Choosing a research topic can be complicated or it can be easy. With some exceptions, there are a seemingly limitless number of possible research topics. Students often overcomplicate the topic selection and then oversimplify the methodology decision. This section will allow you to dive into both topics.
This section will discuss how to choose research topics, and then ultimately narrow it down to a single one. You will develop this topic into a brief research plan that will hopefully be used to guide you through your research. You will also introduce a possible theory that will frame your study, along with a possible methodology and population or data source. While you will learn more about methods in later classes, this introductory exposure will help keep the topics front and center in your mind as you read research articles. You will start to see patterns in the methodology and will discover why some methods are used, while others are excluded.
When choosing a topic, consider the following:
References:Include 6 peer-reviewed journals, 2 per topic.
Expertise – What is your employment history? Are you a human resources manager? Do you have experience with project management? What issues do you experience in your job that may be worth studying? A human resources manager might wish to study the retention of millennials due to the inability to maintain this demographic.
Program Specialization – You must choose a topic that is aligned with your specialization. If you are specializing in marketing, your topic must have a marketing component.
Interest – Many individuals will tell you that by the time you finish your program, you will loathe your topic due to the sheer amount of time you spend on the topic. Consider a topic that is of interest to you. Maybe you want to start a new business and choose to explore strategies entrepreneurs can use to maintain viability for the first 5 years.
The potential for Future Benefit – Some students consider topics that could benefit them for future employment opportunities. A student wishing to become an expert in sustainable green business might choose a topic that allows them to develop expertise, such as strategies to implement sustainable practices in a specific industry.
Provided the topic is both a business and an applied topic, most will work for a doctoral program if the research can be performed within the program’s timeline. General guidelines are to choose a topic that interests you, but not one in which you are overly invested in the outcome. You should avoid a topic if you cannot readily accept the outcome. For example, a student involved in union activism wishing to perform a study that shows unionization decreases unemployment would likely need a different topic as there is a strong likelihood that the student’s personal bias could intentionally or unintentionally corrupt the design, data collection, data interpretation, and results. The topic itself demands the desired outcome. Such a study would be better suited for a student with no preconceived bias asking the question “what effect does unionization have on unemployment?” Look for a topic you can approach objectively.
it is necessary that you are supporting with scholarly research throughout the entire document.
Side note: my professional background: *I am a Franchise Business owner of a Tutoring Company *I am in the process of finishing my book that will be published in a couple of months ** Currently a Forbes Council Member and Forbes publishes my articles on a monthly basis on topics on business and education that I write about * Married with two small kids * a Board member for various organizations * looking to have my get my Doctoral degree to help my goals with my Business/Motivational Speaker business that I plan on launching in a couple of years and the doctoral degree will allow me to charge more for my consultation services.
WK7 BUS7102 Present Three Applied Business Research Topics
Topic 1: Effects of Franchising on the Tutoring Business
The demand and supply of private tutoring have seen a dramatic increase globally over the past years. For example, data from the 2017 iteration of the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) reveals that about 48 percent of primary and secondary schools received private tutoring for approximately 2,697 CNY per year (Liu, 2018). Arguably, more parents are enrolling their children in personalized learning to complement traditional schooling. The growing demand for this service has also attracted more participants in the market and improved service techniques, such as franchising. Unfortunately, despite the significant growth in this industry, there is scarce literature exploring the nature and effect of the tutoring business’s franchising. Based on this premise, this research aims at exploring the changing nature of the tutoring industry and the impact of franchising in the industry.
Possible Theory for Framing the Study
One of the potential theories that I will use to frame this study is the agency theory. As the literature suggests, the agency theory discusses the problems that surface in the firms due to the separation of managers and owners and dwells on the mitigation of these issues. The authors also add that the agency theory helps firms implement governance mechanisms to control agents’ actions in jointly held corporations (Panda & Leepsa, 2017). The agency theory will be appropriate for framing this study because it substantiates the existence of franchises. Therefore, the approach will provide a better view of this business nature and its potential implications on the tutoring industry.
Possible Methodology, Population, and Data Source
The proposed research topic explores an existing business nature being conducted by several firms in the industry. Data on this topic may be readily available from market participants that have been in the industry for a long time. Therefore, one of the possible methodologies that I will use for this research is surveys. Notably, surveys in the form of physical and online interviews will be conducted to gather information on franchising’s impact on the tutoring business. In my view, this methodology will facilitate the acquisition of first-hand knowledge from industry experts on the topic. Moreover, I will rely on secondary sources such as journal articles and books to gather information on the subject.
