Research GAP????

Today someone ask me... how to find research GAP??? Do we need that in our study????/
Hahahahahhaa.. i was like that before.. struggling when profesor asked me... have you found the GAP for your research???? ermmm.... i was thinking.. what the hell is that.... ????

I will make your life easier.. simplify it for you.. reserach GAP is the missing element in the existing research literature that you can fill with your reserach findings... or something that has not yet been fully reserach and there is something that you can adding in to make it better or deeper...

Yeah... so... now?? How to get that??? When i mentioned above as a missing element in the existing literature.. means.. you have to find it from your reading... so.. now.. you must read..read..read., and read to find the GAP in your area....

Tired of reading????? ermm.. so... dont make a reserach...hahahhaha..
During reading.. please look at this 5 factors that could help you to find the GAP

1) Population..

May be.. last reserach only done in a small area.. such as Pahang.. but not for the entire Malaysia since Pahang is not representing Malaysia...

2) Intervention.

The last research did not use the proper intervention.. such as using phone call to make an interview.. so..may be we can use face to face since an interview via phone may be lead to another aspects of error..such as.. the person who talk to you is not the right person

3)  Theory

When you found that the theory or theories used is not comprehensive and there is still relevant variables that could explained the dependant variable. Or may be.. you could combine.. individual theory such as TAM, TPB, TRA, UTAUT with an organizational theories such as TOE, RBV, DOI, MOI and etc...

4. Methodology

  The last research adopted single method..and you can see.. it will be better if we used mixed method... or..the last research using qualitative..now.. you proposed to do it qualitatively..

5.Analysis

Currently.. the softwares used in the analysis are keep on changing.. last time.. may be we rely on the SPSS.. known as 1st generation... but the SPSS has their own limitation such as only can run the analysis which is reflective..but not in reflective mode.. so.. PLS and AMOS as a second generation could offer better results for your quantitaive study...

Now.. hopefully all of my readers are not looking at the title of the reserach..but looking for the GAP first.. the title will come later after you found the GAP...

ALL THE BEST GUYS.....

Sentence Starters ..Part 2..

Continue from my past post.. it was incomplete.. sorry... now we focus on another good starters for another aspects of writing....

To present uncommon or rare ideas
Seldom ...	Few ...	Not many ...
A few ...	... is uncommon	... is scarce ...
Rarely ...	... is rare ...	... is unusual ...

To present common or widespread ideas
Numerous ...	Many ...	More than ...
Several ...	Almost all ...	The majority ...
Most ...	Commonly ...	Significant ...
... is prevalent ...	... is usual ...	Usually ...

To present inconclusive ideas
Perhaps ...	... may be ...	... might be ...
There is limited evidence for ...	... is debated ...	... is possibly ...
... could ...	... may include ...

To show relationships or outcome
Therefore ...	As a result ...	For that reason ...
Hence, ...	Otherwise, ...	Consequently, ...
The evidence suggests/shows ...	It can be seen that ...	With regard to ...
After examining ....	These factors contribute to ...	It is apparent that ...
Considering ... it can be concluded that ...	Subsequently, ....	The effect is ...
The outcome is ...	The result ...	The correlation ...
The relationship ...	The link ...	The convergence ...
The connection ...	... interacts with ...	Both ....
... affects ...	Thus it is ...	... causes ...
... influences ...	... predicts ...	... leads to ...
... informs ...	... presupposes	... emphasises
... demonstrates ...	... impacts on ...	... supports ...

To present prior or background ideas
In the past, ...	Historically, ...	Traditionally, ...
Customarily, ...	Beforehand, ...	Originally, ...
Prior to this, ...	Earlier, ...	Formerly, ...
Previously, ...	Over time, ...	At the time of ...
Conventionally, ...	Foundational to this is ...	In earlier ...
Initially, ...	At first, ...	Recently ...
Until now, ...	The traditional interpretation ...

