A study on conducting research methods on online forums

A study on conducting research methods on online forums (information from perplexity.ai)

My question 1: "What are the online public and private forums for learning opinions and experiences (by chats and questionnaire surveys) all about with reference to business management and housing studies dissertation projects?"

The reply: "Online public and private forums for gathering opinions and experiences through chats and questionnaire surveys are valuable resources for dissertation projects in business management and housing studies. These forums facilitate qualitative and quantitative data collection by enabling interaction with diverse participants, including students, professionals, and experts.

Types of Forums and Their Uses

Public Forums:

• Reddit and Similar Platforms: Subreddits like r/OpenUniversity provide spaces where students discuss dissertation topics, share experiences, and seek advice on business management dissertations. These forums offer informal peer support and insights into challenges faced during research1.

• Academic and Professional Communities: Platforms such as GMAT Club host discussions for Ph.D. candidates and researchers in business fields, allowing exchange of ideas and feedback on research proposals4.

• Dissertation Help Forums: Websites like Essay Forum offer custom support for thesis and dissertation writing, including sharing of research experiences and survey methodologies7.

Private Forums and Survey Platforms:

• Many universities and research groups use private online forums or learning management systems to conduct structured questionnaire surveys and moderated chats with selected participants, ensuring data privacy and focused discussions.

• Survey tools integrated with forums allow for systematic collection of attitudinal, motivational, and behavioral data relevant to business management and housing studies dissertations9.

Relevance to Business Management and Housing Studies Dissertations

• In business management, these forums support research on topics such as strategic management, leadership, organizational behavior, and ethics by providing access to real-world opinions and experiences through surveys and discussions25.

• For housing studies, similar forums can be used to explore user experiences, policy impacts, and market trends by engaging stakeholders via online questionnaires and chat-based interviews.

• Qualitative data from chats and forums complement quantitative survey data, enhancing the depth and reliability of dissertation research9.

Advantages of Using Online Forums for Dissertation Research

• Diverse Participant Pool: Access to a wide range of respondents from different backgrounds and locations.

• Convenience and Speed: Rapid data collection and interaction without geographical constraints.

• Rich Data Sources: Combination of open-ended chat discussions and structured questionnaire responses.

• Cost-Effectiveness: Reduced need for physical meetings or paper-based surveys.

Summary

Online public and private forums serve as effective platforms for collecting opinions and experiences via chats and questionnaire surveys in business management and housing studies dissertation projects. They provide interactive, flexible, and diverse environments for data gathering, supporting both qualitative and quantitative research methods essential for comprehensive academic inquiry1259."

My question 2: "What are the Hong Kong forums with regard to the discussion here?"

The reply: "In Hong Kong, several forums are relevant for discussing business management and housing studies dissertation projects through opinion sharing, chats, and surveys:

• Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Regional Forums: These forums provide platforms for heads of business associations in Hong Kong and the region to meet and brainstorm on business-related topics, offering opportunities to gather insights and experiences relevant to business management research13.

• Hong Kong Financial Services Business Continuity Management (HKFSBCM) Forum: This is a specialized forum for professionals involved in business continuity and risk management within Hong Kong’s financial sector. It holds monthly meetings, conducts industry surveys, and organizes exercises, making it a valuable source for business management dissertation data, especially on crisis management and operational resilience2.

• Business of IP Asia Forum (BIP Asia): This forum gathers IP professionals and business leaders to discuss intellectual property and innovation, which can be pertinent for dissertations focusing on business strategy, innovation management, and economic development in Hong Kong and Asia4.

• Centre for Corporate Governance and Financial Policy (CCGFP) Forums at Hong Kong Baptist University: These forums feature talks by business leaders and academics on corporate governance and sustainability topics, useful for dissertation projects exploring governance and ethical business practices5.

• Asian Financial Forum (AFF): A prominent platform for networking and thought leadership among financial and business leaders in Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region, offering rich opportunities for collecting expert opinions and survey data relevant to business management6.

• Our Hong Kong Foundation’s Greater Bay Area Entrepreneurs Forum: This event gathers entrepreneurs and business leaders to discuss regional economic development, which can provide valuable qualitative data for dissertations on business and housing market trends in the Greater Bay Area8.

These forums combine public and membership-based participation, often including surveys, panel discussions, and networking sessions, making them suitable for collecting opinions and experiences for dissertation research in business management and housing studies within the Hong Kong context."

My question 3: "Are Linkedin, facebook accounts, and discuss.com.hk also relevant forums for doing dissertation project purpose?"

The reply: "Yes, LinkedIn, Facebook accounts, and discuss.com.hk are relevant online forums for dissertation projects in business management and housing studies, particularly for gathering opinions and experiences via chats and surveys:

• LinkedIn: It hosts professional groups and pages related to business management and academic research, such as the HKBU Research Postgraduate Programme (School of Business) and other university-related pages. These communities provide networking opportunities, discussions, and access to academic and industry insights that can aid dissertation research and data collection from professionals and scholars in Hong Kong and beyond134.

