A study note on research objectives and research questions [information from perplexity.ai]
My question 1: "What are research objectives and their subsumed research questions all about in dissertation projects, with reference to the fields of (1) business management, (2) housing studies, and (3) accounting and finance? What are main types of research objectives and research questions, with reference to descriptive research, exploratory research and causal research?"
The reply: "Research objectives and questions form the backbone of dissertation projects, guiding the study's focus and methodology. In business management, housing studies, and accounting/finance, these elements differ in scope and application while sharing common principles of specificity and alignment with research aims.
Research Objectives & Questions by Field
1. Business Management
Research Objectives focus on actionable insights into organizational dynamics. Examples include:
To assess employee perceptions of digital transformation in retail HR1.
To quantify the impact of new marketing strategies on customer acquisition rates2.
Research Questions address practical challenges:
How do corporate governance structures influence financial transparency in multinational firms?4
What barriers hinder digital adoption in retail HR departments?1
2. Housing Studies
Research Objectives often target policy impacts and social equity:
To evaluate the effectiveness of rent control policies in addressing UK housing affordability3.
To investigate the relationship between housing policies and mental health outcomes3.
Research Questions explore systemic issues:
How do gentrification policies affect housing accessibility for low-income populations?3
What role do public-private partnerships play in mitigating urban housing shortages?3
3. Accounting & Finance
Research Objectives emphasize measurable financial phenomena:
To determine the statistical significance of study habits on academic performance2.
To assess the effectiveness of blockchain technology in reducing accounting fraud4.
Research Questions probe regulatory and behavioral impacts:
How do International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) influence investor confidence?4
What psychological biases shape investment decisions in volatile markets?4
Types of Research Objectives & Questions
Descriptive Research
Objective: Document existing conditions.
To observe HR employees during digital transformation1
To analyze historical housing policy impacts on urban development3
Questions:
What are the current trends in sustainability reporting adoption?4
Exploratory Research
Objective: Identify patterns or relationships.
To explore factors influencing children’s self-confidence2
To uncover motivations of tech entrepreneurs2
Questions:
How do media portrayals affect teenage girls’ health perceptions?2
Causal Research
Objective: Test cause-effect relationships.
To determine if student self-care predicts well-being scores1
To measure the impact of petroleum prices on consumer spending2
Questions:
Do eviction moratoriums reduce homelessness rates?3
In all three fields, objectives and questions must align with methodological approaches—quantitative methods for causal studies, qualitative for exploratory, and mixed methods for descriptive analyses. For example, housing policy evaluations often combine quantitative data (e.g., homelessness rates) with qualitative insights into lived experiences3, while accounting dissertations might blend behavioral surveys with financial metrics4. Clarity in these elements ensures focused, actionable research outcomes."
My question 2: "How does the researcher's positionality affect the formulation of research objectives and research questions, with reference to the fields of (1) business management, (2) housing studies, and (3) accounting and finance?"
The reply: "A researcher's positionality—their social identity, epistemological stance, and relationship to the research context—profoundly shapes how research objectives and questions are framed across disciplines. Below is an analysis of its impact in business management, housing studies, and accounting/finance, along with key methodological implications.
Field-Specific Impacts of Positionality
1. Business Management
Insider vs. Outsider Dynamics (27):
Corporate insiders (e.g., managers-turned-researchers) often prioritize pragmatic objectives like optimizing employee retention strategies or measuring ROI of leadership training programs. Their questions may focus on operational efficiencies (e.g., How do hybrid work models affect mid-level manager productivity?).
Academic outsiders tend to formulate broader theoretical objectives, such as examining systemic power structures in multinational corporations, leading to questions like How do CEO compensation disparities correlate with gender representation on boards?
2. Housing Studies
Lived Experience as Epistemology (72):
Researchers from marginalized communities often frame equity-focused objectives, such as To assess eviction patterns among immigrant populations in urban renewal zones. Questions may challenge dominant policy narratives (e.g., How do zoning laws perpetuate racial segregation?).
Privileged outsiders might prioritize descriptive objectives like mapping housing stock demographics, potentially overlooking systemic oppression in question formulation.
3. Accounting & Finance
Industry Affiliation Bias (58):
Professionally credentialed researchers (e.g., CPAs) often set compliance-driven objectives (e.g., To evaluate IFRS adoption rates in SMEs) rather than probing systemic flaws.
Critical theorists may ask disruptive questions like How do tax havens undermine corporate social responsibility disclosures?, reflecting anti-establishment positionality.
Methodological Implications by Research Type
Mitigation Strategies Across Fields
Structured Reflexivity: Pre-registering objectives/questions to limit ad-hoc revisions (63).
Positionality Statements: Explicitly disclosing financial ties (accounting) or community affiliations (housing) (47).
Triangulation: Combining insider operational data with outsider surveys in business studies (26).
In all three fields, unexamined positionality risks narrowing research scope to align with unstated assumptions. For instance, a housing researcher’s class background may lead them to overlook informal rental markets, while an accountant’s industry ties might suppress questions about audit failures57. Acknowledging these dynamics enhances both transparency and scholarly rigor."
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