Research Methods

Resource Person: Muhammad Zaheer

"The secret of success is to know something nobody else knows. " Aristotle

 There are five types of companies: those who make things happen; those who think they make things happen; those who watch things happen; those who wonder what happened; and those that did not know that any thing had happened. " anonymous
(Research enables you to be the first company)

Objectives of this discussion

Definition of Research Types of Research The Role of Research Research Process

Research Defined

Research is defined as systematic, data based, critical, scientific inquiry into a specific problem that needs solution. Research provides the information that enables managers to make decisions to rectify problems Research Methods: Refer to the ways in which research studies are designed and procedures are established by which data are analyzed.

Business Research
Research information is neither intuitive nor haphazardly gathered. Literally, research (re-search) -search again Research must be objective Detached and impersonal rather than biased It facilitates the managerial decision process for all aspects of a business.

Scientific Research
1- PURPOSIVENESS: - Research has a definite purpose to work for. 2- RIGOR:- Carefulness and exactitude make a research rigorous. It provides theoretical base and carefully thought out methodology. 3-TESTABILITY:- Statistically testable hypothesis can be generated and tested.

Scientific Research
4- REPLICABILITY :-( repeatedness) Results should be supported and repeated in similar settings. 5-PRECISION & CONFIDENCE:- We can never be 100% exact because we select a sample. Errors & biases are likely to occur; we try to be as accurate as possible.
How close the findings are to reality exactitude and accuracy of sample and confidence interval are made. Confidence :- Probability that outcome is true it is called confidence level eg. 95%, 99% is congenial
Precision:-

Scientific Research
6-OBJECTIVITY:- Results are based on facts not on emotions. 7-GENERALIZABILITY: - Applicability of findings in one setting to other, results are valid in other organizations as well. 8-PARSIMONY:- Simplicity in explaining the results eg. Less Variables are identified to understand the situation.

Information Reduces

I dont know if we should offer on-site child care in VU?

Uncertainty

It aint the things we dont know that gets us in trouble. Its the things we know that aint so.
Artemus Ward

Thought Process
DEDUCTION: - Process of arriving at conclusions by interpreting the meaning of the results of data analysis. The conclusion must necessarily follow from reasons. Reasons are said to imply the conclusion and to present a proof. Deduction is process by which we arrive at reasoned conclusion by logically generalizing from a known fact.

Theory
Hypothesis Data collection Findings Hypothesis confirmed or rejected

Revision of theory
(Deductive reasoning)

Thought Process
INDUCTION: Drawing results from one or more particular facts or pieces of evidence. (Observed facts) Conclusion is a hypothesis only. It is only one explanation; there can be others as well. In induction we have data on hand and generate hypothesis and theory from it We observe a certain phenomena and on this basis we arrive at a conclusion or we establish a general proposition based on observed facts

Data collection / Findings

Theory

(Inductive reasoning)

Business Research Types

Basic research
Applied research

Basic Research
Attempts to expand the limits of knowledge. Not directly involved in the solution to a pragmatic problem. When research is being done chiefly to improve our understanding of certain problems that commonly occur in organizational settings and how to solve them. R & D department and university professors do this. Purpose is to improve / generate more knowledge.

Basic Research Example

Is executive success correlated with high need for achievement? Are members of highly cohesive work groups more satisfied than members of less cohesive work groups? Do consumers experience cognitive dissonance in low-involvement situations? Is the level of job satisfaction of distance education teachers is less than that of traditional teachers?

Applied Research
Conducted when a decision must be made about a specific real-life problem To Solve currently existing problem in the work setting. Research is done with the intentions of applying the results of its findings to solve specific problem currently faced by organization. Most organizations do this research. Usually used for decision-making.

Applied Research Examples

Our employee turnover has increased significantly. We dont know why? Business research told us that poor working conditions are responsible, Should we promote females to managerial positions? Research showed women are equally competent to be managers.

Determining When to Conduct Business Research

Time constraints Availability of data Nature of the decision Benefits versus costs

Availability of Data Benefits Time Constraints Nature of the Decision vs. Costs
Is sufficient time available before a managerial decision must be made?
Yes

Determining When to Conduct Business Research

Is the information already on hand inadequate for making the decision?
Yes

Is the decision Yes of considerable strategic or tactical importance?

Does the value of the research Yes information exceed the cost of conducting research?

Conducting Business Research

No

No

No

No

Do Not Conduct Business Research

Value versus Costs

Potential Value of a Business Research Effort Should Exceed Its Estimated Costs

Value Should Exceed Estimated Costs

Costs Value
Decreased uncertainty Increased likelihood of a correct decision Improved business performance and resulting higher profits Research expenditures Delay of business decision and possible disclosure of information to rivals Possible erroneous research results

Research Process
1 OBSERVATION

Broad area Of research Interest identified

7
3 PROBLEM DEFINITION 4 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK DATA COLLECTION ANALYSIS, AND INTERPREATIO N

Research Problem Delineated (formulate & clarify your research topic)

5 GENERATION OF HYPOTHESES

Variables clearly Identified and labeled

SCIENTIFI C RESEARCH DESIGN

8 DEDUCTION

PRELIMINARY DATA GATHERING

Research Question answered ?

