Introduction
In this report I have journalized my personal experience which has been encountered in the process of earning during the period of 12 weeks of the course. The theories I learnt have been used in the projects that I have made in the due course. I have chosen the topic of research is role of social media marketing in hospitality industry (Australia). The learning outcome of the course has helped me throughout the research.
Week 1: During the first week of the course I have learnt what a business research is and what the nature of a business report is. I also learnt the significance of business research to the business organizations that are associated or somehow related to the topic of research. I have learnt the importance of relevance in the research process. The value of the research process is dependent on the gathering of information weather it new data or old information regarding the topic. I learnt about the types of research that can be conducted in order to suite the purpose of the research. Secondary data is the collection of process by which the researcher gathers information from existing books, journals and documents in the particular subject, where as primary data is collecting new information to support the cause of the research.
Week 2: Research is a process that has to be undertaken in an organized fashion in order to gain maximum output from the process. This is what I have learnt in the second week of the course I have gained insight about planning, organizing and strategizing about a research paper. I also learnt the importance of research design and how to create it. I received a theoretical insight of research methodology process, the instruments that are used and chronological procedures that are essential for me to write a research proposal.
Week 3: literature review is the secondary data collection process in which I have learned how to use information and analysis gathered by other authors in my research. I learnt that the secondary research and findings help to form a fundamental base in creating and choosing the tools and methods of finding new information. I also learnt that literature review helps in understanding a gap in the topic.
Week 4: In the fourth week I learnt about the guidelines, rules and ethics that a researcher should flow in order to submit an honorable and respectful study. Plagiarism is one of the most important aspects that have to be kept in the mind while conducting a research. Due acknowledgement and proper referencing of the project is very important in a research. This has helped me in understanding the various referencing styles as well.
Week 5: Primary research is the process that researchers undertake in order to gain insight by collecting new information. During this week I have learnt about the various tools and instrument that a researcher can employee to gather information. I have also learnt the different skills and techniques that I need to embark on an interview or a survey. I have also learnt that by adding tables, info graphics and graphs in the paper the process of analysis becomes easier.
Week 6: During the 6th week I learnt about interviews and the skills that I need to develop in order to conduct the interview for the research that I am going to conduct. I learnt how to create a focus group and how to narrow down the possibilities. I developed communication skills and learnt how to frame questions in a conversational manner. I did not choose interviewing as a part of my proposal as I thought that it would not be necessary in my topic. Hence I also learnt that researchers should choose the tools wisely.
Week 7: I planned my proposal in a way that I can get the maximum result out of the time I was being allocated to finish my research hence I had chosen Quantitative approach. I learnt about surveys and questionnaire in this week. I understood that there are some prerequisites of a good questionnaire. Firstly the language that is used should be simple and should be in the form that is easily understandable by the people who have been supplied with the questionnaire. The questions should be close-ended and to the point.
Week 8: Selection of sample size is very essential and I learnt this in the 8th week of the course. The sample size helps the researcher to set a guide in selecting the people who will be surveyed from the population who is affected by the research. After selection of the sample size an estimate should be made to understand how many people are likely to respond to the survey that I will conduct.
Week 9: During this week I have learnt how to send across the survey using digital methods and internet technologies. I learnt that digital survey is a much easier and cost effective method of collecting the data. In the 9th week I also learnt how to analyze the data that I have collected and use it along with the qualitative research that I have conducted earlier.
Week 10: there are several limitations that are faced by a researcher in the process of conducting a study. I learnt how to overcome those critical situations and move ahead with the research.
Week 11: During this week, I learnt the ways in which the research should be scheduled and organized in order to attain maximum efficiency.
Week 12: In the last week I gathered information and learnt about the ways and methods I ca use to merge my findings from the qualitative and the quantitative research methods. The output of a research is based on the amalgamation of the both types of research procedures. It ensures that the research is flawless and the facts that are being stated in the paper are followed by concrete proof.
Reference list:
Al?karasneh, S. M. (2014). Reflective journal writing as a tool to teach aspects of social studies. European Journal of Education, 49(3), 395-408.
Bell, K. (2013). Participants’ motivations and co-construction of the qualitative research process. Qualitative Social Work, 12(4), 523-539.
Bourke, B. (2014). Positionality: Reflecting on the research process. The Qualitative Report, 19(33), 1-9.
Rowlinson, M., Hassard, J. and Decker, S., 2014. Research strategies for organizational history: A dialogue between historical theory and organization theory. Academy of Management Review, 39(3), pp.250-274.
