A brief note on the main secondary research methods: for MBA students
Highlight 4 main ideas on each of the following secondary
research methods in the context of doing part-time MBA dissertation projects:
1. systematic literature review 2. secondary data analysis 3. document and
content analysis 4. narrative reviews 5. scoping reviews And then briefly
explain where to locate the research method design and where to locate the
research method findings for each of these five secondary research methods: in
chapter 2 (Literature Review), chapter 3 (research methodology) or chapter 4
(presentation of research findings) of an MBA dissertation report.
Below are four core ideas for each of the five
secondary research methods, framed for a part‑time MBA dissertation, followed
by where the method design and method findings typically sit in a
standard three‑chapter empirical MBA dissertation (Ch2 = Literature Review, Ch3
= Research Methodology, Ch4 = Presentation of Findings).
1.
Systematic Literature Review (SLR)
Four
main ideas
- Explicit, replicable protocol: An SLR follows a pre‑specified search strategy (databases,
keywords, time frame, inclusion/exclusion criteria) so another researcher
could reproduce it.libguides.hull.ac+1
- Comprehensive, structured search: It aims to identify all relevant scholarly works on a
focused question (e.g., “What drives dividend payout policy in SGX-listed
firms?”), not just a convenient sample.libraryguides.waikato.ac+1
- Critical appraisal and synthesis: Included studies are assessed for quality/relevance and then
synthesised (often thematically or via meta‑analysis) to produce an
evidence‑based answer to the research question.pdfs.semanticscholar+1
- Transparency and bias reduction: By documenting every step (search strings, screening flow,
reasons for exclusion), an SLR minimises selection bias and strengthens
credibility—important for MBA-level rigour.repository.up+1
Where
method design and findings appear
- Method design: In Chapter 3 (Research Methodology) you describe the SLR
protocol: databases used, search strings, inclusion/exclusion criteria,
screening process, and quality appraisal method.libguides.hull.ac+1
- Method findings: The synthesised results of the SLR (e.g., key themes,
gaps, consolidated models) are presented in Chapter 4 (Presentation of
Research Findings) if the SLR is your primary method. If the
SLR is only to build your theoretical base, those insights instead sit in Chapter
2 (Literature Review) and Chapter 4 will contain no new empirical
findings.library.soton.ac+1
2.
Secondary Data Analysis
Four
main ideas
- Use of existing datasets: You analyse data collected by others (e.g., Compustat, World
Bank, HKEX/SGX filings, government statistics) rather than generating new
data yourself.libguides.tees.ac
- Cost- and time-efficient for MBA projects: Secondary data analysis is attractive for part‑time students
because it avoids fieldwork while still enabling sophisticated
quantitative work (regressions, panel data, event studies).libguides.tees.ac
- Fit between data and research question: You must carefully match available variables to your conceptual
model and acknowledge limitations (e.g., missing variables, different time
periods, aggregation levels).libguides.tees.ac
- Ethical and data-quality considerations: Even with public data, you must address data provenance,
reliability, consistency, and any licensing/usage conditions; you also
assess issues like survivorship bias or reporting changes.libguides.tees.ac
Where
method design and findings appear
- Method design: In Chapter 3, you detail the datasets, variables, sample
selection, time period, data cleaning steps, and analytical techniques
(e.g., OLS, fixed effects).libguides.tees.ac
- Method findings: The statistical results (tables, models, hypothesis tests)
derived from the secondary data are presented in Chapter 4. Chapter
2 uses prior studies to justify your model but does not present your own
results.libguides.tees.ac
3.
Document and Content Analysis
Four
main ideas
- Systematic examination of texts and artefacts: You analyse documents such as annual reports, CSR/sustainability
reports, strategy documents, regulatory filings, news articles, or
internal memos as your primary data.academic.oup
- Qualitative coding and thematic development: Content is coded (manually or with software) into
categories/themes to identify patterns, discourses, or strategic
narratives (e.g., how firms frame “digital transformation” in investor
communications).academic.oup
- Contextual and interpretive focus: The method emphasises meaning, framing, and context rather than
just frequencies; it is well suited to strategy, marketing, and governance
questions in MBA work.academic.oup
- Rigour through audit trail: You enhance credibility by documenting your sampling of
documents, coding scheme, intercoder checks (if applicable), and how
themes were derived.academic.oup
Where
method design and findings appear
- Method design: In Chapter 3, you explain which documents were selected,
why, over what period, how they were accessed, and your coding/analytical
procedure.academic.oup
- Method findings: The themes, patterns, illustrative excerpts, and interpretive
insights from the documents are presented in Chapter 4. Chapter
2 may summarise prior document-based studies but not your own coded
results.academic.oup
4.
