Our Journey in completing research paper
"enjoy the journey and embrace the destination"
WEEK 1
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Introduction, assessment plan, and discussion
During the first lecture, we are introduced and briefed about the research project that we are going to do this semester. Dr, Maimunah clearly explain the task that we need to perform and she also mention her expectation. After that, we formed a group that consists of 3 members and we discussed about our chosen research topic.
FIRST PRIVATE CONSULTATION
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Discussion and progress update
During this meeting, we discussed the information we have gathered on our research topic and asked more questions about how to write the research reports. Dr. Maimunah assisted us through every step. This is the first time we show our questionnaire draft and Dr. Maimunah has guided us on how to do it correctly.
WEEK 2
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Discussion on group topic & problem statement
During this class, Dr. Maimunah explains the methods to conduct the research, how to choose a suitable theory, our pitfalls, and the pilot test.
SECOND PRIVATE CONSULTATION
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Discussion and progress update
During the discussion, Dr. Maimunah helped us improve our questionnaire and oversee our progress. She guided us through the sample questionnaires and recommended that we make two versions of the questionnaire which are in Bahasa Malaysia and English to ensure our respondents will be able to understand the questions. We also consult on our underpinning theory and how the pilot test should be conducted.
WEEK 3
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Problem Statement Presentation
We presented our problem statement to Dr. Maimunah during the class and she advised us to improve on our writing and add more citations to make it more solid.
After class, we continue to make amendments to the questionnaire that we have discussed during our second private discussion. We finally managed to completed our questionnaire
WEEK 4
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Development of a theoretical framework
During this class, we presented our theoretical framework and LR matrix that we have completed and we are allowed to proceed to the next step.
After class, we continue to transfer the questionnaire from the word document to google form so our team can spread the google form on the internet. Now our team is ready to spread the survey.
WEEK 5
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Questionnaire design and fieldwork plan
During class, we discussed the measurement items, questionnaire design, and theoretical framework. Dr. Maimunah also gave a lecture on developing questionnaires.
CONTINUE FROM
WEEK 5
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Spreading questionnaire and collecting data from respondent (Pilot Test)
We have contacted Lembaga Pembangunan Langkawi to request for list of SMEs in Langkawi. We send the questionnaire to 131 SMEs through WhatsApp. Moreover, to increase the number of our respondents we used social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok.
We encounter a few problems such as the respondents are older people that do not know how to answer google forms and many of the people we approach, ignore us. In the end, we manage to accumulate 50 respondents.
THIRD PRIVATE DISCUSSION
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Realibility and Normality test with Sir Talal Said Al Zubaidi
Tonight we spend 1 hour with the guidance of Sir Thalal to run a realibility pilot test for 50 respondent and he also teach us on how to do recoding. After that, we consult with Dr. Maimunah to run a normality test. In the end, Dr. Maimunah have approves for us to proceed writing the research paper and she give guidance on how we can write our normality and reliability in the research paper.
WEEK 6
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Consultation through WhatsApp - adding item for DV
Dr. Maimunah told us that we need to have items in our DV. So, from a journal that we read, we found 3 items which are planning and execution, marketing concept and competitive differentiation. After that we create question for the new item and insert it in our google form
WEEK 7
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Spreading questionnaire and collecting data from respondent (2nd time)
During class, Dr. Maimunah helped other groups in finalizing their DV items and questionnaire.
After class, our group start collecting data from respondent through WhatsApp by messaging each SMEs data that we get from LADA. Many of the respondent refuse to answer the survey for a second time.
MID SEM BREAK
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Spreading questionnaire and collecting data from respondent in Langkawi
After a serious discussion with the team, all of us decided to go to Langkawi as many of the respondents refuse and ignore the survey that we conducted online for the second time.
Hence, we fly to Langkawi and stay there for 4 days. We visit a few places that are famous with local seller such as Pantai Chenang, Padang Mak Sirat, Dataran Lang, beras terbakar, Haji Ismail Group Kompleks and pekan Kuah to approach our respondent.
We encounter a few challenges such as many of the store in Langkawi has close permanently, most of the store that we visit only has employees who have little knowledge on the business which make them not eligible to answer the questionnaire and many of the respondent is old citizen that refuse to answer the survey.
In short, we managed to accumulate 70 respondent after 4 days trip in Langkawi although we initially target for 90 respondent.
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WEEK 8
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Update on data collection
During the class, Dr. Maimunah asks about our group update. We informed that we have completed collecting the 150 respondents. On top of that, we also share with the class our experience doing face-to-face in collecting the data.
After the class, our team divided the task on our research paper.
WEEK 9
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Update on weblog and research paper
Dr. Maimunah shows an example of a research paper and explains what she expects from the research paper. After that, we show our group weblog and research paper progress. Dr. Maimunah told us to do thematic coding for the recommendation.
WEEK 10
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Writing research paper
During the Eid Mubarak holiday, our group decided to continue writing our research paper. A few parts has been done which are introduction, problem statement, research question, research objective, method data and analysis and literature review for our financial issues, employee health and welfare, government restriction and adapting to changes.
WEEK 11
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Consulting for our research paper
During the class, we consult with Dr. Maimunah on our research paper. She has made many comments on the abstract, problem statement, and introduction. For the problem statement and introduction, we need to quote more from many resources like newspapers and journals. On top of that, Dr. Maimunah also guides us in making amendments to the methodology. She advises that we revise the methodology again for better writing.
WEEK 12
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Fourth private discussion-consulting on research paper
We had a private discussion with Dr. Maimunah on Monday night to check on our first draft of the research paper. We have revised the draft based on her suggestions in the previous class. Dr. Maimunah provided us with more constructive criticism and suggestions to make our research paper better.
SPSS PROGRAM
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Learning SPSS from the expert
On 9th May 2022, we attended a seminar on how to use SPSS for Data Analysis in Social Sciences Research. We were given step-by-step instructions on how to do reliability tests, detect outliers, correlation, and regression. During this class, we used our own data to conduct the analysis. The seminar was fun, informative, and easy to understand.
SMART PLS PROGRAM
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Weekend class with Sir Thalal
On 22nd of May 2022, we attended another seminar on how to analyze using SmartPLS. We follow Mr. Thalal's instructions and conduct the analysis using our own data. Mr. Thalal and Dr. Maimunah also helped us with our analysis and explained to us things that we are not sure of. The seminar was very informative and we gain many new knowledge from it.
Fifth private discussion
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Consultation for slides presentation and how to write analysis in research paper
We had our last private discussion with Dr. Maimunah to discuss our slides before the actual presentation on Saturday. Dr. Maimunah provided us with suggestions, and recommendations and guide us on what should be in the slides to make them more impactful and meaningful. Dr. Maimunah also gives us tips on how to explain some parts of the presentations and how to present the data correctly.
WEEK 13
During this class, Dr. Maimunah asked every group to show the slides that we have prepared for the presentation. We showed Dr. Maimunah our slides and she gives suggestions on the conclusions and findings. She ended the class by wishing us the best of luck with our presentation.
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Last consultation in class
THE BIG DAY-PRESENTATION DAY
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Presentation of the research !
It is finally the big day which is the presentation day!! After doing a rehearsal a few times a night before, we were prepared and ready to share our interesting research on Factors Affecting SMEs Business Performance. We were the second group to present on that day. We did our best and we are satisfied with the outcomes :)