BUSN4100 Business Research Methods

• What are the basic and major challenges that arise when analyzing big data in various institutions and companies
• Is there a way in which these problems can be classified for easier identification and management
• What are the current methods used in analyzing and processing of big data
• How efficient are the current methods in curbing the challenges arising from and processing of big data
• How can the challenges and the current algorithms be manipulated in forming and coming up with bigger and better algorithms in the analysis of big data.

I must mention that weekly learning practices contributed a lot to gain experience and knowledge in different filed of research. In the following journal report, I will present the things that I have learnt from the first week of my subject. The learning experience that I have gained has not been a steady process. Sometimes, I have faced barriers in learning but I managed to deal with the issues with thorough understanding and repeat learning. Through the assessment of journals, I have learnt about different research techniques and the implementation practices. However, these long varieties of research process that I have studied in the previous studies and the weekly lecture notes have made a slight confusion in my mind about their authenticity. Authors have multiple categories of research techniques but in the beginning, I did not realize the appropriate method that I should use in my future research. Nevertheless, I have easily dealt with that growing confusion after collecting the lecture notes of the second week on research design and planning process.  In this reflective diary, I have presented my overall experience of learning related to assessment 1 and 2.

Critically and depth of the learning reflections reflective analysis

In the first week of learning, the most difficult situation that I have faced is, adapting to the new learning environment, when I kept thinking how I would finish the subject, as I am not used to such new and broad learning process. However, I did not have to spend much time in this negativity of learning, as the learning was covered through certain phases. The learning of first week was about the overall understanding about the subjective that we were pursuing.

In the second week, I received the lecture notes regarding research design as well as the planning the research techniques, which helped me to conduct the assessment 1 on Challenge, Management and Optimization of Big Data Analytics. Specifically, in the second week, from the lecture note, I have learn that marketing research process is comprised of six different steps namely problem statement, development of an approach to the problem, research design formulation, data collection, data preparation and analysis. However, I already had idea about few of the techniques of conducting a research. Nonetheless, notes provided by the lecturer helped me a lot grab the entire concept of the research planning and design.

In this weekly learning process, I developed my own learning concept comparing the lecture notes with the previous studies. However, to make reflective judgment, I had to take assistance from different learning theories such as Kolb’s learning style, and King and Kitchener. I have applied my knowledge on research design and planning research techniques in the assessment but I also took the help from the theoretical underpinning. Based on the theoretical knowledge, I have obtained the required information on big data management. I set the purpose that my design of the study could verify the hypothesis of interest as well as determine the possible response of the research questions. The theoretical knowledge on the research process helps me to collect the information for decision-making.

Similarly, in the third week, the lecture notes I have received on literature review and writing business research helped me to identify the critical areas and gaps in the previous research. Based on the literature review notes, I have conducted a critical analysis on big data management considering the opinions of many authors. However, it was difficult for me to identify the gaps in the literature, as journals I have selected, provided the similar outcome. Likewise, the fourth week of learning helps me to learn about the ethics and legal consideration of research, which was really an important section of research for me, as I did not have any idea about the ethical grounds. I have learnt that before conducting the survey or interview for primary methods, I must take the consent of the authority. I did not force any respondents to take part in the research. I ensured that respondents who take part in the data collection process hold the right to withdraw their participation at the any moment. In addition, I have also followed the principles of Data Protection Act 1998. I did not disclose the name of the participants and kept their identities confidential.

In the fifth week of learning, I have learnt about the nature of qualitative research, sampling and participation observation. The lecture notes helped me to grab the idea of collecting the qualitative data. In my research, I have collected the qualitative data by conducting the interview method. The lecture notes helped me to select the appropriate sample among different categories. I have selected random sampling method to include the respondents in the interview method. In week 6, interviewing, I have studied techniques of interviewing, focus group and language in the qualitative research.  I have understood that I cannot include ordinary people in interview. Thus, to gain qualitative more intensively, I have included the people who have knowledge about the context of the research such as big data management. Even though, I did not apply focus group method for collecting data in my research but I have learnt from the theoretical knowledge that focus group discussion can be conducted with the participation of 7 to 12 people to acquire the knowledge and experience. As I did not use the multiple perspective about the same problem; thereby, I did not use focus group discussion in my work. Nonetheless, I could apply this method when I would work in a project where different types of perspectives required to be gained about the same research issue.

In the week seven, with the help of lecture notes, I have grabbed the understanding of qualitative data analysis. In the lecture notes, I have studied several techniques of qualitative data analysis but those techniques were not relevant to the context of research that I have selected. Eventually, after having a proper understanding on qualitative data analysis, I have applied the method of summarizing the data set. I have linked the research findings to hypothesis, aim and research objectives. I used the quotation from the transcript to highlight major themes within the findings. From the lecture note of week ninth, I have designed the questionnaire based on the interview method selected for my study.  As I have selected the interview method, I have designed the open-ended questions.  The lecture notes helped me to depend on the open-ended questions. As the study required an intensive analysis, a descriptive research analysis was required. Thereby, according to my knowledge, open-ended questions best suit the research criteria.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I must mention that I have learnt a large amount of knowledge in business research process. This long process of learning helps me to gain experience in several areas of research. I have learnt that the best way to lead the research is to define the research problem first. If one could understand the research problem, the problem could be explored more intensively by reviewing the existing literature on the same topic. This could help me to understand the problem thoroughly and investigate all available literature related to the same research issue. However, I need to gain more knowledge on research methodology, as I believe implementation of the research methods provide the desired results.