To present others' ideas
According to …	Based on the findings of ... it can be argued...	… proposed that …
As explained by …	… states that …	… claims that …
However, ... stated that …	... suggested …	… concluded that …
Similarly, … stated that ….	… for example, …	… agreed that …
Based on the ideas of …	… defined …. as ….	… relates …
As identified by …	… disputed that …	… contrasts …
With regard to … argued that …	… concluded that …	… confirmed that …
... argues ….	… highlights …	… demonstrates …
… found that …	… identifies …	... wrote that …
… demonstrated …	… also …	… reported ….
… pointed out that …	… maintained that …	… hypothesised that …
… expressed the opinion that …	... also mentioned ….	... asserts that ….
… identified …	… goes on to state/suggest/say	… emphasises
… challenges the idea ….	… showed that …	… explored the idea …

To give examples
For example, ...	... as can be seen in ...	... supports ...
An illustration of ...	... as demonstrated by ...	... is observed ...
Specifically, ...	... is shown ...	... exemplifies ...
Such as ...	As an example ...	To illustrate, ...
For instance, ...

Adapted from the following source

Manalo. E., Wont_Toi, G., & Bartlett-Trafford, J. (2009). The business of writing: Written communication skills for business students (3rd ed.). Auckland: Pearson Education New Zealand.

Good sentence starters

Ermmmm.. sometimes we dont know how to start our sentences.. to express our intentions.. either to introduce, to conclude, to compare or construst....

It can sometimes be difficult to start a sentence to express ideas, or find words to show the relationship between ideas. Below is a list of possible sentence starters, transitional and other words that may be useful.

To introduce
This essay discusses …	… is explored …	… is defined …
The definition of … will be given	… is briefly outlined …	… is explored …
The issue focused on ….	… is demonstrated ...	… is included …
In this essay …..	… is explained …	… are identified …
The key aspect discussed …	… are presented …	… is justified …
Views on …. range from ….	… is evaluated …	… is examined …
The central theme …	… is described …	… is analysed …
Emphasised are …	… is explained and illustrated with examples …

To conclude
In summary, …	To review, …	In conclusion, …
In brief, …	To summarise, …	To sum up, …
To conclude, …	Thus, …	Hence, …
It has been shown that, …	In short, …

To compare and contrast
Similarly, …	In the same way …	Likewise, …
In comparison …	Complementary to this …	Then again, …
However, …	This is in contrast to …	In contrast, …
And yet …	Nevertheless, …	Conversely, …
On the contrary, …	On the other hand, …	Notwithstanding …
Whereas …	In contrast to …	That aside, ...
While this is the case …	... disputes …	Despite this, ...

To add ideas
Also, …	Equally important ...	Subsequently, …
Futhermore, …	Moreover, …	As well as ....
Next…	Another essential point…	Additionally, ...
More importantly, …	In the same way …	Another ...
Then, …	In addition, …	Besides, ...
Then again, …	Firstly, ... secondly, ... thirdly, ... finally, ...	To elaborate, ...

Introduction???? Reserach background???

Ermmm..... mostly .. new researchers will confuse and ask me ..how to write an introduction???/ How to write reserach background. Before answering those questions... researchers must notice the purpose of writing both of it... so.. let us go through this statement..

Goals of the Introduction

If someone reads only one section of your dissertation, it’ll be the introduction, so the introduction’s primary goal is to demonstrate the importance, interest and originality of your research project. Above all, it should include a statement of the research question that your project investigates. This statement should give readers a broad sense of the current research on your topic, what’s at stake in learning more about the topic and how your specific project changes what people know about the topic. The introduction’s tone should be confident without being arrogant or dismissive. Finally, the introduction should define key terms you’ll use throughout the study, as well as map out the rest of the dissertation.

Goals of the Background

The background section is often called the literature review. “The literature” refers to other research on your topic. The background synthesizes current knowledge on your research question in far greater detail than your introductory section does. Its goal is to articulate patterns within the literature and to describe unresolved issues or questions, then to show how your study fits into the larger body of work in your field. You can organize your overview of other research in several ways, including in chronological order, by significant issues, or from broad information about your field to specific studies on your topic.

