BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS

MBA FALL 2014

Agenda
Types of Research
Research Process

Business Research Types

Basic research
Applied research

based on the purpose and context of the problem

Basic Research
Basic

/ Fundamental Research also

known as pure research
Research
done
to
enhance
the
understanding of a phenomena or
problems that commonly occur in
organizational settings
and seek
methods of solving them in general.
Example: A study on the influence of different
compensation systems such as pay by piece-work
versus salary-plus-bonus structure on productivity.

Applied Research
Applied

Research

Applied Research has a practical

problem solving emphasis. Research
done with the intention of applying the
results of the findings to solve specific
problems currently being experienced in
the organization.
Example: A study undertaken by organization ABC to
decide on an acquisition to increase stockholder wealth.

Basic & Applied Research

Basic Research
Purpose

Applied Research
Purpose

Improve
understanding
particular
business
management problem.

of
and

Expand knowledge of business

processes and management

Results in universal principles

relating to the process and its
relationship to outcomes

Results in solution to problem

related to action, performance or
policy needs.

Findings of significance and value

to society in general.

Findings of practical relevance and

value to manager(s) in
organization(s)

Context

Conducted by people in universities

Flexible timescales

Choice of topic and objectives

determined by the researcher

Context

Conducted
by
people
universities and organizations

Tight timescales

Objectives
originator

negotiated

with

in

the

Stages in a Research Process

1. Identify
and define
Research
problem/op
portunity

2. Design the
Research
study
3. Select a
Researc
h
Method
4.

Collect
data and
analyze
data
and
draw
conclusions

5. Report
findings

Stages in a Research Process

2.Literature
Review

1.Select
Topic/Ide
ntify the
problem

3.Decide Research
Question(s)/Problem definition

4. Develop Conceptual
Framework & Operationalise

5. Plan Research Design

6.Decide Research
Method
7.Conduct Research

8. Report
Findings

Identify Research Topic

Sounds

simple but very daunting and

important part of your research project
Lead you in the right direction for planning
and designing your research
a problem well defined is a problem half
solved

Time

consuming process utmost care

should be given in defining research
topic.

Identify Research Topic

How

to do it?

Begin with the area that is of personal interest to you

and ask yourselves
what is it about your area of interest that you want to know?
That is explore different avenues of the area of interest

For this you can:

Look at the past project titles related to your area of interest.
Have discussions with the experts of that area of interest.
Look at the past projects and ask what appeals you and what is
good about that research and why is it good?
Brainstorming

And

from there develop a working title for your

research.

Refining Research Topic

Research

idea needs to be refined to turn it

into a research project.
This process is also known as preliminary study
It can be done through:

Review of some of the literature

Informal discussions with the experts of that area
Shadowing employees can also provide some useful insight
If your research is about a specific organization then get good
understanding of that organization

There is no sequence for these activities and they

can be used simultaneously depending on the
needs of the researcher.

Refining Research Topic

During

the process of refining your research topic

subject it to the checklist of attributes of a good
research topic/idea before embarking on
developing research questions and research
objectives
These attributes are:
The topic fit the specifications and meet the standards set by the
examiner
Interest and excites you
Must have a link to the theory
Can be done within the timeframe
Achievable within the financial resources
Able to gain access to the data
Provide fresh insights into this topic
Findings will be valuable
Able to state clear research questions and research objectives

Turning Research Topic into

Research Question
When

stating your research

question start with the general
focus question also known as
primary research question from
the refined research topic.
Later develop more detailed
research questions known as
subsidiary research questions or
research objectives.

Turning Research Topic into

Research Question
Research Topic/Problem

Primary Research Question

Online transaction services for

bank customers

Should the bank offer OTS?

And in which possible forms
should it be offered?

Job recruitment via internet

How effective is recruiting for
new staff via internet in
comparison with traditional
methods?

Turning Research Topic into

Research Question
Primary Research Question

Subsidiary Research Questions

Should the bank offer OTS? And

in which possible forms should it
be offered?

A. Are consumers aware of OTS

system?
B. What are consumer reactions
to OTS?
C. How do consumers react to
different OTS form A? B? C?
D. What benefits are perceived by
consumers for each form of
service?

Turning Research Questions into

Research Objectives
Research Question

Research Questions

Research Objectives

Should the bank offer

OTS? And in which
possible forms should
it be offered?

A. Are consumers
aware of OTS
system?

To determine
consumer
awareness of OTS.

B. What are
consumer
reactions to OTS?

To measure consumer
attitudes and
beliefs about OTS.
To obtain ratings and
C. How do consumers
ranking for each
react to different
form of service.
OTS form A? B? C?
a) To identify
D. What benefits are
perceived benefits
perceived by
of service
consumers for
b) To identify
each form of
perceived
service?
disadvantages of
service.

