INTRODUCTION

• Research is an organized inquiry carried out to provide information for the

solution of a problem.
• • Research is an organized and systematic way of finding answers to questions.
• • An organized, systematic, data based on critical, objective, scientific enquiry
or investigation into a specific problem, undertaken with the purpose of finding
answers or solutions to it.
• • The role and characteristics of research may be described by the Acronym
RESEARCH.
• – R: recognition of information needs
• – E: effective decision making
• – S:systematic and objective
• – E:exude or disseminate information
• – A: analysis of information
• – R:recommendations for action
• – C: collection of information
• – H: helpful to managers.
 CONT:
• • Information is often required to solve a specific
problem to minimize risk and uncertainty which
makes research a means to end (applied
research).
• • Research can also be used to increase
knowledge or understanding. This makes research
an end in itself (Basic research).
 TYPES OF RESEACRH
• • Scientific research is concerned with observed
facts systematically classified, and includes
trustworthy methods to discover truths.
• • This method of inquiry is a very important
aspect of science.
• • Observation, hypothesis & verification are the
three important components of scientific
enquiry.
 TYPES
• Descriptive vs. Analytical:
• • Descriptive research includes surveys and
fact-finding enquiries of different kinds. The
major purpose of descriptive research is
description of the state of affairs as it exists at
present.
• Analytical research, on the other hand, the
researcher has to use facts or information
already available, and analyse these to make a
critical evaluation of the material.
 CONT:
Basic Research/Pure Research/Fundamental Research vs. applied research
• Basic research: The investigation of problems to further and develop existing
Knowledge. It is mainly concerned with generalization and formulations of
theories. Gathering information and acquiring knowledge for knowledge sake is
termed basic research.
• Applied Research: Research done with the intention of applying the results of
the findings to solve specific problems currently being experienced in the
organization. Has a practical problem solving emphasis, although the problem
solving is not always generated by negative circumstances.
• Problem solving based as it is conducted to reveal answers to specific
questions related to action, performance, or policy needs.
• Undertaken to solve a specific problem.
• Attempts to solve specific management problems
CONT:
Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research
• Quantitative Research: Based on the measurement of quantity or
amount.
• Applicable to phenomenon that can be expressed in terms of quantity.

• Is important in behavioural sciences where the aim is to discover the

underlying motives, interests, personality and attitudes of human beings.
• The qualitative research serves as the foundation for the quantitative
phase of the research project because it provides the researcher with
first-hand knowledge of the research problem.
• Armed with this knowledge, the researcher‘s design and execution of
the quantitative phase is invariably superior to what it might have been
without the qualitative phase.
• In some cases, a qualitative phase is applied after a Quantative study to
help the researcher understand findings in the quantitative phase.
 CONT:
• Conceptual Vs. Empirical Research
Conceptual Research
• Related to some abstract idea or theory.
• Philosopher‘s thinkers generally use it to develop
new concepts or to interpret existing ones.
Empirical Research
• Data based, coming up with conclusions that are
capable of being verified, by observation or by
experiment.
• The researcher should collect enough that to
prove or disprove his hypothesis.
 CHARACTERISTIC OF A GOOD RESEARCH
 The purpose of the research is clearly defined.
 The research process is presented in detail.
• The research design thoroughly planned.
• High ethical standards should be applied
• Limitations should be frankly revealed.
• Adequate analysis should be made for decision makers‘ needs.
• Findings should be presented unambiguously.
• The Conclusions should be justified.
Generally qualities of a good research
• 1. Good research is systematic
• 2. Good research is logical
• 3. Good research is empirical
• 4. Good research is replicable
 RESEARCH PROPOSAL
• A research proposal is an activity that
incorporates decisions made during early
research-project planning phase of the study
including management –research questions
hierarchy and exploration.

