REASONS WHY A RESEARCH COURSE IS ESSENTIAL

1. Research findings in business and management

contribute significantly to both business and
management theory and practice;
2. Research findings are always there, whether they were
sought or not; and

3. Research courses are a fruitful source of future

researches.
 THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

• Goal : to explain, predict, and/or control

phenomena;
• All behaviors and events are orderly; they are
effects that have discoverable causes;

• Involves acquisition of knowledge and the

development and testing of theories;
• Viable theory greatly facilitates scientific progress by
simultaneously explaining many phenomena; and
• Compared to other sources of knowledge, like
experience and authority, the scientific method is
the most efficient and reliable.
MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE SCIENTIFIC
METHOD
• INDUCTIVE REASONING – involves formulation of
generalizations based on observation of a limited
number of specific events
Ex. Every research textbook examined contains a chapter on sampling.
Therefore, all Research textbook contain a chapter on sampling.

• DEDUCTIVE REASONING -- involves the reverse of

Inductive Reasoning, i.e., arriving at specific
conclusions based on generalization
Ex. All research textbooks contain a chapter on sampling
This book is a research text.
Therefore, this book contains a chapter on sampling .
 WHAT INVOLVES THE PROCESS OF
SCIENTIFIC METHOD?

1. Induction of hypotheses based on observation;

2. Deduction of implications of the hypotheses;

3. Testing of the implications of the hypotheses; and

4. Confirming (or disconfirming) the hypotheses.

 STEPS OF SCIENTIFIC METHODS:

1. Recognition and definition of the research problem;

2. Formulation of the hypotheses;

3. Collection of data;

4. Analysis of data; and

5. Statement of conclusions regarding confirmation or

disconfirmation of the hypotheses.
MAJOR DIFFERENCE : SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
VS. BUSINESS MANAGEMENT RESEARCH

1. the nature of phenomena studied

2. it is difficult to explain, predict, and control

situations involving human beings –

 the most complex of all organism

APPLICATION OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN BUSINESS
AND MANAGEMENT

RESEARCH - is the formal, systematic application of the

scientific method to the study of problems.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT RESEARCH – is the

formal, systematic application of the scientific method
to the study of business-and-management problems
MANAGEMENT RESEARCH AND THEORY BUILDING

 Theory building is the scientific goal of basic researchers

THE MEANING OF THEORY

• A coherent set of general propositions, used as

principles of explanation of the apparent
relationships of certain observed phenomena
• Two Elements of a Theory at Abstract Level --
“Concepts” and “Propositions”
• Two Elements of a Theory at Empirical Level –
“Variables” and “Testable Hypothesis”
• The Scientific Method is a series of stages utilized
to develop and refine theory
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT RESEARCH STEPS

Parallel those of the scientific method:

1. Selection and definition of a problem;

2. Execution of research procedures

(collection of data);

3. Analysis of data; and

4. Drawing and stating conclusions.

 TWO TYPES OF RESEARCH BASED ON:
1. CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH BY PURPOSE
Basis are:
• On the degree to which findings have direct
business application; and
• On the degree to which they are generalizable

a. EVALUATION RESEARCH;
b. BASIC VS. APPLIED RESEARCH;
c. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R&D); AND
d. ACTION RESEARCH
TWO TYPES OF RESEARCH BASED ON:
2. CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH BY METHOD
• Although there might be overlaps – most research
studies represent identifiable method or strategy;
• All researches have certain procedures in common
(i.e., statement of the problem; collection of data;
analysis of data; and drawing of conclusions.)
• But specific procedures are determined by the
research method
a. HISTORICAL RESEARCH
b. DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
c. CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
d. CAUSAL-COMPARATIVE AND EXPERIMENTAL
RESEARCH
 CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH BY PURPOSE

a. BASIC VS. APPLIED RESEARCH;

• Basic Research is conducted solely for the purpose
of theory development and refinement; and
• Applied Research, as the name implies, is conducted
for the purpose of applying, or testing, theory and
evaluating its usefulness in solving business-and-
management problems.
b. EVALUATION RESEARCH
• The purpose is to facilitate decision-making regarding the
relative worth of two or more alternative reactions
CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH BY METHOD

1. HISTORICAL RESEARCH
• Involves studying, understanding, and explaining
past events;
• Concerning causes, effects, or trends of past
occurrences to explain present events and to
anticipate future events;
• Examples of Historical Research
o Factors leading to the development and
growth of trade unions
o Trends in employee performance appraisal
o Development of NGOs in the Philippines
2. DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
• Collecting data to test hypothesis or to answer
questions on current status of the subject of
the study
• Interview/data collection instruments developed for
specific studies -- researchers need to ask
questions that were not asked before
• Common problems – “lack of response”; or failure
of the subject to return questionnaires or to attend
interview schedule
• Examples of questions in descriptive research:
o How do general managers spend their times?
o How do employees feel about flexi-time
scheduling?
3. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R&D)
• The major purpose of R&D efforts is not to formulate
or test theory but to develop new products

4. ACTION RESEARCH

• The purpose of Action Research is to solve

business-and-management problems through the
application of the scientific methods
3. CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH

• To determine whether, and to what degree, a

relationship exists between two or more quantifiable
variables;
• To establish a relationship (or lack of it) or to use
relationships in making predictions;

• The degree of relationship between two variables is

generally expressed as a correlation coefficient
which is a number between .00 and 1.00 ; inverse
correlations result in a number between .00 and -
1.00
Examples of typical correlation studies:

The relationship between anxiety and accuracy.

• Scores on an anxiety scale and accuracy rates
on a specific task would be acquired from each
member of a group.
• The two sets of scores will be correlated and the
resulting coefficient would indicate the degree of
relationship

The use of the aptitude test to predict success in a

job.
• Scores of the aptitude test would be correlated with
the ultimate success in the job as measured by the
supervisors’ quantitative appraisal.
• If the resulting coefficient was high, the aptitude test
would be considered a good predictor.
4. CAUSAL-COMPARATIVE AND EXPERIMENTAL
RESEARCH
• The activity or characteristic believed to make a
difference is referred to as the “cause”, or treatment,
or the independent variable;
• The difference, or “effect,” which is determined to
occur is referred to as the dependent variable;
a. Experimental Research:
• In an experimental study, the researcher
manipulates at least one independent variable and
observe its effect on one or more dependent
variables;
• The essence of experimentation is control
• Only experimental research can truly establish
cause-effect relationships
b. CAUSAL-COMPARATIVE STUDY
• In a causal-comparative study, the
independent variables, or “cause,” is not
manipulated; it has already occurred
• The difference between the groups (or the
independent variables) is not, was not, or could not
be controlled;
• Examples of causal-comparative studies:
 The effect of pre-supervisory training on job
performance at the end of the first six months as
a supervisor
 The effect of having elderly persons on
employees’ absenteeism
 The effect of sex on job success of MBA graduates