Separate Introduction and Background

Some disciplines organize the introduction and background as separate sections of the dissertation. Dissertations in the social sciences, for instance, frequently have an introduction followed by a literature review. The hard sciences also tend to follow this format, with each subsequent chapter representing a published article related to the broad research question.

Background Within the Introduction

In many humanities disciplines, the introduction will include a section called “Background” or “Literature Review,” which provides a history of criticism on your topic. Individual dissertation chapters then contain further discussion of the criticism related to specific texts that the chapter investigates. It’s crucial to consult your adviser to find out how you’re expected to organize the introduction and background.

ha ha.. now we know the different between an introduction and research background.... Happy writing....

Problem statement.. samples

How to write your Research Problem Statement


Ermm.. sometimes. our problem is dont know how to write our problem statement... Ha ha.. your problem is how to write a problem statement???????  ermmmmm...this is a guide on how to write a good problem statement..

Your Research Problem statement is the foundation and focus of your research report. It is a clear,
stand‐alone statement that makes explicit what it is you are aiming to discover or establish. Get this
right and you are setting yourself up for success.

If your Research Problem is poorly worded, unfocused or ambiguous, the rest of your research is likely
to go off‐track very early; you will do a great deal of unnecessary reading and writing, losing sight of
the big picture (and probably your mind!).
Writing your Research Problem Statement

1. First select your research topic, which is the issue or subject area that you intend to investigate
example... low adoption of new technology.. students not reading the books.. failure of the teachers..

2. Describe the business or management problem based on your topic that you intend to
research. Do this right at the beginning of your research proposal or report as laid out in the
templates (remember to reference any facts that you are basing your research on). This will
set the scene for your Research Problem statement, so that you can write a clear, stand alone
Research Problem.

3. A Research Problem is not the same as a business problem, ie it is not a “problem” in the
normal sense of the word; it is research jargon that happens to be a bit confusing. You can
think of your Research Problem as the unknown part of your business problem.

4. Verbs such as “understand”, “explore”, “investigate”, “examine” and “discuss” are poor verbs
as they describe processes, not outcomes, eg you can discuss something endlessly without
ever having to make recommendations, draw conclusions or offer a result. You might be
Carmichael, T. (2009), Wits Business School, Johannesburg, South Africa 2
exploring, examining or discussing as part of your process, but they cannot be the end result of
your research, which should be more tangible.

5. If your Research Problem contains two or more concepts / ideas, then break it down into subproblems,
so that each sub‐problem consists of one idea only. Each sub‐problem should
contain key words that you can use in your literature search (using the electronic library
databases and Google Scholar) on that sub‐problem.

6. Your Research Problem statement should be your sub‐problems added together – no more
and no less. Do not introduce any new ideas when you write your sub‐problems. For example:
The Main problem is to
Analyse and evaluate the role of entrepreneurship in the establishment of small,
medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and ascertain the value of the economic
contributions of these firms in emerging markets.

Sub‐problem 1
Analyse and evaluate the role of entrepreneurship in establishing SMMEs in emerging
markets. (Here your key search terms for your literature review could be
“entrepreneurship”, “SMME” and “emerging markets”)

Sub‐problem 2
Evaluate the economic contribution of SMMEs to growth and development in
emerging markets. (Here your search terms could be “economic contribution”,
“economic growth”, “emerging market development”)
Your literature review would be likely to have headings similar or related to the search terms,
as well as other topic areas that you find and are relevant but that you may not have
anticipated – in fact you will find a lot of information and related topics that you won’t (and
cannot be expected to) have anticipated. Use the search terms both alone and combined with
each other.

Research topic and context (stated exactly as submitted by a student):
The large corporate companies need to be encouraged to assist small businesses in
empowering them with the necessary skills and resources to grow. Corporate Social
Responsibility is one avenue that small business can benefit from big business in this
regard. My aim in this research is to establish if large companies are using corporate
social responsibility to empower small business and, if not, how this can be done.
Carmichael, T. (2009), Wits Business School, Johannesburg, South Africa 3
Therefore the topic of this research is to identify the role of corporate social
responsibility in empowering small business.

