10Min Research Methodology - 13 - How to design an Original Research Model/Framework?

Original research can be built by treating existing frameworks as a starting point and then reshaping them through “explicit gaps” already present in the literature. A practical route is to mine the paper’s limitations and future research directions, then translate those suggestions into new variables, new relationships, and—when appropriate—new methods. In this case, the existing model centers on General HRM practices tied to green outcomes, and the proposed enhancement begins by swapping in more specific green HR practices.

The recommended set of green HR practices includes hiring criteria, green training, and green leadership. Those become the independent variables in a redesigned model. The mediating mechanism is also expanded: instead of relying only on the original mediators, future work can test personal and organizational factors such as green mindset and green empowerment to explain how green HR practices translate into downstream effects. This shifts the model from a broad HRM view toward a more targeted “green management” pathway.

To add further originality, the framework can incorporate moderating alternatives—variables that change the strength or direction of the relationships between green HR practices and the mediating process. Examples mentioned include intrinsic rewards and supervisors’ personality traits. The logic is that incentives and individual differences may determine whether green HR practices effectively produce green mindset or green empowerment. The model can also be extended by considering additional leadership constructs. Rather than using two separate leadership types, the framework can incorporate servant leadership as a moderator, including the idea of “sustainable servant leadership,” which may overlap with related leadership concepts.

The session also flags methodological and scope extensions as legitimate contributions, even if they don’t change the core variable structure. Future studies could test additional personal and organizational factors, and researchers can broaden beyond quantitative designs by using qualitative or mixed-method approaches. Mixed methods are framed as potentially meaningful contributions, particularly when the goal is to deepen understanding rather than only measure relationships.

A key caution follows: building a “whole new model” from a single paper can still lead to high similarity with other researchers’ work. If someone else reads the same article and implements similar modifications quickly, they may collect data sooner and publish first, leaving the slower researcher at a disadvantage. The solution to this timing and similarity problem is deferred to the next session, but the underlying message is clear: originality isn’t just about adding variables—it’s also about differentiating the model enough to avoid near-duplicate frameworks and acting fast enough to secure publication momentum.