Write a critically reflective paper (550 words)considering the following:
How has the information that you have discussed in class, researched and read helped you to understand
the practice of academic research and the type of research skills that you have developed over your
previous modules?
Have your ideas and views of academic research changed?
How has your understanding of academic research and your own ability to conduct research developed?
How will you apply what you have learnt so far when conducting future research?
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Introduction
In this paper, the purpose is to reflect on the readings that I have encountered on the first
four weeks of this modules. I will reflect based on four essential issues. Foremost, I will
determine the manner in which the information that I have discussed in class, researched and
read has assisted me in understanding the practice of academic research and the form of research
skills that I have developed over the previous modules. The second objective will be on the way
in which my ideas and views of academic research have changed. Thirdly, I will seek to
document how my understanding of academic research and my own ability to carry out an
inquiry has developed. Ultimately, I will attempt to inform the audience on how I will apply
what I have learnt so far when conducting future research.
Learning Points
The information that has been discussed in the class, researched, and read has allowed me
to gain an optimal understanding of the academic research practice. For instance, from Saini and
Budhwar’s (2008) study and that by Şendoğdu, Kocabacak, and Güven (2013), I learned that a
research topic that one seeks to investigate must be precise and directive. As such, it should show
the reader what the intention of the study is and the potential interaction between the variables.
From the article by Fan and Yan (2009), I learned that when carrying out research, it is of central
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importance for an inquirer to provide future research directions on the research issue under
question. The essence is not only to build the knowledge produced but also to try and answer any
question that has been left unanswered. In addition to this, I learned that the ability of a
researcher to open up areas needing further research portrays that an investigator is not only
willing but also ready to support continued research.
The information also helped me to understand that the research process is a systematic
procedure. As such, it requires one to identify the research topic, state the reason for the interest
in that subject, clarify the objectives to guide a research process, and devise the research
questions. Besides, the research practice necessitates a person to explore what the previous
studies that have been carried out on a similar topic, and establish a comprehensive research
methodology to gain the necessary data for analysis (University of Liverpool, School of
Management, 2016). The research process, as well, entails reporting the results, offering
recommendations, and opening up avenues for future studies. While each part of the research
process is fundamental, emphasis should be laid on the research methods. As a matter of fact, the
nature of the methods tends to determine how meaningful the findings will be. Part of the focus
should be the research paradigm; a researcher has to be overly keen to select the most suitable
study model.
My ideas and views regarding academic research have changed significantly. Previously,
I thought that an academic research process was merely meant to fulfill the university demands.
As such, I believed that it was only a means for securing one’s higher education success.
Nonetheless, I am now aware that an academic research process might have larger implications
for the society. As such, it may assist in solving some of the pertinent problems that continue to
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confront the society. In the light of this, it is integral to take an academic research seriously and
put greater effort in facilitating the underlying procedures.
Development Points
In feel that I need to know more about the application of the mixed methods that are used in
research. While the module oriented me to these methods, I was not able to understand how they
could be applied hand in hand. Developing this knowledge is of central importance. I
understood that it is through the use of mixed methods that a researcher can be allowed to
present robust and more meaningful findings. Hence, I think that I should make concerted efforts
to understand the application of the mixed methods of research.
Conclusion
To conclude, my understanding of academic research and my ability to carry out research
has developed tremendously. I am now well aware of the various processes involved and how to
interact with them more productively. For example, I now have knowledge of where one can
derive problems for research from. As such, the existing societal status quo and the existing
literature can help a person to pinpoint an issue that requires investigations to develop a suitable
cause as the study by Chang, Yu, and Lu (2015) portrays. Into the future, I will apply what I
have learned to carry out research in a more efficient way. For example, rather than seeking for
broad topics and objectives, I will be much more specific. This will allow me to focus my future
inquiries. Moreover, I will seek for ways through which I can ensure that my study initiatives are
credible and reliable, free from bias. In this way, I will become a trustworthy source of
knowledge regardless of how complex an issue might seem (University of Liverpool, School of
Management, 2016).
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Bibliography
Chang, Y.T., Yu, H. and Lu, H.P., 2015. Persuasive messages, popularity cohesion, and message
diffusion in social media marketing. Journal of Business Research, 68(4), pp.777-782.
Fan, W. and Yan, Z., 2010. Factors affecting response rates of the web survey: A systematic
review. Computers in human behavior, 26(2), pp.132-139.
Saini, D.S. and Budhwar, P.S., 2008. Managing the human resource in Indian SMEs: The role of
indigenous realities. Journal of World Business, 43(4), pp.417-434.
Şendoğdu, A.A., Kocabacak, A. and Güven, Ş., 2013. The relationship between human resource
management practices and organizational commitment: A field study. Procedia-Social
and Behavioral Sciences, 99, pp.818-827.
University of Liverpool, School of Management, 2016. Key Concept: Research Methods.
Laureate Education, Inc., Baltimore, MD.