The Problem Statement was constructed by tightening up the context to eliminate repetition,
correcting the grammar, removing the personal pronoun “my” and rephrasing it in the passive
voice. In addition, the statement “. . . establish IF large companies . . .” was rephrased to
“whether and how” because “if” has a yes / no answer (not OK) and “whether and how”
requires a detailed, contextualised and rich response (OK).

Problem statement:
The intention of this research is to establish the purposes for which large corporate are
using their CSI / CSR programmes, with particular reference to whether and how they are
using such programmes to empower small businesses, and, further, to gather ideas to
expand such investments.

Sub‐problem 1:
Establish the purposes for which large corporates are using their CSI / CSR programmes
Sub‐problem 2
Identify ways in which large corporates are using CSI / CSR programmes to empower small
businesses, and further, to gather ideas for expanding such investments
8. Your sub‐problems should NOT be steps in the process of finding the solution to your Research
Problem. This is a common and understandable error. The example below shows the subproblems
to be steps in the process that the student intends to follow in the research (these
can be described in the methodology chapter). They are not invalid ‐ they are just not subproblems.
Main Problem
Compare the characteristics of the South African and Ghanaian home loan markets in
relation to consumer home loan choice criteria, home finance availability on both markets,
home loan administration, success and hindering factors, risks in pricing of home finance,
the status and causes of home loan default in both markets and to predict the way forward
for both markets.
Sub‐problems
1. Analyse consumer choice criteria in both home loans markets
2. Assess the availability and accessibility of home loans.
3. Establish the difficulties encountered in home loan administration
4. Identify the risks in home loan pricing and the effect of inflation on pricing
5. Determine the status and causes of home loan default
6. Forecast the future of the South African and Ghanaian home loan markets

Problem statement

Directions: As a Team, work through the boxes from top to bottom to craft a problem statement. The next page contains a completed sample of the Writing a Problem Statement worksheet. A blank copy of the worksheet appears on the last page.

Original problem or focusing question	Restate the initial problem that launched this inquiry process, or rewrite the focusing question or one of the clarifying question as a statement.
Stakeholders who are most affected by the problem	Who is most directly impacted by this problem? Alternately, who would benefit the most if this problem were resolved?
Type of problem	For example, skills, attitudes, knowledge, resources, or something else.
Suspected cause of the problem	Based on the data analysis and/or the root cause analysis, what does the Team think is the most significant cause(s) contributing to this problem? What, if addressed, would make the greatest impact on resolving the problem? (Include specific evidence).
Goal for improvement and long-term impact	The wishes, dreams, and general vision describing the target. The Team will write a clearer, measureable goal statement in Module 5.
Proposal for addressing the problem	High-level strategy that represents promising practices drawn from research, local knowledge, and local expertise. (Note sources if possible). This will become the basis for subsequent action planning.
Final problem statement	Tie the above statements into 3–5 coherent sentences that could be easily understood by a wide range of stakeholders.

Sample of Completed Writing a Problem Statement Worksheet

Original problem or focusing question	¨         Students are not reading at grade level by grade 3.
Stakeholders who are most affected by the problem	¨         Third grade students at our school.
Type of problem	¨         Resources: Without good information about where our kids are starting, we have no way of knowing if our goals may be unattainable for some of them.
Suspected cause of the problem	¨         Teachers don’t get sufficient training and support in our reading program. ¨         Students’ reading levels are not measured accurately in grades K–3.
Goal for improvement and long-term impact	¨         We want all our third graders to read at grade level or above.
Proposal for addressing the problem	¨         Start a teacher mentoring program in reading. ¨         Implement more rigorous reading assessments in grades K–3.
Final problem statement	¨         Many third grade students at our school do not read at grade level. ¨         We believe that this is a result of teachers not having sufficient training in our reading program and not accurately measuring students’ reading levels in grades K–3. ¨         We want all third graders at our school to read at grade level or above. ¨         We will start a teacher mentoring program focused on reading and implement more rigorous reading assessments in the primary grades.