Introduction to

Course Objective
Enhance your
understanding,
knowledge and
skills enough to
• teach
• conduct a research project and
• publish
 Session objective

After attending this session the Scholars will be

able to understand and define
Context of research
What is research
Why research
When research
How to research
Some basic concept
How to select a topic
How to develop a model
Favorable Change Un-favorable Change

Opportunity Problem Threat

D = Data is the facts you will work with and they are without context.

I = Information comprises these facts with some context and perspective allowing you to see the relations between data.

K = Knowledge comprises information and where you start to see patterns in those relations and begin to understand those patterns.
Patterns give you predictability and repeatability (validity and reliability).

W = Wisdom comprises knowledge and occurs when you understand why these patterns are occurring. When the pattern is understood
at this level you have high predictive and reliability powers. At this point you can determine the founding principles for the patterns.
Your work therefore needs to move through to at least the 'knowledge' level of this model. Can you see how to do that? Look at the
following 'walk-through' of the knowledge hierarchy (DIKW).

Source: Gene Bellinger (2004) Systems Thinking, Knowledge Management - Emerging Perspectives.
 Rationalism
(Reasoning through Formal Structured
Proof)

Postulational

Self evident Truth

Scientific
Method of Authority Method
Idealism Empiricism
(highly interpretative (observable,
ideas) concrete data)

Literary

Untested opinion

Existentialism
(Individual experience based Informal
Process)
It is a method of
providing formal,
Structured proofs
through
observable,
concrete data

Scientific Method
leads to conduct
Research
WHAT IS

RESEARCH
“Research is systematic and objective
process of gathering, recording and
analyzing data in a scientific way for
making good decisions”
 • Determining the best strategy to
Marketing
promote a particular product?

• Exploring the main reasons for

HRM
employee turnover?

• Describing the rate of return on

Finance
particular investment?
1
• Management Is A Science

2
• Reduce Uncertainty

3
• Conducting A Research

4 • Reading And Evaluating Other People’s Research

5
• Understanding Brief Description of research Studies

6
• Making Decisions In Our Daily Lives

7
• Being A Better Thinker

8
• Secret Of Success
 Time Availability Nature of Benefits
Constraints of Data the Decision vs. Costs
Is the infor- Does the value
Is sufficient time Is the decision
Yes mation already Yes Yes of the research Yes
available before
on hand
of considerable
information
Conducting
a strategic
decision
inadequate
or tactical
exceed the cost Research
for making of conducting
must be made? importance?
the decision? research?

No No No No

Do Not Conduct Research

 Introduction to

• Some Basic Concepts

• What is Theory
• Purpose
• Levels
• Development Process
• Entity
• Concepts
• Variables
• Constant
• Construct
• Types of Variables
• w.r.t. relationship
• w.r.t. data
 THEORY
Theory is a standardized principle on which basis we
can explain the relationship between two or more
concepts or variables.
PURPOSE OF THEORY
Prediction and understanding are the two purpose of
theory.
THEORY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

1. Induction Process

2. Deduction Process
 THEORY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
1. Induction process
2. Deduction process

Theory
All rosebushes have thorns

Deduction Induction

Predicted Observation Actual Observation

If I check my neighbor’s rose bushes, I notice that the five rosebushes

I should find that they all have thorns in my backyard all have thorns

22
LEVELS OF THEORY

1. Abstract level
At the abstract level intangible realities are researched
wherein Concepts and propositions are the elements
of theory
2. Empirical level
At the empirical level tangible realities are researched
wherein variables and testable hypothesis, the
empirical counterparts of concepts and
propositions.
More Satisfaction increases Higher Temperature reduces
the Motivation level
Theory
the Productivity

Satisfaction & Motivation Temperature &

hard work & thirst Proposition Hypothesis Productivity
Honesty and success Height & Weight,
Distance & Speed

Height, Weight,
Motivation, thirst, concept Construct variable Temperature,
honesty, satisfaction Distance

Abstract Empirical
level level

24
Concept:
Abstract realities or generalized ideas about objects, attributes,
occurrence or processes, that can not be measured directly.
Concepts are the building blocks of theory.

