Research Process Overview

ch04.ppt
উপস্থাপনা

Answer the following questions elaborately based on the attached file and web results-
1. How many types of research processes? Explain each with an example.
2. What are the stages of the research process? Explain with examples.

1. Types of Research Processes:

The research processes are categorized into three main types:

a. Exploratory Research

Purpose: To clarify and define the nature of a problem when the researcher is unsure of the
problem's specifics.
Characteristics:
Initial stage of research.
Provides insights but not conclusive evidence.
Often used to generate hypotheses for further study.
Examples:
A company notices a decline in sales but is unsure why. It conducts exploratory research by
reviewing secondary data, conducting focus groups, or pilot studies.
Surveys of customer experiences to gather initial ideas about preferences.

b. Descriptive Research

Purpose: To describe characteristics of a population or phenomenon.

Characteristics:
Requires some understanding of the problem.
Answers questions like "who," "what," "where," "when," and "how."
Examples:
A demographic profile of customers for a brand like Weight Watchers (e.g., an average
customer is a 40-year-old woman with a household income of $50,000).
A market analysis showing that women buy 80% of men’s fragrances, even though the men’s
fragrance market is smaller than women’s but growing faster.

c. Causal Research

Purpose: To identify cause-and-effect relationships.

Characteristics:
Requires a clear definition of the problem.
Establishes relationships between variables and the effects of certain conditions or actions.
Examples:
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 Determining whether a new packaging design will lead to increased sales.
Comparing the effectiveness of two advertising campaigns to identify which drives higher
engagement.

2. Stages of the Research Process:

The research process typically involves six key stages, each with specific tasks and objectives:

a. Problem Discovery and Definition

Purpose: Identify and articulate the problem or opportunity.

Steps:
Discover symptoms and potential issues (e.g., declining sales).
Define the problem clearly, leading to research objectives.
Example: A business notices reduced customer retention and formulates the objective to identify
the causes.

b. Research Design

Purpose: Create a framework or master plan for collecting and analyzing data.
Types of Designs:
Exploratory (e.g., focus groups, pilot studies).
Descriptive (e.g., surveys or secondary data analysis).
Causal (e.g., experiments).
Example: Designing a survey to understand customer preferences or running an experiment to
test the impact of a new product feature.

c. Sampling

Purpose: Select a representative subset of the population for study.

Key Questions:
Who will be sampled?
What sample size is needed?
How will the sample be selected (probability or non-probability methods)?
Example: Surveying 1,000 randomly chosen customers from a population of 100,000 to estimate
average satisfaction levels.

d. Data Gathering

Purpose: Collect the necessary data to address research objectives.

Methods:
Surveys, interviews, observations, or secondary data collection.
Example: Conducting face-to-face interviews to understand consumer behavior.

e. Data Processing and Analysis

Purpose: Process raw data and extract meaningful insights.

Steps:
Editing and coding responses.
Applying statistical techniques for analysis.

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 Example: Analyzing survey results to find correlations between product features and customer
satisfaction.

f. Conclusions and Report Writing

Purpose: Present findings in a clear and actionable manner.

Steps:
Draw conclusions based on analysis.
Provide recommendations aligned with research objectives.
Example: A report showing that a new packaging design improved sales by 15%, leading to its
implementation.

Each of these stages is interconnected, often overlapping and feeding back into one another to refine
the research process​.

ch04.ppt
উপস্থাপনা

Answer the following questions elaborately based on the attached file and web results-
1. How many types of research processes? Explain each with an example.
2. What are the stages of the research process? Explain with examples.