Research question & Research

Objectives
Once

Research questions are stated

research objectives are derived from the
research problem/question.

Research

objectives basically ensure

that the research project is manageable
in size and offer an explanation of the
reasons for conducting the research.

Mostly

business problems and research

objectives are the same.

Types of Business
Research
Research can be classified into 3 types
with respect to the objectives it serves
(type of question it answers):
Descriptive

Research

Explanatory
Evaluative

Research

Research

Types of Business
Research
1.

Descriptive Research

has no other purpose then to describe an event

or characteristic may be through distributions.
Does not attempt to understand or explain the
situation or to predict what it might be in the
future or how it might be changed.
Descriptive studies have a broad appeal to the
administrator and policy analysts for planning.
Asks Who, what, When, Where questions.
E.g. Census study
E.g. Do Pakistanis support cricket more than
hockey?

Types of Business
Research
2. Explanatory Research

Goes beyond description and attempts to explain

the reasons for the phenomenon that the
descriptive study only observed.
Tries to explain why things are as they are.
Searches for explanations.
Asks Why or How questions
E.g. (How) Is the popularity of a sport influenced
by the amount of TV coverage it gets?

Types of Business
Research
Explanatory

Research

Causal Research
Sequence of events: when we do one thing
another follows (temporal sequence)

Types of Business
Research
3. Evaluative Research
Done to make judgments on the success or
effectiveness of policies, strategies, practices or
programs.
E.g. whether the recently introduced
compensation policy has helped in increasing
motivational levels of employees.

Literature Review
Literature

review refers to the process

of identifying and engaging with
previously published research relevant
to the topic of interest.

Critical

literature review forms the

foundation on which research is built as
it helps the researcher develop an
understanding and insight into the topic
and the trends that have emerged in
the specific field.

Literature Review (contd)

Serves

4 main functions

Focuses

on what has been done

before; highlights how your study will
contribute to the field of knowledge.
Outlines the instruments you will use
and why.
Points out why it is necessary to
conduct your research.
Sets the boundaries for your study.

Guidelines for writing literature Review

Use your own words

Avoid

copying (quoted
except for definitions.

Aim

text),

to summarize and synthesize

ideas from your sources and
comment in your own words.

Content of literature review

How

to combine academic theories

and ideas the literature contains to
form the literature review of your
proposal/paper/project.

This

will need:

Discuss the work that has already been

undertaken and reference that work.
Draw out the key points and trends and
present them in a logical way.

What is meant by
critical?
Critical

means detailed and

justified analysis of and
commentary on the merits and
faults of key literature within your
chosen area.
Refer to work by recognized experts
Discuss work that supports or opposes your idea
Make reasoned judgments about the value of
others work to your research
Support arguments with valid evidence in a
logical way
Distinguish between facts and opinions

Structure of literature
review
Think

of your literature review as a

funnel
Start with a more general level before narrowing down
to your specific Research question and objectives.
Provide a brief overview of key ideas.
Summarize, compare and contrast the work of key
writers.
Narrow down to highlight the work most relevant to
your research.
Provide detailed account of findings.
Highlight those issues where your research will provide
fresh insight.
Lead the reader into subsequent sections of your
project report which explore these issues.

Research Hypothesis
Review Hypothesis
development

Literature

Conceptual/theoretical framework

Hypothesis

Research Hypothesis
Hypothesis

is a statement that
expresses relationship or
differences among variables.

It

is a statement that could be

accepted or rejected.

Research Question & Hypothesis

So

research questions are

interrogative.

Hypothesis

Hypothesis

are declarative.

are more appropriate

for explanatory or deductive
study.

Types of Hypothesis
Directional

Hypothesis predicts the

direction of the difference or relationship
between two groups or two variables.

Non-directional

Hypothesis do not predict

the direction of the relationship.

Null

Hypothesis
Alternative Hypothesis

Research Approaches
The

research approach selected

by the researchers will depend on
the extent to which they are clear
about the theory at the beginning
of research.
The two approaches to research
are:
1. Deductive Research
2. Inductive Research

Research Approaches
1.

Deductive Research
Explanation
Analysis

Data

The process begins by drawing propositions from

what is known to be true about a particular
domain and then the proposition is subject to
empirical scrutiny.

Research Approaches
2.

Inductive Research
Data
Analysis
Explanation/Theory
Propositions are established on the basis
of observation of particular facts.

Deductive
o
o

o
o
o

Moving from theory to

data
Explain causal
relationships between
variables
Collection of quantitative
data (numerical data)
Application of controls to
test the hypothesis
Sample sizes are generally
large to generalize
conclusions

Inductive
o

Moves from data to

theory

Explain meaning human

attach to events (allows
alternative explanations)

Collection of qualitative
data (non-numerical
data)

Flexible structure

Less concern with the

need to generalize

Research Approaches