Louis Pasteur

French scientist, Professor and Inventor;

Born on December 27, 1822, in France, credited with the
discoveries of Pasteurization, vaccines like Rabies, Anthrax
and many more.
What is no. 1 killer disease in India?
Heart Attack ?

Cancer?

Diabetes?
WHO studies show
That 1 out of 12 Indians are likely to get cancer

8.5 lac people every year are affected by cancer, out of which 6 lacs
succumb to death.
Understanding Research
• Research information is neither intuitive nor haphazardly
gathered.
• Literally, research (re-search) -“search again”
• Business research must be objective
• Detached and impersonal rather than biased
• It facilitates the managerial decision process for all
aspects of a business.
Research is…….
• Knowledge acquisition gained
– through reasoning
– through intuition
– but most importantly through the use of appropriate
methods

The Scientific Method

What is Research ?
The original addition to the available knowledge which contributes
to its further advancement.

Properly defined, research is defining and redefining problems,

formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions; collecting, organising
and evaluating data; making deductions and reaching conclusions;
and at last carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether
they fit the formulating hypothesis.
Business Research
Business research is defined as the
systematic and objective process of
generating information for aid in
making business decisions.
Scientific Method
1. Choose a question to investigate
2. Identify a hypothesis related to the question
3. Make testable predictions in the hypothesis
4. Design an experiment to answer hypothesis question
5. Collect data in experiment
6. Determine results and assess their validity
7. Determine if results support or refute your hypothesis
Basic Elements of the Scientific Method
• Empiricism: the notion that enquiry is conducted through
observation and knowledge, verified through evidence.
• Determinism: the notion that events occur according to
regular laws and causes. The goal of research is to
discover these.
• Scepticism: the notion that any proposition is open to
analysis and critique.
Objective of Research
1. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it (studies with this
object in view are termed as exploratory or formulative research studies);
2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group
(studies with this object in view are known as descriptive research studies);
3. To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated
with something else (studies with this object in view are known as diagnostic research
studies);
4. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables (such studies are known as
hypothesis-testing research studies).
Objective of
Research • PHENOMENON • CHARACTERISTI
CS OR SITUATION

FORMULATIVE DISCRIPTIVE

CAUSAL DIAGNOSTIC

• CAUSE AND • FREQUENCY

EFFECT OF
RELATIONSHIP OCCURRENCE
TYPES OF RESEARCH
•Descriptive v/s Analytical
•Applied v/s Fundamental
•Quantitative v/s Qualitative
•Conceptual v/s Empirical
•Experimental
•Simulation
Four major research methods
Methods of Research
1. Library
(i) Analysis of historical Recording of notes, Content analysis, Tape and Film listening and Research
records analysis.
(ii) Analysis of documents Statistical compilations and manipulations, reference and abstract guides,
contents analysis.
2. Field
(i) Non-participant direct Observational behavioural scales, use of score cards, etc.
Research observation
(ii) Participant observation Interactional recording, possible use of tape recorders, photo graphic
techniques.
(iii) Mass observation Recording mass behaviour, interview using independent observers in public
places.
Methods of Research
(iv) Mail questionnaire Identification of social and economic background of respondents.
(v) Opinionnaire :Use of attitude scales, projective techniques, use of sociometric scales.
(vi) Personal interview Interviewer uses a detailed schedule with open and closed questions.
(vii) Focused interview Interviewer focuses attention upon a given experience and its effects.
(viii) Group interview Small groups of respondents are interviewed simultaneously.
(ix) Telephone survey Used as a survey technique for information and for discerning opinion; may also
be used as a follow up of questionnaire.
(x) Case study and life history Cross sectional collection of data for intensive analysis, longitudinal
collection of data of intensive character.
3. Laboratory
Small group study of random Use of audio-visual recording devices, use of observers, etc.
Criteria of a Good Research
•Systematic
•Logical
•Empirical
•Replicable
Problem Discovery Problem Selection of
and Definition discovery exploratory research
technique
Sampling

Selection of
exploratory research
technique Probability Nonprobability

Secondary
Experience Pilot Case Collection of
(historical) Data
survey study study data
data Gathering
(fieldwork)

Data
Editing and
Problem definition Processing
coding
(statement of and
Analysis data
research objectives)

Data
Selection of processing
Research Design basic research
method Conclusions
Interpretation
and Report
of
findings
Experiment Survey
Secondary
Laboratory Field Interview Questionnaire Observation
Data Study Report
Research Process
(1) Formulating the research problem (7) Execution of the project
(2) Extensive literature survey (8) Analysis of data
(3) Developing the hypothesis (9) Hypothesis testing
(4) Preparing the research design (10) Generalisations and
interpretation, and
(5) Determining sample design
(11) Preparation of the report or
(6) Collecting the data
presentation of the results
Formulation of the Research Objective
The formulation of the research problem is the first
and the most important step of the research process.
It is like the identification of the destination before
undertaking a journey.
Formulation of the Research Objective
Research Objectives are the goals to be achieved by conducting research.
Research Objective may be to
◦ Clarify a situation
◦ Define an opportunity OR
◦ Monitor and evaluate current business operations

Research Objective is developed when managers and researchers agree on

the actual business problem to be addressed. But still the problem is not
very clearly specified.
Formulation of the Research Objective
For exactly specifying the problem/ objective, Business Researcher
employees any of Four techniques:

Previous Research
Pilot Study
Case Studies
Experience Surveys
Problem Identification Process
Literature Review
A directed search of published works, that discusses theory and presents
empirical results that are relevant to the topic.
Pilot Study
A small scale research project that collects data from respondents similar
to those to be used in the full study
▪ Pretest
▪ Focus Group Interview
Case Studies
Experience Surveys
Steps in Problem Identification
General Problem Statement

Understanding Nature

Surveying available literature

Developing Ideas

Rephrasing Problem Statement

Selection of the Research Objective
Subject which is overdone must not be selected.
Too narrow or too vague problems should not be chosen.
The problem should be chosen in such a way that the ingredients required for the
study should be within the reach of a researcher.
The importance of the subject, time ,efficiency of the researchers is also an essential
requisite factor.
Selection of problem must be preceded by a preliminary study.
Controversial subject should not be chosen by an average researcher.
Selection of problem must be preceded by a preliminary study.
Formulating the Research Hypothesis
The first step is to identify and explain the key variables in a
research problem, their relationships; explains the logic for
these relationships and describes the nature and dynamics
of the relationships.
Generation of Hypothesis
After determining the important variables relevant to an issue and
established the logical reasoning in the theoretical framework, we test
whether the relationships that have been theorized do in fact hold
true.
The results of these tests offer us part of the answers to the
formulated research questions, whether these relate basic research or
to applied research.
Data Collection, Data Processing, and
Analysis
Data collection is integral part of the research design.

Data can be collected in a variety of ways, in different settings – field or lab – and from different
sources.
➢Data processing generally begins with the editing and coding of thee data.
➢Analysis is the application of reasoning to understand and interpret the data that have been
collected.