Narrative Reviews
Four
main ideas
- Broad, interpretive overview of a topic: A narrative review summarises and interprets existing literature
without a fully formalised search protocol, often to provide context or
theoretical framing.scribbr+1
- Flexible structure and selection: Studies are selected and organised thematically, chronologically,
or conceptually, guided by the author’s judgment rather than strict
inclusion rules.libraryguides.waikato.ac+1
- Useful for theory-building and gap-spotting: Narrative reviews help you map key debates, dominant theories,
and unresolved issues to motivate your research question and conceptual
framework.library.soton.ac+1
- Risk of bias, mitigated by transparency: Because selection is less systematic, you must be explicit about
your scope, databases, and rationale to avoid appearing impressionistic.libguides.hull.ac+1
Where
method design and findings appear
- Method design: In a typical MBA dissertation where the narrative review is part
of building the theoretical base, you do not have a separate
“method chapter” for it; instead, you briefly describe your approach
(databases, keywords, time frame) at the start of Chapter 2 (Literature
Review). If your entire dissertation is a narrative review, you
may outline the approach in Chapter 3.library.soton.ac+1
- Method findings: There are usually no separate empirical findings from a
narrative review; its “findings” are the synthesised insights, gaps, and
conceptual model that appear within Chapter 2. Chapter 4 then
presents findings from your primary/secondary empirical work (if any).libguides.hull.ac+1
5.
Scoping Reviews
Four
main ideas
- Mapping the breadth of a field: A scoping review aims to chart the extent, range, and nature of
research activity on a broad or emerging topic (e.g., “ESG disclosure
practices in Asian SMEs”).repository.up+1
- Systematic but exploratory protocol: Like an SLR, it uses a structured search and transparent
criteria, but it is more flexible about study types and quality, focusing
on “what exists” rather than “what works”.repository.up+1
- Identification of concepts, sources, and gaps: It identifies key concepts, theories, data sources, and
methodological approaches, and highlights where evidence is thin or
fragmented—ideal for setting up further focused research.libraryguides.waikato.ac+1
- Suitable for nascent or interdisciplinary
topics: Scoping reviews are particularly appropriate
when the literature is diverse, definitions vary, or the field is still
evolving.repository.up+1
Where
method design and findings appear
- Method design: In Chapter 3, you describe the scoping review protocol:
research question, databases, search terms, inclusion/exclusion criteria,
and how you charted the data (e.g., using a data-extraction matrix).libraryguides.waikato.ac+1
- Method findings: The maps, tables, and thematic summaries showing the
landscape of the literature (e.g., types of studies, geographies, methods
used, gaps) are presented in Chapter 4 if the scoping review is
your main method. If it is only a preliminary step, the output may sit in Chapter
2 as an advanced literature review.repository.up+1
Quick
reference table
|
Method |
Method design described in |
Method findings presented in |
|
||
|
Method |
Method design described in |
Method findings presented in |
|||
|
Systematic literature review |
Chapter 3 (or intro to Ch2 if purely theoretical) |
Chapter 4 (if SLR is the main method) or Chapter
2 (if only theoretical grounding) |
|||
|
Secondary data analysis |
Chapter 3 |
Chapter 4 |
|||
|
Document & content analysis |
Chapter 3 |
Chapter 4 |
|||
|
Narrative review |
Start of Chapter 2 (or Chapter 3 if whole
dissertation) |
Chapter 2 (no separate empirical findings) |
|||
|
Scoping review |
Chapter 3 |
Chapter 4 (if main method) or Chapter 2 (if
preliminary mapping) |
|||
