (an academic-cum-practical one). You need a lot of academic articles so that you are able to choose around 20 academic articles to be considered at the proposal stage. While you could use readings from various sources, you need to have at least 20 academic articles from authoritative journals for directly informing your proposal formulation. Obviously, many of these academic articles should be from the field of the "Built Environment", notably on urban study, housing, and human (notably) urban geography. Other academic articles could be from sociology, social sciences, urban development, town planning, etc..... Remember this: you could use dissertation reports and textbooks, etc... but it is important to make use of 20 academic articles at the proposal planning stage. [Dissertation reports, textbooks and newspaper articles are not substitutes of academic articles]. Ideally, if you have 100 academic articles gathered via literature search (chiefly from university e-library), then you could more easily selected 20 good quality academic articles from them to be used in your proposal.

3. Try to study some articles on the agile literature review approach; in subsequent meetings, I will guide you to construct a pair of housing-concern diagram and an associated theoretical framework diagram. They are vital to your dissertation work.

4. I estimate that you have less than 1 month to produce a dissertation proposal at this point; thus, the proposal preparation task has to be done with some time pressure. Do not produce a draft proposal without the preparation efforts I mention above.

Basic idea on a pair of a housing-concern diagram and a theoretical framework

Basic idea on a pair of a housing-concern diagram and a corresponding theoretical framework: the topic is important of the application of the agile literature review approach (ALRA) in housing studies dissertation projects:


The practice of constructing a pair of housing-concern diagram and a corresponding theoretical framework is new. Very few actual examples exist. Nevertheless, some basic ideas on its construction can be provided in the following two diagrams

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

Chapter structure on "Conclusions" and "Recommendations" - housing dissertation (template)

Housing dissertation project

Chapter structure on "Conclusions" and "Recommendations" with the agile literature review approach (ALRA)

Dissertation project title
Abstract
Acknowledgement
Table of contents
List of figures and tables

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Literature review

Chapter 3. Research methods

Chapter 4: Findings and analysis

Chapter 5: Conclusions

5.1. Chapter introduction

5.2. Concluding remarks on the practical value of the main research findings

5.3. Concluding remarks on the academic value of the dissertation project work

Chapter 6: Recommendations

6.1. Chapter introduction

6.2. Recommendations to stakeholder group 1

6.3. Recommendations to stakeholder group 2

6.4. Recommendations to stakeholder group 3

6.5. Concluding remarks on the extent of achieving the research objectives and future research works desired

Endnotes

Appendix

References

Chapter structure on Findings and analysis - Housing dissertation project (template)

Housing dissertation project

Chapter structure on Findings and analysis with the agile literature review approach (ALRA):

Dissertation project title
Abstract
Acknowledgement
Table of contents
List of figures and tables

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Literature review

Chapter 3. Research methods

Chapter 4: Findings and analysis

4.1. Chapter introduction: the objectives and approach of the analysis
4.2. Findings and analysis from individual research methods: highlights
4.2.1. Main findings from research method 1
4.2.2. Main findings from research method 2
4.2.3. Main findings from research method 3

4.3 Some observations of research findings in terms of the research methods flowchart 

4.4. Findings in terms of the theoretical framework of the dissertation project

4.5. A synthesis and assessment of the main research findings: some overall comments

Chapter 5: Conclusions

Chapter 6: Recommendations

Endnotes

Appendix

References

Chapter structure on Literature Review - Housing dissertation project template

Housing dissertation project

Chapter structure on Literature Review with the agile literature review approach (ALRA)

Chapter structure on Introduction with the agile literature review approach (ALRA):

Dissertation project title
Abstract
Acknowledgement
Table of contents
List of figures and tables

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Literature review

2.1. Purpose of the chapter

2.2. Purpose, literature search and literature review strategy of the dissertation project

2.3. An overall view and rationale of the theoretical framework of the dissertation project
****** The theoretical frameworks level-0 and level-1a are shown here.