Topic 2: Strategies to Market Tutoring Services to Foster Business Success
The market for tutoring services has grown exponentially over the past few decades. This growth is exemplified by current statistics on students placed on personalized learning in the United States and globally. For example, a study conducted in England and Wales shows that about 26.2 percent of state-educated students have received private tuition at some point during their education (Holloway & Pimlott-Wilson, 2020). According to Tanner et al., the growth in the demand for the service has also triggered the emergence of permanent business and learning centers that have highly infiltrated the market (cited by Holloway & Pimlott-Wilson, 2020). The ongoing market saturation necessitates firms to make their services known to potential consumers cost-effectively and efficiently. As a franchise business owner of a tutoring company, I have considerable interest in the manner in which the firm can capitalize on marketing to enhance its visibility in the market. Therefore, this research explores marketing strategies that tutoring companies can use to improve their business success.
Possible Model/Theory for Framing Study
Among the models that I will use to frame this study is the elaboration likelihood model (ELM). As the literature suggests, the ELM is a process theory of attitude formation and change stemming from persuasion outcomes. The authors also add that attitudes are formed and modified through the process of information obtained by individuals (Cyr, Head, Lim & Stibe, 2018). In essence, the ELM is a communication theory that suggests different persuasion methods by sending marketing messages to potential consumers. This theory focuses on marketing communications; thus, it will provide an ideal basis for addressing strategic ways of marketing the tutoring services.
Possible Methodology, Population, and Data Source
This research will mainly rely on surveys and case studies to draw data on strategies used to market tutoring services. Arguably, several companies such as Arbobridge and BenchPrep have been in the tutoring industry for decades, and some of these firms have managed to remain highly visible among prospects. Therefore, case studies on some successful tutoring companies may provide insights into the ideal strategies for marketing their services. Moreover, secondary data obtained from journals, books, and other articles will also be used to inform the selected research topic.
Topic 3: Strategies of Running a successful Startup Business
I plan to launch and run a motivational speaker business after my doctoral degree. However, as the literature suggests, starting a business is sometimes challenging and mentally torturing (Hazudin, Kader, Tarmuji, Ishak & Ali, 2020). Challenges may be common in the starting phase because an entrepreneur may not have adequate knowledge about the market, including the problems and success factors of propelling their business to the maturity phase. Moreover, capital and resources may be a significant challenge to establishing a startup business, especially in current highly competitive industries. In light of this, this research topic aims to explore strategies for running a successful startup business in a fast-changing business environment.
I hold a deep interest in operating a motivational speaker business to offer consultation services to different clients. Therefore, this research is of interest because it will help me become an expert and run a successful business in the near future.
Possible Model/Theory for Framing Study
The theory of business is among the theories I will use to frame the study. According to scholars, the business theory focuses on four key ideas: purpose, accountability, control of the business, and ultimate conduct of the firm (Donaldson & Walsh, 2015). This theory will provide a basis for the exploration of the purpose and control of the small business. The theory will also lay a foundation for examining strategies that entrepreneurs may use to lead their small businesses to success.
Possible Methodology, Population, and Data Source
An exploration of the selected topic will be done using various methodologies, including surveys, interviews, and case analysis. On the one hand, surveys and interviews will provide first-hand information from individuals who run small business about their strategies to drive their firms to success. Moreover, case analysis of existing firms by observing their practices will provide adequate data on some of their most successful business strategies. Furthermore, I will mainly dwell on the small business population’s information because they are the research’s central focus. Some of the data sources that I will use include primary data sources such as questionnaires and interviews and secondary data sources such as journals and books.
References
Cyr, D., Head, M., Lim, E., & Stibe, A. (2018). Using the elaboration likelihood model to examine online persuasion through website design. Information and Management, 55(7), 1-15. doi:10.1016/j.im.2018.03.009
Donaldson, T., & Walsh, J.P. (2015). Toward a theory of business. Research in Organizational Behavior, 35(1), 181-207. doi: 10.1016/j.riob.2015.10.002
Hazudin, S.F., Kader, M.A.R.A., Tarmuji, N.H., Ishak, M., & Ali, R. (2015). Discovering small business start up motives, success factors and barriers: A gender analysis. Procedia Economics and Finance, 31(1), 436-443. doi: 10.1016/S2212-5671(15)01218-6
Holloway, S.L., & Pimlott-Wilson, H. (2020). Marketising private tuition: Representations of tutors’ competence, entrepreneurial opportunities and service legitimation in home tutoring business manuals. British Educational Research Journal, 46(1), 205-221. doi:10.1002/berj.3575
Liu, J. (2018). Review of regulatory policies on private supplementary tutoring in China. ECNU Review of Education, 1(3), 143-153. doi: 10.30926%2Fecnuroe2018010307
Panda, B., & Leepsa, N.M. (2017). Agency theory: Review of theory and evidence on problems and perspectives. Indian Journal of Corporate Governance, 10(1), 74-95. doi:10.1177%2F0974686217701467
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