Yes

Interviewing Literature survey

No

9 REPORT WRITING

10 REPORT PRESENTATION

1 1 Managerial Decision Making

RESEARCH PROCESS Step-1 Broad Problem Area

OBSERVATION:- Broad problem area one sees / feels certain changes are occurring or new behaviors, attitudes and feelings are surfacing. It is gut feeling. Problem is not defined yet. Managers take cues from verbal & non verbal signals. Eg. Sales decline, production interruptions, lack of motivation etc

Step-1 Broad Problem Area cont..

Problem can be:
Currently existing (harassment) Improvement required Conceptual or theoretical issue Empirical answers

Broad problem area would be narrowed down to specific issues of investigation.

Step 2 PRELIMINARY DATA

GATHERING
Seeking information to know more about what one observed. Talking to others and literature review. At the first stage interviews are conducted to know the nature of problem. Nature of information needed to understand problem is: i- Background information of the organization
(By Interview & Literature Survey)

Step 2 PRELIMINARY DATA GATHERING (By Interview & Literature Survey)

ii Management philosophy and structural factors Information gathered on these issues will be useful for researcher in talking with officials & interviewing them. This information can be taken by asking direct questions iii-Perceptions, Attitudes and behavioral responses

Research Proposal
A written statement of the research design that includes a statement explaining the purpose of the study. Detailed outline of procedures associated with a particular methodology

Research Proposal
A proposal is an individuals or companys offer to produce a product or render a service to a potential buyer or sponsor. The purpose of proposal is: To present the problem to be researched and its importance. To discuss the research efforts of others who have worked on related problem. To suggest the data necessary for solving the problem and how that data will be gathered, treated and interpreted. A contract proposal must represent its plan services & credentials to win the proposal. A proposal is also called work plan, prospectus, outline, and statement of intent or draft plan.

Research Proposal
A Proposal tells: What will be done ? Why it will be done ? How it will be done? Where it will be done? To whom it will be done? What is the benefit of doing it?

Research Proposal
SPONSOR USES

Every research has a sponsor in one form or another. A student researcher is responsible to class Instructor. Doctoral candidate is responsible to committee. In corporate setting researcher is responsible to department or management of organization.. University, Govt or corporate sponsored research use grant committee to evaluate work. Proposal is first step in evaluation process; it allows the sponsors to assess the sincerity of your purpose, design, background material and fitness of undertaking the prefect & compares with computers.

Research Proposal
Proposal also provides a basis for sponsor to evaluate the result of a project by comparing it with find product. External contract starts from RFP (Request For Proposal )

Research Proposal
Researcher Benefits.
Prompts the researcher to assess previous approaches to the problem and revise the plan accordingly. Opportunity to spot flaws in the previous work i.e errors in logic, assumption or even problems. Accepted proposal serves as guide to researcher throughout the project Forces time & budget estimates. Proposal Complexity
Depending on the type of project, the sponsoring individual or institution, and the cost of project; different levels of complexity are required for proposals to be judged.

PROPOSAL COMPLEXITY
Complexity
Type
Student

Least
Term paper Masters thesis Doctoral thesis

Most

Internal

Exploratory study

Small Scale Large Scale Study Study Small Scale

contract research

External

Exploratory contract research

Large Scale Govt. Sponsored

research

Types of Research Proposals

Internal Proposal: Done for company by research department.
Brief in nature To solve problem, make decision, improvement. Executive survey essential Schedules & budgets.

External Proposal : Important section of external proposal includes objectives, design, qualification, schedule, budget executive survey, letter of transmittal.

Structure of Research Proposal

1. Executive Summary:- Brief statement of problem, research objectives / research question & benefits of your approach. 2. Problem Statement:- State the problem, background consequences importance of problem. Restriction areas of problems, which will not be discussed. 3. Research Objectives:- Purpose of investigation, what is being planned by research approach. It can be stated as the research questions. List the objectives either in order of importance or general terms first.

Structure of Research Proposal

4. Literature Review:- Examines the present or past research studies, company data, industry reports, do a brief review not comprehensive. 5. Importance / Benefits of Study 6. Research Design
Qualitative research Quantitative methods
Questionnaires interviews

Structure of Research Proposal

7.

Qualification Of Researchers: - Begin with

principal investigator, experience of previous research done. Relevant business & technical societies to which researcher belongs can be mentioned. Budget:- Provide it as required by the sponsor not more than two pages. Dont forget to include cost of proposal writing into your fee. Also cost of publication & deleting of final report.

8.

Structure of Research Proposal

9. Schedule:- Time table of major phases
of project. Gantt chart , critical path method (CPM) are used to schedule the activities to finish in time.

10. Facilities & special resources:- Some

projects require special facilities or resources that should be described in detail e.g focus groups, CATI list all these.

11. Project Management:- Show the sponsor that research team is organized & can do it efficiently. Include the following: Teams Org. Management procedure & control for Research Project. Examples of mgt & tech reports Research team relationship with sponsor Financial & legal responsibility Management competence

Structure of Research Proposal

Structure of Research Proposal

12. Bibliography :- Projects that require literature review, provide bibliography as required.
13. Appendices

Glossary Measurement instrument Other