1. Types of Research Processes:

Based on the document, there are three main types of research processes: Exploratory, Descriptive,
and Causal.

a. Exploratory Research

Purpose: To clarify and define the nature of an ambiguous problem or situation. It is typically
conducted when the researcher is unaware of the specifics of the issue.
Characteristics:
Provides preliminary insights but no conclusive evidence.
Often used as a starting point for more structured research.
Involves flexible and unstructured data collection methods like secondary data analysis,
experience surveys, or pilot studies.
Examples:
A company notices sales are declining and doesn't know why. They might conduct exploratory
research by analyzing historical data or holding focus group interviews.
Asking whether people would be interested in a new product idea without detailed metrics.

b. Descriptive Research

Purpose: To describe the characteristics of a population or phenomenon.

Characteristics:
More structured than exploratory research.

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 Requires an understanding of the problem and uses methods like surveys and observational
studies.
Focuses on answering "who," "what," "where," "when," and "how."
Examples:
Profiling the average customer of Weight Watchers as a 40-year-old woman with a household
income of $50,000, juggling children and work.
Analyzing market data showing that the men's fragrance market is growing faster than the
women's fragrance market and that 80% of men's fragrances are bought by women.

c. Causal Research

Purpose: To identify cause-and-effect relationships between variables.

Characteristics:
Requires a clearly defined problem.
Relies on experiments or studies to establish causality.
Demands rigorous controls to rule out alternative explanations.
Examples:
Determining whether changing product packaging increases sales.
Identifying which of two advertising campaigns is more effective in boosting customer
engagement.

2. Stages of the Research Process:

The research process comprises six interconnected stages, as highlighted in the document:

a. Problem Discovery and Definition

Purpose: Identify the issue or opportunity that needs to be addressed.

Steps:
Diagnose the problem's symptoms.
Clearly define the research objectives to avoid ambiguity.
Examples:
Discovering that customer dissatisfaction stems from long delivery times and formulating the
objective to explore solutions.

b. Research Design

Purpose: Create a framework or master plan for data collection and analysis.
Types:
Exploratory (e.g., pilot studies or literature reviews).
Descriptive (e.g., surveys or observational studies).
Causal (e.g., experiments).
Examples:
Designing a survey to understand customer preferences.
Planning an experiment to test the impact of price reductions on sales.

c. Sampling

Purpose: Select a representative group from the larger population.

Key Considerations:

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 Define the population and sampling criteria.
Choose between probability or non-probability sampling methods.
Examples:
Selecting a random sample of 1,000 customers from a database of 100,000 to assess
satisfaction levels.

d. Data Gathering

Purpose: Collect relevant data to address the research objectives.

Methods:
Surveys, interviews, observations, or using existing data.
Examples:
Conducting in-depth interviews to learn about customer experiences.
Distributing online questionnaires to assess brand perception.

e. Data Processing and Analysis

Purpose: Organize and interpret raw data to draw meaningful insights.

Steps:
Clean and code the data.
Apply statistical or qualitative analysis techniques.
Examples:
Analyzing survey data to identify patterns in consumer behavior.
Using regression analysis to explore the impact of advertising spend on sales.

f. Conclusions and Report Writing

Purpose: Summarize findings and provide actionable recommendations.

Steps:
Develop conclusions based on the data analysis.
Prepare a report to communicate results effectively.
Examples:
Reporting that a 20% discount campaign improved sales but reduced profit margins, leading
to recommendations for future price adjustments.

These stages are cyclical, often overlapping and interdependent, with forward and backward linkages
that refine the research process over time​.

ch06 (sust-d5a6abd23e's conflicted copy 2014-01-22).ppt

উপস্থাপনা

Answer the following questions elaborately based on the attached file and web results combined-
1. What is the concept of the research problem?
2. What is the process of defining a research problem?
3. What is the iceberg principle? Explain with an example.
4. What is hypothesis?
5. What are the types of variables? Explain with an example.
6. What are the components of a research proposal? (Or sample research proposal)

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1. Concept of the Research Problem

A research problem is a specific issue or decision area that a researcher aims to clarify and address by
answering specific research questions. It is central to the research process, serving as the foundation for
formulating objectives and designing the study. Effective problem definition is crucial, as it reduces
ambiguity and ensures the research focuses on the right issues.