2.4. An examination of the components and linkages of the theoretical framework as a literature review exercise

2.5. Some comments on the relevance of the theoretical framework for its employment in the dissertation project, notably with regard to the key housing issues, debates and the research objectives involved

Chapter 3. Research methods

Chapter 4: Findings and analysis

Chapter 5: Conclusions

Chapter 6: Recommendations

Endnotes

Appendix

References

Chapter structure on Research Methods - Housing dissertation project (template)

Housing dissertation project

Chapter structure on Research Methods with the agile literature review approach (ALRA)

Dissertation project title
Abstract
Acknowledgement
Table of contents
List of figures and tables

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Literature review

Chapter 3. Research methods

3.1. Purpose of the chapter
3.2. Specific research methods used

            I. With primary data gathering

3.2.1. Research method 1: Individual interview
3.2.2. Research method 2: Questionnaire survey
3.2.3. Research method 3: Focus group

            II. With secondary data gathering

3.2.4. Internet search

             III. Data analysis exercises

3.2.5. Qualitative data analysis with research methods 1, 2 and 3
3.2.6. Quantitative data analysis with research method 2

3.3. The association of research methods with the theoretical framework
****** The theoretical framework level-1c is shown here. 
3.4. A flowchart view of the research methods employed
3.5. The nature as well as strengths and weaknesses of the overall research design.
3.5.1. The underlying research philosoph(ies) and research approaches of the overall research design
3.5.2. Strengths and weaknesses of the overall research design

Chapter 4: Findings and analysis

Chapter 5: Conclusions

Chapter 6: Recommendations

Endnotes

Appendix

References

Chapter structure on Introduction - housing dissertation project (a template)

Housing dissertation project

Chapter structure on Introduction with the agile literature review approach (ALRA)

Chapter structure on Introduction with the agile literature review approach (ALRA):

Dissertation project title
Abstract
Acknowledgement
Table of contents
List of figures and tables

Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1. Basic information on the nature and scope of this dissertation report
1.2. Local background of the dissertation topic and the housing concern(s) identified
***** The housing-concerns diagram is shown in this section 

1.3. On the dissertation project background, research objectives and questions, project scope, academic literature review scope, major research methods used and the intended values of this housing dissertation project
1.4. An overall view of the dissertation report structure

Chapter 2: Literature review

Chapter 3: Research methods
Chapter 4: Findings and analysis

Chapter 5: Conclusions

Chapter 6: Recommendations

Endnotes

Appendix

References

Things to note of doing DuPont Analysis in Independent Study assignment

Things to note of doing DuPont Analysis in Independent Study assignment


I notice that some students are interested in doing DuPont Analysis in their Independent Study assignments [also refer to the video]; this is acceptable but there are two things to bear in mind:

1. DuPont Analysis is a ratio analysis; you do not apply multiple regression analysis on these ratios involved to show that the ratios involved have correlations. Just like you do not do multiple regression analysis to demonstrate that 2 x 2 is 4. The relations between the ratios involved are mathematically clear. Nevertheless, it could be useful to adopt some of the DuPont ratios in a multiple regression formula and, subsequently, to use the DuPont analysis concept to interpret multiple regression formula findings as long as the exercise is not merely to "prove" the mathematical relations between the various DuPont ratios. [The choices of variables to use in the construction of a multiple regression formula have to be informed by literature review].
2. When students apply DuPont Analysis to their data collected, they will notice that it is not easy to  find out and standardize the ratio figures involved directly from companies' annual reports. An easier way is to adopt these companies' financial ratios from Financial Portals direct.
3. DuPont Analysis is a financial/ management accounting technique; it could not make up the main data analysis exercise in your Independent Study reports. It can only be considered as a complementary (optional) data analysis for the Independent Study reports.

In the past, I also taught DuPont Analysis in the subject of Advanced Management Accounting; it is very often taught in the Diploma on Accounting course.

Concerning arising from the r squared value in the multiple regression report being too low

Some Independent students express concerns arising from the r squared value in the multiple regression report being too low.  One can see the figure in the "Regression Statistics" box in the top part of the Excel multiple regression report; see an example as follows:

SUMMARY OUTPUT
Regression Statistics
Multiple R	0.231187651
R Square	0.05344773
Adjusted R Square	0.029783923
Standard Error	1.08223436
Observations	124

In the report shown above, the R Square figure of 0.05344773 is very low; thus the statistics generated are not reliable.


The meaning of R-squared is explained further here.

What Is R-squared? (source link)

R-squared is a statistical measure of how close the data are to the fitted regression line. It is also known as the coefficient of determination, or the coefficient of multiple determination for multiple regression.

