Introduction to Research What is Research?

Recherche Search for new knowledge Systematic method of finding solution to a problem A careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for new facts in any branch of Knowledge According to Oxford English Dictionary, research is defined as the systematic study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. McMillan and Schumacher (1997) define research as a systematic process of collecting and analyzing information (data) for some purpose. Kerlinger (1986) defines scientific research as, Systematic, controlled, empirical, and critical investigation of natural phenomena guided by theory and hypotheses about the presumed relations among such phenomena. According to Clifford Woody (1927) research comprises defining and redefining problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions;

collecting, organizing and evaluating data; making deductions and reaching conclusions; and at last carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulating hypothesis. Why do we Research? Pure Vs. Applied Research Basic/Pure/Fundamental Research To generate a body of knowledge about how to solve problems that could be occurred in organizations Applied Research To solve a current problem faced by the manager in the work setting e.g.

Key Elements of Scientific Research Variable: A dimension along which individual attributes (e.g. people, events, and objects) can vary (i.e. data can be collected and measured) Any observation that can take on different values Attribute: a specific value on a variable e.g. Hypothesis: Testable proposition about the relationship between two or more variables/ concepts/ constructs, Suggested explanation of phenomenon H1: Female students have more positive attitude towards research than male students. H2: Male students perform better than female students in research courses.

Null Hypothesis (Statistical Hypothesis)

Suggested explanation of phenomenon Previous Knowledge Basic Assumption Others Statement of no change from the previous condition Strict condition + Equal sign Null Hypothesis otherwise Alternative Hypothesis Null Hypothesis: Equal, No difference, Insignificant, Independent etc...
Alternative Hypothesis (Research Hypothesis)

Contradicts the Null There is an effect. What you want to prove? Theory: Formulation regarding the cause and effect between two or more variables

Concepts:

A set of meanings abstracted from our experiences (e.g; brand awareness)

Constructs:

Encompass multiple concepts (Brand awareness may encompass the concept of brand recognition and brand recall) Levels of Measurement Objects Events People Assigning discrete categories called Categorical Measurement Identifying the attributes on numerical scale called Metric Measurement Categorical Measurement a) Nominal: Homogeneous, Mutually exclusive and exhaustive, Dichotomous/Binary b) Ordinal Rank ordered along some dimension, relative position

Metric Measurement a) Interval Same distance apart, has an arbitrary zero b) Ratio Same as interval except it has an absolute zero point Types of Data Time series data: .at different time. Cross-section data: at the same point in time. Pooled data: .combination of time series and crosssection data. Panel data: special type of pooled data.same cross-sectional units.
Discrete Continuous Quantitative Qualitative

Sampling Techniques Probability Sampling (Simple) Random Sampling Systematic (Random) Sampling Stratified (Random) Sampling Cluster (Random) Sampling Non-Probability Sampling Purposive (Judgmental) Sampling Snowball Sampling Quota Sampling Convenience Sampling