• Facebook: Many academic programs, student groups, and professional organizations in Hong Kong maintain Facebook pages or groups where members discuss research topics, share experiences, and sometimes conduct informal surveys or polls. These groups can be useful for qualitative feedback and connecting with peers and experts.

• discuss.com.hk: This is a popular Hong Kong-based public forum where users discuss a wide range of topics, including business, management, and housing. It is a valuable platform to observe public opinions, conduct informal polls, and engage in chat-based discussions relevant to dissertation themes in local contexts.

These platforms complement formal academic forums by offering broader access to diverse participants, enabling the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data for dissertation projects. They are especially useful for exploratory research, pilot surveys, and gathering real-world perspectives within the Hong Kong setting."

My question 4: "When doing online chats and questionnaire surveys via these forums, what are the proper ways to describe the research methods employed in this case? Is it Internet research, digital observation or online questionnaire survey research?"

The reply: "When conducting online chats and questionnaire surveys via forums for dissertation research, the proper way to describe the research methods depends on how the data is collected and analyzed, but typically the following terms are appropriate:

• Online Forum Qualitative Research / Internet Qualitative Research:
  If the study involves setting up or using an online forum where participants discuss specific topics through asynchronous posts and interactions moderated by researchers, this is often described as qualitative Internet research or online forum qualitative research. The data consists of discussion posts and interactions, which are analyzed qualitatively to explore participants’ opinions and experiences in depth1.

• Online Questionnaire Survey Research:
  When structured questionnaires or surveys are administered online via forums or social media platforms to collect quantitative or mixed-method data, this is described as online questionnaire survey research or digital survey research. This method focuses on collecting measurable responses, often supplemented by qualitative comments.

• Internet Research / Digital Observation:
  The broader term Internet research covers all research activities conducted online, including forum discussions, surveys, and digital ethnography. Digital observation specifically refers to unobtrusively observing online interactions or content without direct intervention or data collection through surveys. If the researcher only observes existing forum discussions without interacting or collecting survey data, this term applies17.

In many dissertation projects combining chats and surveys on forums, a mixed-methods approach is described, for example:

• "A qualitative online forum study with researcher-moderated asynchronous discussions combined with an online questionnaire survey to collect both in-depth opinions and quantitative data."

Key points from the guidelines include:

• Researchers should clarify if the forum is researcher-led (designed and moderated for data collection) or naturally occurring (observed without intervention)1.

• Ethical considerations such as informed consent and participant screening must be addressed1.

• The choice of method should fit the research questions and purpose, balancing advantages and limitations of online qualitative and survey methods1.

In summary, the proper description depends on the method used:

For dissertation projects using both chats and questionnaires on forums, describing the approach as a qualitative online forum study combined with online questionnaire survey research is accurate and reflects current academic practice167."

My question 5: "What are the advantages and disadvantages of conducting online research methods via these forums?"

The reply: "Advantages and Disadvantages of Conducting Online Research via Forums

Advantages

• Access to Diverse and Geographically Dispersed Participants:
  Online forums enable researchers to reach participants from various locations without the constraints of travel, expanding the diversity and representativeness of the sample3.

• Convenience and Flexibility:
  Asynchronous communication allows participants to contribute at their own convenience, reducing time pressure and increasing participation rates34.

• Rich Qualitative Data:
  Forums facilitate in-depth discussions and sharing of personal experiences, which can yield rich qualitative insights not easily captured in traditional surveys3.

• Automatic Data Transcription and Storage:
  Online forums automatically generate transcripts of discussions, reducing transcription errors and saving time in data processing3.

• Cost-Effectiveness:
  Online methods reduce costs related to physical venues, travel, and printed materials15.

• Enhanced Anonymity and Comfort:
  Some participants feel more comfortable discussing sensitive topics online, leading to more honest and detailed responses3.

• Rapid Data Collection:
  Online surveys and chats can gather data quickly compared to face-to-face methods12.

Disadvantages

• Lack of Non-Verbal Cues:
  Online interactions miss facial expressions, tone, and body language, which can limit understanding of participants’ emotional states and context3.

• Challenges in Theoretical Saturation and Data Completeness:
  Asynchronous forums may make it difficult to achieve saturation in qualitative data, and participants may forget or drop out, affecting data completeness3.

• Variability in Participant Engagement and Quality:
  Contributions can vary widely in depth and quality, sometimes leading to superficial or off-topic responses47.

• Technical Issues and Accessibility:
  Participants may face technical difficulties or lack digital literacy, which can hinder participation3.

• Data Security and Privacy Concerns:
  Risks of hacking or unauthorized access exist, requiring careful management of confidentiality and ethical considerations3.

• Potential Sampling Bias:
  Online samples may over-represent certain demographics (e.g., younger, tech-savvy users), limiting generalizability25.

• Automatic Transcripts May Contain Errors:
  Although transcription is automatic, errors and lack of contextual cues can affect data accuracy3.

• Difficulty in Moderation and Control:
  Managing discussions to keep them relevant and respectful can be challenging, especially in public forums37.

These considerations suggest that online forum research methods are powerful tools for dissertation projects but require careful design, ethical safeguards, and awareness of their limitations to ensure data quality and validity123457."

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.