08/06/2022

Business Research Process

Step 1: Defining the Problem

Process of Research Step 2: Developing an Approach to the Problem

Step 3: Formulating a Research Design

Step 4: Doing Field Work or Collecting Data

by
Dr. Anoop Kumar Gupta Step 5: Preparing and Analyzing Data

MAIT Step 6: Preparing and Presenting the Report

The business research process

► The business research process consists of six
broad stages.
► Each of these stages is developed in more The business
detail in subsequent lectures; thus, the research process,
discussion here is brief. detailing
► The process illustrated in previous slide is of iterations
the business research seen in simple stages.
between stages
► Figure on next slide takes the process a stage
further to show the many iterations and
connections between stages
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Step 1: Problem Definition Step 1: Problem Definition

► The logical starting point in wishing to support ► Problem definition involves:
the decision-maker is trying to understand the
۞ Discussion with decision-makers
nature of the business problem that requires
۞ In-depth interviews with industry experts
research support.
۞ Collection and analysis of readily available
► Business problems are not simple ‘givens’, and
the symptoms and causes of a problem are not published information (from both inside and
easily identifiable. outside the firm)
► In the Figure, the first three stages show the ► Once the problem has been precisely defined,
iterations between environmental context of the the researcher can move on to designing and
problem, business decision problem and conducting the research process with
business research problem. confidence.
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Step 2: Development of an Approach Step 2: Development of an Approach

to the Problem to the Problem
► The development of an approach to the problem ► ‘Sound’ theory helps the researcher to decide:
involves identifying factors that influence
 What should be measured or
research design.
understood
► A key element of this step involves the selection,
 How best to encapsulate and
adaptation and development of an appropriate
theoretical framework to underpin a research communicate the measurements or
design. understandings
► Sound theory is involved in: ► In deciding what should be either measured or
► Understanding the interrelated characteristics of the encapsulated, the researcher also develops a
nature of target respondents broad appreciation of how the data
► Understanding the issues to be elicited from them collected will be analyzed.
► Understanding the context in which this will happen
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Step 3: Research Design Development Step 3: Research Design Development

► A research design is a framework or blueprint
►Conducting any exploratory techniques,
for conducting a business research project.
precisely defining variables to be
► It details the procedures necessary for
measured, and designing appropriate
obtaining the required information.
scales to measure variables can also be
► Its purpose is to establish a study design that
will either test the hypotheses of interest or part of the research design.
determine possible answers to set research ►The issue of how the data should be
questions, and ultimately provide the obtained from the respondents (e.g. by
information needed for decision making. conducting a survey or an experiment)
must be addressed.
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Step 4: Fieldwork or Data collection Step 4: Fieldwork or Data collection

► The process starts with a more thorough collection ► Secondary data collection and analysis may
and analysis of secondary data sources. complete the research process, i.e. sufficient
► Secondary data are data collected for some other information may exist to interpret and report
purpose than the problem at hand. They may be findings to a point whereby the information gaps
held within the organization as databases that detail that the decision-maker has are filled. Secondary
the nature and frequency of customer purchases, data forms a vital foundation and essential focus to
through to surveys that may have been completed primary data collection.
some time ago that may be accessed through ► A stage of qualitative research could be used to
libraries, CDROMs or the Internet. Going through precede a stage of quantitative research. For
this stage avoids replication of work and gives example, a series of focus groups may help to
guidance in sampling plans and in deciding what to generate a series of statements or expectations that
measure or encapsulate using quantitative or are subsequently tested out in a survey to a
qualitative techniques. 11 representative sample. 12
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Step 5: Data preparation and analysis Step 5: Data preparation and analysis
► Data preparation includes: ► Considerations of data analysis do not occur
 editing, after data have been collected; such
considerations are an integral part of the:
 coding,
 development of an approach,
 transcription
 development of a research design, and the
 verification
 implementation of individual quantitative or
of data qualitative methods.
► The process of data preparation and analysis ► If the data to be collected are qualitative, the
is same for both quantitative and qualitative analysis process can occur as the data are
techniques, for data collected from both being collected, well before all observations
secondary and primary sources. or interviews have been completed.
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Step 5: Data preparation and analysis Step 5: Data preparation and analysis
► An integral part of qualitative data preparation and ► Verification ensures that the data from the original
analysis requires researchers to reflect upon their questionnaires have been accurately transcribed,
own learning and the ways they may interpret what ► Data analysis gives meaning to the data that have
they see and hear. been collected.
► If the data to be analysed are quantitative, each ► Univariate techniques are used for analysing data
questionnaire or observation form is inspected or when there is a single measurement of each element
edited and, if necessary, corrected. or unit in the sample; if there are several
► Number or letter codes are assigned to represent measurements of each element, each variable is
each response to each question in the questionnaire. analysed in isolation.
► The data from the questionnaires are transcribed or ► Multivariate techniques are used for analysing data
keypunched into a proprietary data analysis when there are two or more measurements of each
element and the variables are analysed
package.
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Step 6: Report preparation and Step 6: Report preparation and

presentation presentation
► The entire project should be documented in a
► In addition, an oral presentation to
written report that addresses:
management should be made using tables,
 the specific research questions identified, figures and graphs to enhance clarity and
 describes the approach, impact.
 research design, ► Finally, decision maker’s information gaps
 data collection and data analysis procedures are filled and that the manager is supported
adopted for the set problem, but also a contribution
 presents the results and major findings. is made towards organizational learning in
► Research findings should be presented in a terms of building up business knowledge
comprehensible format so that they can be readily
used in the decision-making process.
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