RESEARCH METHODS

INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS RESEARCH

Research
Different authors have defined research as follows:
• Research is carrying out a diligent inquiry or a critical examination of a
given phenomenon.
• Research involves a critical analysis of existing conclusions or theories with
regard to newly discovered facts i.e., it’s a continued search for new
knowledge and understanding of the world around us.
• Research is a process of arriving at effective solutions to problems through
systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data.

Business Research
It is a systematic inquiry whose objective is to provide information to solve
managerial problems (Cooper and Schindler, 2003).

Scientific Research
Is a systematic, controlled, empirical, and critical investigation of natural
phenomenon guided by theory and hypothesis about the presumed relation among
such phenomena.

Definition of basic terms used in research

 Population: It refers to an entire group of individuals, events or objects
having a common observable characteristic.
 Sample: It is a smaller group obtained from the accessible population. Each
member or case in the sample is referred to as a subject.
 Sampling: It is the process of selecting a number of individuals for a study
in such a way that the individuals selected represent the population. The
purpose of sampling
 Variable: It is a measurable characteristic that assumes different values
among the subjects. They can be dependent, independent, intervening, etc.
 Data: refers to all information a researcher gathers for his or her
study. Can be secondary data or primary data.
 Statistics: It is the science of organizing, describing and analyzing data.
The term statistics is also used to refer to indices which are derived from
data through statistical procedures. Descriptive statistics are indices that
describe a given sample. Inferential statistics are a branch of statistics
which researchers use to draw inferences about a given phenomenon in
the population.
 Objective: It refers to the specific aspects of the phenomenon under
study that the researcher desires to bring out at the end of the research
study.
 Literature review: It involves locating, reading and evaluating reports of
previous studies, observations and opinions related to the planned study.

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  Hypothesis: It is a researcher’s anticipated explanation or opinion
regarding the result of the study.
 Theory: It is a set of concepts or constructs and the interrelations that are
assumed to exist among those concepts. It provides the basis for
establishing the hypothesis to be tested in the study.
 A concept is a bundle of meanings or characteristics associated with
certain events, objects, conditions, situations, and behaviors. Concepts
have been developed over time through shared usage

Components of research / Research process

The following are the essential steps in the research process:

1. Identifying the Research Topic: The first step in the research process is identifying the
research topic. This stage requires you to identify a problem or an area that you want to
investigate. The issue should be particular enough to allow you to conduct a comprehensive
study but broad enough to enable you to explore different perspectives and approaches.

2. Conducting Literature Review: The next step is conducting a thorough review of the
existing literature. You should look for articles, books, and other academic sources that pertain to
your research topic. This step helps you to understand the relevant theories and findings that
exist in your field, which is crucial in developing research questions and objectives.

3. Developing Research Hypothesis and Questions: After conducting the literature review, you
should develop research hypotheses and questions. These should be framed in a clear, concise
and testable manner. The hypotheses should be testable through data analysis and research
questions should be answerable through research.

4. Determining the Research Design: Once you have developed your research questions, you
should determine the research design. The research design will depend on the type of study,
research hypothesis and questions. The research design may involve collecting and analyzing
qualitative data (such as interviews, observation, and focus groups) or quantitative data (such as
surveys or experiments).

5. Collecting Data: After determining the research design, you should collect data. The data
collection process varies depending on the research design. Collecting data can be through
surveys, questionnaires, focus groups or interviews.

6. Analyzing Data: The next step is analyzing data. This step requires you to use data analysis
tools such as statistical software or frameworks or other qualitative data analysis software such
as NVivo & SPSS to examine the data collected.

7. Drawing Conclusion: Once you have analyzed your data, you should draw conclusions based
on your research objectives and research questions.

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8. Publishing and Presenting Research Findings: Finally, the research findings should be
disseminated to other researchers and practitioners through presenting at conferences, publishing
in journals, or sharing through other forms of public communication.

Purpose / Benefits of Research

1. To discover new knowledge

2. To describe a phenomenon
3. To enable prediction.
4. To enable control i.e., the ability to regulate the phenomenon under study.
5. To enable explanation of a phenomenon i.e., accurate observation and
measurement of a given phenomenon.
6. To learn the Scientific approach to decision making
7. Advancement of Knowledge: Research contributes to the advancement of
knowledge in various fields of study by developing new theories or
improving existing ones.
8. Identification of Problems and Issues: Research helps in identifying
problems and issues that require attention and elucidating the underlying
causes.
9. Development of Strategies and Solutions: Research provides evidence-based
information and recommendations for addressing problems and issues.
10.Professional Development: Research is an essential component of
professional development as it provides opportunities for enhancing
research skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.

Characteristics of research:

Research is a systematic process of gathering information, knowledge, and

evidence to solve a particular problem or answer a research question. There are
certain characteristics that define research and distinguish it from other types of
activities. These characteristics include:

1. Systematic - Research is conducted in a systematic and organized manner. It

follows a specific structure, logical sequence, and organized approach to gather,
analyze and interpret data. It aims to minimize bias and random error by using
standardized methods, procedures, and techniques.

