Research Methods

Spring 2013

Todays agenda
Classification of Research Research Process
Research Philosophy Research Approaches Research Strategies Time horizons of Research Research Methods

Types of Business Research

Research can be classified into 4 types with respect to the objectives it serves: Exploratory Research Descriptive Research Explanatory Research Evaluative Research

Types of Business Research

1. Exploratory Research
Initial research conducted to clarify and define the nature of a problem to gain better understanding of the nature of the problem. Initially focus is broad and becomes narrow as the research progresses. Subsequent research expected. E.g. How families adjust to a member having autism?

Exploratory Research
Search of literature Experience survey Pilot studies

Types of Business Research

2. 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

3. 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?

Explanatory research can be correlational or Causal/Predictive.

Types of Business Research

Explanatory Research
Correlation Research
Implies relationship between variables

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

Types of Business Research

4. 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.

Who Does Research?

Academics Students

Government and Business Organizations

Consultants Managers

The Research Process

Research Philosophy Research Approaches Research Strategies
Positivism Realism Interpretivism Deductive Inductive

Experiment Survey Case Study Grounded Theory Ethnography Action Research

Time Horizons
Data Collection Methods

Cross sectional Longitudinal

Sampling Secondary Data Observation Interviews Questionnaires

The Research Process Onion

Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill

Research Philosophy Layer 1

What is Philosophy?
Philosophy can be defined as a set of beliefs or fundamental views or understanding of a particular discipline. Research Philosophy is basically a researchers belief or view point about the development of knowledge.
Also known as research paradigm set of principles or beliefs that guide the way research is conducted within the discipline

Research Philosophy Layer 1

Types of Research Philosophy/paradigms:
Positivism Interpretivism Realism