C2-WEEK 1

Internal versus External Researchers

Internal Researchers External Researchers
 Better acceptance from staff
 Divergent and convergent thinking
Advantage

 Knowledge about organization

 Experience from several situations in different
 Would be an integral part of
s

organizations
implementation and evaluation of the
 Better technical training, usually
research recommendations
 Takes time to know and understand the
Disadvantage

 Less fresh ideas organization

 Power politics could prevail  Rapport and cooperation from staff not easy
s

 Possibly not valued as “expert” by  Not available for evaluation and

staff implementation
 Costs

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 Exercise
Let say you are the General Manager of Cyntoq Corp. Your
company face some problems and need to conduct a research to
find a solution. As a manager in that company, you need to
choose either to use the internal or external researcher to
conduct the research. If you decide to hire external researcher,
please provide TWO (2) situations that justify the decision on
choosing External Researcher to conduct the research instead of
using the company’s internal researcher.

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 Ethics and Business Research
• Research is conducted morally without compromising the rights of any
parties (especially the respondents of the research).

• Researcher has a key role to play.

• The researcher has to exhibit and practice good conduct throughout the
research endeavor.

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 C3-WEEK 2

Chapter 2
Scientific Investigation

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 CHAPTER OUTLINE:
1. Definition and importance of scientific investigation
2. The hallmarks of scientific research
3. Some obstacles to conducting scientific research in the management and
behavioural areas
4. Types of Research: Basic and Applied
5. Reasoning: Deduction and Induction
6. Research Approach: Quantitative, Qualitative, Mixed Methods
7. Research Paradigm: Positivism, Constructivism, Pragmatism
8. Research Process: Hypothetico-Deductive

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 Scientific Research
• Focuses on solving problems and pursues a step-by-step logical, organized, and rigorous
method to identify the problems, gather data, analyze them, and draw valid conclusions
from them.

• Not based on hunches, experience, and intuition (though these may play a part in final
decision making), but is purposive and rigorous.

• Helps researchers to state their findings with accuracy and confidence.

• Tends to be more objective than subjective and helps managers and business people
highlight the most critical factors at their organizations that need specific attention so as
to avoid, minimize or identify and solve problems.

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 Scientific Research
• The term scientific research applies to both basic and applied research.

• Applied research may or may not be generalizable to other organizations, depending on

the extent to which differences exist in such things as size, nature of work, characteristics
of the people and or structure of the entire organization.

• Has to be an organized and systematic process where problems and opportunities are
carefully identified, data, scientifically gathered and analyzed, and conclusions are drawn
in an objective manner for effective decision-making.

• Scientific investigation and managerial decision-making are integral aspects of effective

problem-solving

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 The importance of scientific investigation
• Because of the rigorous way in which it is done, scientific research enables:
– those who are interested in researching and knowing about the same/similar issues to come up with
comparable findings when the data are analyzed.
– state their findings with accuracy and confidence - helps various other organizations to apply those
solutions when they encounter similar problems.
– managers to highlight the most critical factors at the workplace that need specific attention so as to
avoid, minimize, or solve problems - tends to be more objective than subjective

• When a Researcher Does Not Apply the Scientific Approach:

– Does not warrant investment of these resources to do thorough, rigorous scientific research.
– When a decision needs to be made quickly, lack of knowledge and other factors can prompt
businesses to try and solve problems based on hunches.
– Rash decisions on critical matters may result in failed implementation of plans.
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 Hallmarks of scientific research
• Purposiveness
– The situation in which research is focused on solving a well-identified and defined problem, rather
than aimlessly looking for answers to vague questions

• Rigor
– Based on a solid theoretical base and sound methodological design using appropriate instruments
to meet the stated objectives

• Testability
– The ability to subject the data collected to appropriate statistical tests, in order to substantiate or
reject the hypotheses developed for the research study.

• Replicability
– Results can be supported again and again when the same type of research is repeated.
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 Hallmarks of scientific research
• Accuracy - Precision and Confidence
– The degree of closeness of the estimated sample characteristics to the population parameters, determined by the
extent of the variability of the sampling distribution of the sample mean.
– The probability estimate of how much reliance can be placed on the findings; the usual accepted level of
confidence in social science research is 95%.

• Objectivity
– Conclusions drawn based on the interpretation of results and facts based on findings derived from the results of
analyzing actual data.