Examples Motivation, Performance and

Satisfaction

Variable (Vary + able = Change + able)

Empirical realities that may have varied (different) values that

can be measured directly is called variables
Example: Gender (male or female)
Temperature ( 98o , 95o , 100o ) etc

25
 Types of Variable
with respect to data
Variable

Categorical Numerical

Nominal Ordinal Discrete Continuous

Gender Motivation
1. No of students 1. Height
1. Male 1. Highly Motivated
2. No of chairs 2. Weight
2. Female 2. Moderately
3. Collar size 3. speed
Motivated
3. Less Motivated
Age: 25.6, 23.19,29,45,16

Age: less than 20, 21-30, 31-40, 40+

Salary: 35000, 90000

Salary
less than 25K, 26-50K, 51-75K,
 Types of Variable
with respect to relation

Budget Advertisement Awareness Sales

Competitors product, price,

packaging, placement
 Categorical Variable
A variable whose values are not numerical in nature
Variables Values
Gender Male, female
Religion Islam, christianity, Jews, etc
Motivation level High, medium, low

Types of Categorical variable

1. Nominal variable
A categorical variable whose values are not ordered
Example
Gender Male, Female
2. Ordinal variable
A categorical variable whose values are in ordered
Example
Education Metric, inter, graduation
 Numerical Variable
A variable whose values are numerical in nature
Variables Values
Collar size 14, 14.5, 15, 15.5……….
Height 5.7, 5.8, 5.3
No of employees 23, 45, 69, 100

Types of Numerical variable

1. Discrete variable
A numerical variable whose values have same interval
Example
collar size 14.5, 15, 15.5……..
2. continuous variable
A numerical variable whose values don’t have same interval
Example
speed 40.1, 45, 67……….
 Data

Set of raw facts figures is called Data

Example: Age- 16, 18, 20, 21, 23,
Nationality- Pakistani, Indian, American
Types of Data

Data

Nature Time frame

Qualitative Quantitative Cross-

Time-Series
sectional
Schematic Flow Diagram
 Satisfact Sci-hub.tw
ion
turnover

Commit
ment Motivati Retentio perform
HRP on ance
n
POS
Engage
ment
Trust Team
Impact of Motivation on Perform
Performance with the mediation of ance
Factors/Antecedents/Causes/De
Retention and engagement among
terminants of Motivation among
teacher in Higher education Sector
teachers in Higher education
of Pakistan
Sector of Pakistan

Investm Profitabi Profitabi

Dividend lity
ent lity
 FRAMEWORK

The abstract, logical schematic flow diagram that

guide the development of the study. All
frameworks are based on the identification of key
concepts and the relationships among those
concepts.
TYPES OF FRAMEWORK

Conceptual Framework

Theoretical Framework
 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

A proposed imaginary model on process and

propositions of relationships between
concepts/variables developed on the basis of
personal experiences/observations and is not
backed by any theory.

It is used in research for projection of possible courses of

action or to present a preferred approach to an idea or
thought.
 Theoretical Framework

A theoretical framework is a conceptual model of

how one theorizes a conceptual framework and
makes logical sense of the relationships among
the variables with the evidences from
literature/theory
(Sekaran, 2000).
 How to Present a Framework
MODEL
A model is a symbolic /graphical representation of
the abstract ideas and the proposition of the
relationships among them.

There are two types of model

Descriptive Model
Schematic/Graphical model - conveys concepts and
propositions through the use of boxes, arrows or other
symbols. (Common in Social Sciences)•
Mathematical or statistical model - conveys concepts and
propositions through the use of letters, number and
mathematical symbols (common in Finance and
economics fields).
Examples
 Area of interest : Management Sciences
Field of study: IR, Quality, Safety
Topic: Quality of Work Life
Problem Statement:
Factors Affecting Quality of Work Life among
employee in Education sector/industry of
Pakistan
Impact of QWL on Employee Engagement,
Theoretical Framework II
 Introduction to

• How to Conduct Research

• Selecting the type of
research
• The Generic Research
Process
• Selecting problem/Topic
• Sources of Problem
• Problem Selection Criteria
• Process (Area-field-topic)
• Defining Scope
• Problem Formulation
• Statement - Question
• Framework/Model
 Classification of
Research

Application of
Objective of the
the Research Time Dimension Inquiry Mode
research
Study

Cross-
Basic or Pure Exploratory Qualitative
sectional
Research research research
research

