DR NEENA

CHAPTER-1
D R D E E PA K C H AW L A

INTRODUCTION
TO
BUSINESS RESEARCH
SONDHII

RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY

R E S E A R C H M E T H O D O L O G Y CONCEPTS AND
DR NEENA SLIDE 1-1

What is research?

Management research is an unbiased, structured, and

sequential method of enquiry, directed towards a
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clear implicit or explicit business objective. This

enquiry might lead to validating existing postulates
or arriving at new theories and models.
SONDHII

R E S E A R C H M E T H O D O L O G Y CONCEPTS AND
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Types of research
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BUSINESS RESEARCH
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BASIC RESEARCH APPLIED RESEARCH

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EXPLORATORY
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CONCLUSIVE RESEARCH
RESEARCH

DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH CAUSAL RESEARCH

RESEARCH
R E S E A R C H M E T H O D O LCONCEPTS
O G Y CONCEPTS
AND AND
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Types of research
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Basic research: the basic premise is the need to

KNOW and the concern is primarily academic in
nature.
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Applied research: Solution or action oriented

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research, that is contextual and practical in

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approach.
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RESEARCH
R E S E A R C H M E T H O D O LCONCEPTS
O G Y CONCEPTS
AND AND
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Types of research
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Exploratory research is loosely structured and the

basic premise is to provide direction to subsequent,
more structured method of enquiry.
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Conclusive research is structured and definite in

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orientation. These studies are usually conducted to

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validate formulated hypotheses and specified

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relationships.

RESEARCH
R E S E A R C H M E T H O D O LCONCEPTS
O G Y CONCEPTS
AND AND
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Exploratory vs Conclusive Research

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EXPLORATORY RESEARCH CONCLUSIVE RESEARCH

 Loosely structured in design  Well structured and systematic in
design
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 Are flexible and investigative in  Have a formal and definitive

methodology methodology that needs to be followed
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and tested
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 Do not involve testing of hypotheses  Most conclusive researches are carried

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out to test the formulated hypotheses

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 Findings might be topic specific and  Findings are significant as they have a
might not have much relevance outside theoretical or applied implication.
the researcher’s domain

RESEARCH
R E S E A R C H M E T H O D O LCONCEPTS
O G Y CONCEPTS
AND AND
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Conclusive research
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Descriptive research: The main goal of this type

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of research is to describe the data and

characteristics about what is being studied.
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Causal research: Explores the effect of one or

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more variables on other variable(s), with

reasonable level of certainty by controlling the
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impact of other influencing variables.

RESEARCH
R E S E A R C H M E T H O D O LCONCEPTS
O G Y CONCEPTS
AND AND
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The research process
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Management Dilemma
Basic vs Applied

Defining the Research Problem

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Formulating the Research Hypothesis

Developing the Research Proposal

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The Research Framework

Research Design

Data Collection Plan Sampling Plan

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Instrument Design
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Pilot Testing
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Data Collection
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Data Refining and Preparation

Data Analysis & Interpretation

Research Reporting

Management / Research Decision

RESEARCH
R E S E A R C H M E T H O D O LCONCEPTS
O G Y CONCEPTS
AND AND
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The research process

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The management decision problem

Defining the research problem

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Formulation of the working hypotheses

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Construction of the research proposal

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RESEARCH
R E S E A R C H M E T H O D O LCONCEPTS
O G Y CONCEPTS
AND AND
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The research process

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Formulating the research design

Sampling considerations
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Collecting the data for the study

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Data analysis and interpretation of findings

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RESEARCH
R E S E A R C H M E T H O D O LCONCEPTS
O G Y CONCEPTS
AND AND
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Research applications in marketing

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Market & consumer analysis

Product research
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Pricing research
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 Promotional research
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Place research
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RESEARCH
R E S E A R C H M E T H O D O LCONCEPTS
O G Y CONCEPTS
AND AND
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Research applications in finance

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Asset pricing, capital markets and corporate finance

 Financial derivatives and credit risk modeling research

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Market-based accounting research

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Auditing and accountability

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Other areas: financial forecasting, behavioural finance,

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volatility analysis

RESEARCH
R E S E A R C H M E T H O D O LCONCEPTS
O G Y CONCEPTS
AND AND
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Research applications in
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human resources
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Training & development studies

Selection and staffing studies

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Performance appraisal–design and evaluation

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Organization planning and development

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Incentive and benefits studies

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Emerging areas–critical factor analysis, employer branding studies

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RESEARCH
R E S E A R C H M E T H O D O LCONCEPTS
O G Y CONCEPTS
AND AND
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Research applications in
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production & operations management

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Operation planning and design

Demand forecasting and demand estimation

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Process planning
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Project management and maintenance effectiveness

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studies
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Logistics and supply chain-design and evaluation

Quality estimations and assurance studies

RESEARCH
R E S E A R C H M E T H O D O LCONCEPTS
O G Y CONCEPTS
AND AND
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Criteria for research

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MUST have: a clearly stated research purpose/ objective

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MUST have: a sequential plan of execution

MUST have: a logical and explicitly stated justification for the

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selected methods
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MUST have: an unbiased and neutral method of conduct and

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reporting
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MUST have: complete transparency and ethical conduction of

the research process

MUST have: provision for being reliable & replicable

RESEARCH
R E S E A R C H M E T H O D O LCONCEPTS
O G Y CONCEPTS
AND AND
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END OF CHAPTER
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RESEARCH
R E S E A R C H M E T H O D O LCONCEPTS
O G Y CONCEPTS
AND AND