• A research proposal is a work plan, outline,

prospectus, statement of intent, draft plan.
 RESEARCH PROCESSES
The research process includes a number of practical steps which may
include the following.
 Define The Research Problem,
 Establish The Research Objectives,
 Develop Hypothesis And Research Questions,
 Identify Information Types And Sources
 Determine Research Design,
 Prepare and Present The Final Research Report
 Determine Sample Plan And Size
 Qualitative methods
 Quantitative methods
 Development of measurement scales
 Development of data collection designs (Questionnaire)
 Collecting Data
 PROBLEM STATEMENT
• A research study starts with a brief introductory section. The
researcher introduces briefly
• the general area of study, and then narrows down to the specific
problem to be studied.
• Characteristics of a good problem statement
• ¾ It should be written clearly and in such a way that the reader’s
interest is captured
• immediately.
• ¾ The specific problem identified in the problem statement should
be objectively
• researchable
• ¾ The scope of the specific research problem should be indicated
• ¾ The importance of the study in adding new knowledge should be
stated clearly
 CONT
• STATING THE PURPOSE
• The purpose of a study crystallizes the researcher’s inquiry into a particular area
of knowledge in a given field. If the purpose is accurately expressed, the research
process will be carried out with ease. The purpose of the study should meet the
following criteria:
• ¾ It must be indicated clearly, unambiguously and in a declarative manner.
• ¾ The purpose should indicate the concepts or variables in the study.
• ¾ Where possible, the relationships among the variables should be stated.
• ¾ The purpose should state the target population.
• ¾ The variables and target population given in the purpose should be consistent
with the variables and target population operationalized in the methods section
of the study.
• In stating the purpose of the study, the researcher should choose the right words
to convey the focus of the study effectively. Use of subjective or biased words or
sentences should be avoided.
 CONT:
Defining a problem involves:
• Specifying the symptoms
• Itemizing the possible causes of the symptoms, and
Listing the reasonable alternative courses of action that can
undertake to solve the problem.
The Research Problem
• Poor problem definition can expose research to a range of
undesirable consequences, including incorrect research design
s and inappropriate or needlessly expensive and collection,
assembly of incorrect or irrelevant data, and poor choice of the
sample selection.
• It is critical that the management problem be defined
accurately and fully.
 CONT:
• Examples
Biased Neutral
To show To prove
To confirm To verify
To check To demonstrate
To indicate To validate
To explain To illustrate
To determine To compare
To investigate To differentiate
To explore To find out
To examine To inquire
 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
• STATING THE OBJECTIVES
• Research objectives are those specific issues
within the scope of the stated purpose that the
researcher wants to focus upon and examine in
the study.
• A good way of setting research objectives is to
ask, what information is needed in order to solve
the problem?‘
• A key aspect of the research objectives step is
the specification of the specific types of
information useful as they look for a solution to
Specify Research Objectives

• A good way of setting research objectives is to ask, what

information is needed in order to solve the problem?‘
• A key aspect of the research objectives step is the specification
of the specific types of information useful to the managers as they
look for a solution to the management problem at hand.

• Research objectives address information gaps that must be

closed in order for the researcher to go about resolving the
current problem.
• Generally, the researcher prepares an itemized listing of the
information objectives agreed upon by the manger as essential for
this purpose.
• Each research objectives must be precise, detailed, clear and
operational.
 Cont.
• To be precise: means that the terminology is
understandable to the commercial manager and that it
accurately captures the essence of each construct to
be researched.
• Detail is provided by including the four demographic
measures of age, sex, education, and annual family
income.
• Clear objective: there is no doubt as to what will be
researched and how the information will be presented
to the manager.
• Operational: it implies specific measurement scales
and statistical analysis
 CONT:
• Directional and Non-Directional Hypothesis
• Directional Hypothesis (DP)
• is refers to those hypothesis that deals with relationships
between two variables or comparing two groups.
• In stating such hypothesis terms such as positive, negative,
more than, less than, and the like are used.
• Non directional Hypothesis (NDH)NDH are those that do no
postulate a relationship or difference, but offer no indication of
the direction of these relationships or differences.
• In other words, though it may be conjectured that there would
be a significant relationship between two variables, we may not
be able to say the relationship would be positive or negative.
HYPOTHESIS
• Null hypothesis is a statement in which no difference or effects are
expected. If the null hypothesis is not rejected, no changes will be
made.
• The null hypothesis is a proposition that states a definitive, exact
relationship between two variables.
• It states that the population correlation between two variables is
equal to zero or that the difference in the means of two groups in the
populations is equal to zero or the difference in the means of two
groups in the population is equal to zero( or some definite number).
• In general, the null statements are expressed as no (significant)
relationship between two variables or no (significant) difference
between two groups.
• Alternative Hypothesis: is a statement that some difference or effect
is expected. Accepting the alternative hypothesis will lead to changes
in opinions or actions
LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature Review or Extensive Literature Survey
After the selection of research problem, the second
step is that of literature mostly connected with the
topics. The availability of the literature may bring
ease in the research.
Pick a topic Picking a topic for the project tends to
be a daunting task for many students because it is
difficult to pick a topic in an area that you don’t
know much about.
 Cont.
. A common mistake is spending too much time
trying to pick the perfect topic. It is therefore best to
do some exploring, than pick a topic and go with it.
In the end, the worst that can happen is that you
have picked up some valuable research skills, but
realize the topic you chose is not one you wish to
pursue in the future. That is information you did not
have at the beginning of the semester, so it is not a
loss at all!
 Selecting the literature
• The literature review itself does not constitute new
primary information. However, it will constitute an
important part of your final project.
• In the literature review section of your project you
need to demonstrate that you are able to:
determine what has already been written on a topic
• identify previous approaches to the topic
• identify central issues in the field integrate what
previous researchers have found
• identify important issues still unresolved
 why we need literature review for a research work

1. The literature review helps the researcher to discover the extent of

work done already in the problem area.
2. It helps to formulate some hypotheses or straighten out the research
questions.
3. It helps to build a mental picture of what the solution to the problem
may likely be.
4. To discover whether the problem has already been studied , that is, to
ascertain whether answers to the problem understudy has already been
given and documented to prevent unnecessary duplication and waste of
efforts
5. To discover other possible problems arising as a result of the problem
studied.
6. It sharpens the general picture of the problem in focus so that the
research obtains a more precise knowledge of the problem.