• Generalizability
– The applicability of research findings in one setting to others.

• Parsimony
– Efficient explanation of the variance in the dependent variable of interest through the use of a smaller, rather than
a larger number of independent variables.

Business Research Methods |

 Exercise 1
Critique the following research done in a service industry as to the extent to which it meets the
hallmarks of scientific investigation discussed in this chapter.

The Friendly Telephone Company

Customer complaints were mounting, and letters of complaint regarding the problems they
experienced with the residential telephones lines were constantly pouring in at the Friendly
Telephone Company. The company wanted to pinpoint the specific problems and take corrective
action.

Researchers were called in, and they spoke to a number of customers, noting down the nature of
the specific problems they faced. Since the problem had to be attended to very quickly, they
developed a theoretical base, collected relevant detailed information from a sample of 100
customers, and analysed the data. The results are expected to be fairly accurate with at least an
85% chance of success in problem solving. The researchers will make recommendations to the
company based on the results of data analysis.
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 Some obstacles to conducting Scientific Research in the
Management and Behavioral areas

• It is not always to conduct in 100% scientific as the results

obtained will not exact and error-free.
• Measurement and data collection involves subjective concept
such as feelings, emotions, attitudes, and perceptions.
• Difficulty in obtaining a representative sample restricting the
generalizability of the findings.

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 Exercise 2
• If research in the management area cannot be 100 percent
scientific, why bother to do it at all? Comment on this
statement.

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 C4-WEEK 2

Chapter 2
Continue:
Type of Research: Basic vs Applied
Reasoning: Deduction and Induction
Research Approach: Quantitative, Qualitative, Mixed Methods
Research Paradigm: Positivism, Constructivism, Pragmatism
Research Process: Hypothetico-Deductive

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 Type of Research: Basic vs Applied
BASIC RESEARCH APPLIED RESEARCH
To find solutions or understand problems
Main purpose To discover or expand knowledge
faced by the organization

Research usually undertaken by Research undertaken by practitioners or

Who interested?
academia within academia
The knowledge uncovered can be The solutions outlined address the
Generalizability applied to a wider setting – can be problem at hand and are localized in
relevant to a wider scope nature
Timeline can be determined by the Timeline is determined by the decision
Timeline
researcher makers

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 Reasoning
• A thought process that takes place which allows us to reach a
conclusion.
• Two types:
i. Deductive Approach - take universal arguments and arrive at a
more micro conclusion.
ii. Inductive Approach - build a conclusion based on smaller truths or a
set of beliefs and formulate a universal conclusion.

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 Deductive Approach
• Application of a general theory to a specific case.
– Hypothesis testing

Theory

Develop Hypothesis

Collect and Analyze Data

Reject / Not Reject Hypothesis

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 Inductive Approach
• A process where we observe specific phenomena and on this
basis arrive at general conclusions.
– Counting white swans
Observe Phenomena

Analyze Patterns and Themes

Formulate Relationships

Develop Theory
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The Mixed Approach (Deductive and Inductive) Process
Develop/ Use
Existing Theory

Formulate
Develop Hypothesis
Relationships

Analyse Patterns Collect and

and Themes Analyse Data

Observe Reject/Not Reject

Phenomena based Hypothesis and
on Conclusions Make Conclusions

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 Research Approach
• Qualitative Research – exploring and understanding the
meaning individuals or groups ascribe to be social or human
problem.
• Quantitative Research – testing objective theories by
examining the relationship among variables.
• Mixed Methods Research – an approach to inquiry that
combines or associates both qualitative and quantitative
forms.
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 Research Paradigms
• Positivism - belief that by using science we can measure, classify and
understand a particular phenomenon; post positivists take into
consideration the fact that many interpretations may be based on
assumptions and conjectures.
• Social Constructivism - researchers seeks understanding of the world
they live and work in and focus on qualitative descriptors; allow
participants to construct their own “meaning” of the situation.
• Pragmatism - looking at the present situation and questioning what
works for the situation at hand and getting solutions to the problems
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 Hypothetico-Deductive Research
• The Seven-Step Process in the Hypothetico-Deductive Method
– Identify a broad problem area
– Define the problem statement
– Develop hypotheses
– Determine measures
– Data collection
– Data analysis
– Interpretation of data

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