2. Objective - Research is objective, meaning that it is unbiased and impartial. It

does not involve personal opinions, prejudices, or beliefs. Researchers aim to find
out facts and evidence that are verifiable and can be replicated by others.

3. Empirical - Research is based on empirical data or observations that are

gathered through concrete evidence and facts rather than opinions or beliefs. It
involves the collection of primary data through observation, experiments, surveys,
interviews, or secondary data through literature reviews and other sources.

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4. Logical - Research is logical and systematic in its approach. It follows the
scientific method, which involves formulating a hypothesis, testing it through
empirical data, and drawing conclusions based on the data. The research process
is guided by a logical sequence of steps and decisions, leading to conclusions that
are based on objective evidence.

5. Replicable - Research must be replicable, which means that other researchers

should be able to replicate the study and get similar results. The research findings
should be valid and reliable and should stand up to the scrutiny of other
researchers.

6. Generalizable - Research findings must be generalizable, meaning that they

should apply to the broader population or context, beyond the confines of the
research study. This is important to ensure that the study findings have practical
applications and can be used to inform policy and decision-making.

7. Cyclical - Research is cyclical, meaning that it is an ongoing process of

collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to refine and expand upon previous
findings. Research should be continually reviewed, challenged, and improved upon
over time.

Types of Research
Different authors have classified research into various categories.

1. Qualitative research

This type of research aims at in-depth understanding of situations. It includes

designs, techniques and measures that do not produce discrete numerical data. It
aims to define how and why things happen as they do.
Qualitative data can be collected through;
 Focus groups- discussion among groups of people about a topic to gather
opinion
 Participant observation (ethnography) e.g., staying and observing ways of
life in a certain community.
 Content analysis (literature review)
 Interview method.

2. Quantitative research
It includes designs, techniques and measures that produce discreet numerical or
quantifiable data.
Data collection methods include;
 Surveys: list of closed or multiple-choice questions that are distributed to a
sample for filling.
 Experiments
 Observation

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Qualitative Research Quantitative Research
Focusses on exploring ideas and Focusses on testing hypothesis and
formulating theory or hypothesis theories
Analyzed by summarizing, Analyzed through math and statistical
categorizing and interpreting. analysis
Mainly expressed in words Mainly expressed in numbers, graphs and
tables.
Requires few respondents Requires many respondents
Uses open-ended questions Uses closed ended questions
Key terms: understanding, context, Key terms: testing, measurement,
subjectivity objectivity
Verbal or pictorial descriptions Verbal descriptions reduced to
Reduced to verbal codes numerical codes for computerized analysis

3. Scientific/ Pure / Fundamental Research

Basic researchers are interested in deriving scientific knowledge i.e., they are
motivated by intellectual curiosity and need to come up with a particular solution.
It focuses on generating new knowledge in order to refine or expand existing
theories.

4. Applied research
It is conducted for the purpose of applying or testing theory and evaluating
its usefulness in solving problems. It provides data to support a theory, guide
theory revision or suggest the development of a new theory.
5. Evaluation Research
It is the systematic process of collecting and analyzing data in order to make
decisions. It is a process of determining whether the intended results were
realized. Types of evaluation research include:

6. Descriptive Research:
Descriptive research is a type of research designed to describe and identify the characteristics,
magnitude, patterns or frequencies of a certain phenomenon. In this type of research, researchers
report what they observe or find without attempts at explaining the observations. This research
involves collecting data through various methods such as surveys, observations, and content
analysis to describe and summarize the phenomenon under study.

7. Exploratory Research:
Exploratory research is a type of research that aims at exploring and discovering the basic nature
or essence of a complex problem or issue. The primary goal of this research is to gather
preliminary information that can guide future research in the same area. Exploratory research is
conducted through various methods such as interviews, focus groups, case studies, and
secondary data analysis.

8. Explanatory / Causal Research:

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Explanatory research seeks to identify the relationships that exist between different variables or
factors. The goal of this research is to explain why certain phenomena occur and to establish
cause and effect relationships. The methods used in explanatory research include experiments,
surveys, and quasi-experiments.

9. Cross-sectional Research:
Cross-sectional research is a type of research that examines a single point in time. It focuses on
gathering information from a specific group of individuals or entities at one point in time to draw
conclusions about the phenomenon. This research method is often used in surveys and opinion
polls.

10. Longitudinal Research:

Longitudinal research is another type of research that examines the same group of individuals or
entities over a period of time. This research method is useful for studying changes in behavior,
attitudes, and patterns over time. Longitudinal research methods include cohort studies, panel
studies, and trend analyses.

11. Action Research:

Action research is a methodical and iterative approach that involves using research to solve
specific problems in real-life settings. It aims at developing practical solutions to problems while
also advancing scientific knowledge. This research involves collaboration between researchers
and practitioners in fields such as education, health, and social services.