Applied Explanatory Longitudinal Quantitative

Research research research research

Mixed
Descriptive
Methods
research
research
 Classification of
Research

Application of
Objective of the
the Research Time Dimension Inquiry Mode
research
Study
Research Process
1. Select Topic/Identify Problem

2. Literature Review

3. Research Design

4. Data Collection

5. Data Preparation

6. Data Analysis/Interpretation

7. Discussion/Conclusions

8.Report writing
1. Identification of Research Problem

1
•Choose Area for research

2
•Select field of research

3
•Select Problem of research

4
•Refine topic of research

50
 “The
discrepancy
between actual
and desired
state of
affaires”
“Any Threat or opportunity that needs to be addressed through
research process of data collection and analysis is called
Research Problem”
Examples

1. Human Resource manager is facing high employee

turnover.
2. Marketing manager is facing challenge to launch a new
product successfully
3. Finance manager has excessive idle money to be invested
as early as possible
 personal
experience

literature theory

contemporary
observations
issues
 solvable
interest add in body of
knowledge

literature
motivation availability

knowledge Availability of
Respondents
Respondents
consent
 Appropriateness
and
implications

Minding
Practicalities
ability to get
Funding
supervisory
opportunities
support
“The formulation of the problem
is often more essential than its
solution”
Albert Einstein
 Problem

Problem
Statement

Research
Question

Hypothesis
 represent a
Take
"hook" the solvable
time to
reader problem
formulate

A problem statement is a clear and concise

description of any issue that seeks for Description,
Association or difference of two or more variables.

persuasive keep the effort Include: context,

context focused. problem statement
method,

1) The general problem (or problematic situation),

2) The specific problem (or the researchable problem).
 “A research question is an interrogative statement that
seeks for the tentative relationship among variables
and clarifies what the researcher wants to answer.”

Example
What is the impact of advertisement on sales of a new
product in the market
What is the annual turnover of employees in Higher
educational institutions of Pakistan
Does investing in stock market yield more return on
investment as compare to investment in real estate.
 Types of Research Question

A question that is answered through Summarising

data about a single variable
Descriptive:
E.g.: What is the annual turnover of employees
in Higher educational institutions of Pakistan

A question that is answered through determining

existence, strength and direction of relationship
between two or more variables
Associational
E.g.: What is the impact of advertisement on
sales of a new product in the market
A question that is answered through comparing
and contrasting two or more groups or variables
Differential
E.g.: Does investing in stock market yield more
return on investment as compare to investment in
real estate.
 Research Hypotheses
“Research hypotheses are Testable, predictive
statements about the relationship/Difference
between two variables”

Types of Hypothesis
There are two types of hypothesis

1. Null Hypothesis
H0 = There is no relationship between Advertising and Sales

2. Alternative Hypothesis
H1 = There is relationship between advertising and sales
 Research Question Vs.
Hypothesis
Research question Hypothesis

o Interrogative statement Simple statement

o Non-Predictive Predictive

o Non-Directional Directional
Case Study
 Activity
1. Select a research Problem/topic of your interest
2. Refine and clarify it (Dimension).
3. Write down problem statement (Problem
formulation)
4. Write down research question and rationalize its
type
5. Develop a model and decide on different types of
variables in your model
6. Decide on the type of data you will collect on each
variable.
 Feel free to contact
NADEEM IQBAL
Assistant Professor/Academic Manager/Manager
Research and Internship Program-Lahore School of
Aviation, UOL
• PhD. Scholar-Institute of Business Administration, PU
• Director Int’l Business Affairs/HR-Interlink Group of Companies.
• GM, R & D Division- EBA International (Pvt.) Ltd.
• Assistant Director & HOD-ANCRD-Superior University Lahore
• Trainer, OD Consultant- RCTD, EBA, SEN,…
• Project Manager-AN Consultants Superior University Lahore
• Adjunct Faculty Member- PU, UOL, Superior university, NCBA & E, GCU
Faisalabad (AIMS)

CELL: 0092-321-4394633
EMAIL: [email protected]
 REVIEW QUESTIONS

Q-1. Define research and suggest when research should be conducted

Q-2. on what basis the research is classified and in what types.

Q-3. Define the following terms.

Problem, Problem statement, Theoretical framework, Theory,

Hypothesis

Q-4. What are the different types of variables with respect to

relationship. List and define