The definition of R-squared is fairly straight-forward; it is the percentage of the response variable variation that is explained by a linear model. Or:

R-squared = Explained variation / Total variation

R-squared is always between 0 and 100%:

• 0% indicates that the model explains none of the variability of the response data around its mean.
• 100% indicates that the model explains all the variability of the response data around its mean.

In general, the higher the R-squared, the better the model fits your data. 


If students are concerned about the quality of the Excel report statistics due to the very low value of the R-squared figure, they could try to revise their multiple regression formula (e.g. changing the choice of x-variables) as an exploratory exercise to see if the resultant r-squared figure will get higher.  Whatever revision has been made to the multiple regression formula, students still need to justify their formula design with literature review findings.

Given that the Independent Study assignment is a mild research exercise with quite some policy and resource constraints, I could imagine that the resultant r-squared figure will often be quite low. [Note: very often, the multiple regression formula made by students are relatively simple, covering only about 3-4 variables of quite similar nature; that means, the formula used is very likely not comprehensive nor sophisticated. Because of it, the resultant r-squared figure is likely to be very low also. Sometimes, the combination of x variables used is not good, e.g. x variables as ROA and ROE - they are too similar in this case.] If students intend to stick to their regression formula already made, they could, when doing data analysis, raise the concern of the low value of the r-squared figure in their IS reports.

Academic writing style - illustration notes on referencing and tenses

Academic writing style - illustration notes on referencing and tenses

Prepared by Joseph, K.K. Ho     Dated May 22, 2018

Based on: Jackson, M.C. 2003. Creative Holism for Managers, Wiley.

I. Referencing practices:

1.     "The open systems perspective propounded by von Bertalan!y, and so influential in the 1970s and 1980s, has more recently been challenged by the biologists Maturana and Varela (1980)."

2.     "In Checkland’s ‘soft systems methodology’ (1981), a highly developed approach of this kind, systems models expressing different viewpoints, and making explicit their various implications, are constructed so that alternative perspectives can be explored systemically,compared and contrasted."

3.     "More information about other systems approaches (including these two), together with full references, can be found in Jackson (2000)."

4.     "Keys (1991), and Cavaleri and Obloj (1993), provide good introductory material on the most common OR problems;...."

5.     "Vennix’s (1996) influential work on ‘group model building’ centres on integrating individual mental models, each of which initially offers only a limited perspective on the causal processes at work."

II. Practice on tense/ singular and plural (grammar)

1.     "Weber (1969), the originator of the notion, describes ideal types as stating logical extremes that can be used to construct abstract models of general realities."

2.     "A review of the work of Burrell and Morgan (1979) on sociological paradigms and organizational analysis, complemented by that of Alvesson and Deetz (1996) to take account of postmodernism, suggests that there are four common paradigms in use in social theory today."

3.     "Quade and Miser (1985), in the first Handbook of Systems Analysis, state that: the central purpose of systems analysis is to help public and private decision and policy-makers to solve the problems and resolve the policy issues that they face. It does this by improving the basis for their judgement by generating information and marshalling evidence bearing on their problems and, in particular, on possible actions that may be suggested to alleviate them......"

4.     "Cutting through the arguments of the advocates of different strands of hard systems thinking that their favoured approach is more comprehensive than the others, Checkland (1981) used an examination of methodology to demonstrate that all variants of hard systems thinking are in fact similar in character."

5.     "For A.D. Hall (see Keys, 1991), reflecting on his experiences with the Bell Telephone Laboratories, systems exist in hierarchies and should be engineered with this in mind to best achieve their objectives."

6.     "The collection of papers in Rosenhead and Mingers (2001) is a good introduction."

7.     "Forrester and his team, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), did all the solid groundwork necessary to establish system dynamics as a rigorous and respected applied systems approach. It was Peter Senge, however, with his book The Fifth Discipline (1990), who popularized it."

8.     "Senge (1990; Senge et al., 1994) has identified a number of the counterintuitive aspects of complex systems and elevated them into 11 ‘laws of the fifth discipline’."

9.     "To ensure that both these aspects of system dynamics get equal attention, Wolstenholme (1990) likes to think in terms of a qualitative and a quantitative phase to the methodology."