Business Research Methods
L3: RESEARCH PROBLEM, PROCESS, AND DESIGN
PROF: NEIL CHAVAN
Recap
Types of Questionnaire Rating Scales (Dichotomous, Category,
Semantic Differential, Numerical,
Personally Administered, Mail and Itemized Rating, Likert, Fixed or constant
Electronic sum, Stapel, Graphic, Ranking,
Principles of Wording Consensus)
Content, Language, Type, Sequence, Measuring Goodness of Data
personal information Validity
Getup of Questionnaire Content (face)
Introduction, Organizing Section, Criterion (Concurrent, Predictive)
Personal Data, Open-ended,
Concluding Construct (Convergent, Divergent)
Measurement & Scaling Reliability
Stability (test-retest, parallel form)
Types of Scales
Consistency (inter-item, split-half)
Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, Ratio
Agenda:
Checking reliability and validity in SPSS
Recap of Statistics Concepts
Research Problem
Preliminary Research
Components of Problem Statement
Evaluating Good Problem Statement:
Types of Research
Exploratory
Descriptive
Causal
Components of Research Proposal
Literature Review
SPSS Practice
Checking Reliability and Validity of data
Optimising the Reliability of questionnaire
Reliability using Cronbach’s alpha
Critical values
Alpha Internal consistency
Greater than 0.90 Excellent
Between 0.80 and 0.90 Very good
Between 0.70 and 0.80 Good
Between 0.60 and 0.70 Acceptable (for exploratory studies
only)
Between 0.50 and 0.60 Poor
Lower than 0.50 Unacceptable
Validity using Pearson correlation
Assuming 5% level of significance
If p value is less than 0.05, the item is considered as valid
If p value is greater than 0.05, item is considered as invalid
Basic Statistics
Measures of Central tendency Measures of Variability Person Age
Mean Range 1 22
(22+24+….+31+34)/9=28 34-22=12
2 24
Median Standard Deviation:
3 26
(9+1)/2=5th term=28
Mode 4 27
31 5 28
Variance: 6 29
7 31
Inter Quartile Range
Q1=26, Q2= 28, Q3=31
8 31
Q3-Q1 = 31-26=5 9 34
Normal Distribution
Standard Normal Distribution
Skewness
Kurtosis
Talks about the shape of tail
(flat or steep) of distribution
Kurtosis= 3 (Normal)
Kurtosis >3 (Leptokurtic)
Kurtosis <3 (Platykurtic)
Research Problem
A "problem" signifies a gap between the current state and an ideal state.
It can indicate areas for improvement or issues requiring answers.
Stages in Research Process:
Identification of Broad Problem: Recognize a management problem.
Preliminary Research: Conduct initial information gathering.
Definition of Research Problem: Refine the problem into a specific,
researchable topic.
Preliminary Research
Gain a better understanding of the broad problem area.
Narrow down the problem to a researchable topic.
Answer key questions:
What is the problem?
Why does it exist?
Is it important?
What are the benefits of solving it?
Components of Research Problem
1. Research Objective(s):
Defines the purpose of the study.
Brief yet clear communication of the project's focus.
2. Research Question(s):
Specifies what needs to be learned about the topic.
Guides data collection and analysis.
Evaluating Good Problem Statement
• Managerial Perspective: Addresses existing problems or areas for improvement.
• Academic Perspective: Addresses gaps, scattered knowledge, contradictory
Relevance: findings, or challenges.
• Ability to answer research questions within project constraints (time, money,
resources, expertise).
Feasibility: • Requires a narrowly defined research question for manageable investigation.
• Vital for motivation throughout the research process.
Interest:
• Ensures genuine engagement with the problem statement.
Types of Research:
Exploratory Descriptive Causal
• Developed when: • Objective: Obtain data describing • Test whether one variable causes
• Little is known about a the topic. another to change.
phenomenon. • Quantitative or qualitative. • Examples: Effect of a reward
• Existing research results are • Describes characteristics of system on productivity, How
unclear or limited. objects, events, or situations. perceived value affects consumer
• The topic is highly complex. • Correlational studies explore purchase intentions.
• Insufficient theory is available. relationships. • Conditions for establishing
• Helps understand group causality:
• Often qualitative in nature
characteristics, systematic • Covariation of variables
• Flexible approach
aspects, and informs decision- • Temporal precedence
• Not easily generalizable to the
making. • No alternative causes
population
• Logical explanation (theory)
• Experimental designs often used
Components of Research Proposal
1. Working Title: 2. Background of the 3. Problem Statement: 4. Scope of the Study:
• Concise and descriptive. Study: • Purpose of the Study • Clearly defines
• Captures the essence of • Provides context and • Research Questions boundaries and
the research. rationale. limitations.
• Highlights existing • Identifies what is and isn't
knowledge and gaps. included.
5. Relevance of the 6. Research Design: 7. Time Frame: 8. Budget:
Study: • Type of Study • Specifies the duration of •Breakdown of costs.
•Emphasizes the importance • Data Collection Methods the study.
of the research. •Detailed expenditure
• Sampling Design • Includes report
•Addresses the potential submission deadlines.
items.
impact. • Data Analysis
9. Bibliography:
• Relevant sources
consulted.
• Acknowledges existing
literature.
How to do Literature Review
Summary of the existing research work carried out on the topic
Gaps identified in existing literature
Proposed approach towards meeting the gap
Case Study: Fruitzone A
What was the research problem?
Which type of research was explored and why?