Example: A neighborhood swimming association notices declining membership and needs to determine
whether the cause is competition from a nearby water park or demographic changes in the
neighborhood​.

2. Process of Defining a Research Problem

The process involves several structured steps:

1. Ascertain the Decision Maker’s Objectives:

Understand the managerial goals and express them in measurable terms.
Example: A retail store may want to increase customer footfall.
2. Understand the Background of the Problem:
Gather background information through situation analysis, informal discussions, or
secondary data.
Example: Analyzing past sales trends to identify changes.
3. Isolate and Identify the Problem, Not the Symptoms:
Differentiate between the symptoms and the root problem.
Example: Declining sales could be a symptom of poor customer service or ineffective
marketing.
4. Determine the Unit of Analysis:
Define whether the study will focus on individuals, households, organizations, etc.
Example: A survey might target families rather than individuals if analyzing grocery shopping
behavior.
5. Determine Relevant Variables:
Identify measurable elements related to the problem, such as customer satisfaction or
product features.
Example: Variables for a study on smartphone usage might include screen size, battery life,
and price.
6. State Research Questions and Objectives:
Frame precise questions and goals to guide the study.
Example: “What factors influence customer loyalty to our brand?”​.

3. Iceberg Principle

The iceberg principle suggests that most business problems are not visible or immediately apparent, as
they lie below the surface. Managers often focus on visible symptoms instead of addressing the
underlying causes.

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Example: A neighborhood swimming association sees declining membership (symptom) and assumes
competition from a nearby water park is the cause. However, the true problem may be demographic
changes—children in the neighborhood have grown up, and older residents no longer swim​.

4. Hypothesis

A hypothesis is an unproven proposition or a possible solution to a problem that can be tested using
empirical data. It provides direction to the research by forming the basis for data collection and analysis.

Example: A hypothesis for a retail study might state, “Offering a 20% discount during weekends will
increase customer footfall by 15%.”

5. Types of Variables

Variables are elements that can assume different values and are categorized into the following types:

a. Categorical Variables

Variables that take on distinct categories.

Example: Gender (male, female), or product types (electronics, clothing, groceries).

b. Continuous Variables

Variables that take on any value within a range.

Example: Customer income or product price.

c. Dependent Variables

Variables influenced by other factors in the study.

Example: Sales volume (dependent on advertising spend).

d. Independent Variables

Variables that influence dependent variables.

Example: Advertising spend (influences sales volume).

Illustrative Example: A study might explore the effect of advertising spend (independent variable) on
sales volume (dependent variable), considering customer demographics (categorical variables) and
monthly income (continuous variable)​.

6. Components of a Research Proposal

A research proposal is a detailed plan that outlines the purpose, methodology, and structure of the
study. Key components include:

1. Statement of the Problem:

Clearly defines the business problem and objectives.
Example: "To understand the factors contributing to customer churn in our subscription
model."
2. Research Objectives:
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 Specifies broad and specific goals.
Example: Broad objective—“Analyze customer retention.” Specific objectives—“Identify
reasons for cancellations.”
3. Research Design:
Describes the methodology, such as exploratory, descriptive, or causal research.
Example: Conducting surveys and focus groups.
4. Sampling Design:
Details the target population, sample size, and sampling methods.
Example: Random sampling of 1,000 customers.
5. Data Collection Methods:
Specifies techniques for gathering information.
Example: Online surveys and secondary data analysis.
6. Data Analysis Plan:
Describes how data will be processed and analyzed.
Example: Use of statistical tools like regression analysis.
7. Time Frame:
Specifies the timeline for completing the study.
8. Budget:
Provides a detailed estimate of costs.
9. Expected Outcomes:
Anticipates the results and their implications.
Example: Improved customer retention strategies.
10. Format of the Report:
Describes how findings will be communicated.
Example: Presentation and detailed written report​.

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