Introduction To Business Research

RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
BASIC INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
- Process of finding solution to the problems

- In simple term it means to seek knowledge
- Systematic ( content, methods and technique)
- Organized ( Scheduling, organizing and controlling)
- Investigate into the specific problem
- Find a solution
SOURCES TO ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE
Reasoning
- The Reasoning
- Intuition
- Authority Observation /
Experiments / Intuition
- Revelation Measurements
- Observation / Experiments / Source
Measurements s
Revelation Authority
BUSINESS RESEARCH
Business research is a research

carried out relating to the different
functionaries in the business world
It helps to get updated

data/information required to
business which help to determine
opportunities and goals for business.
CONTD…
• Business research is a systematic inquiry that provides

information to guide managerial decisions.
CONT…
• Business research is an organized, systematic, data-based, critical, objective,

scientific inquiry or investigation into a specific problem.
• For example; Gathering detailed sales information and writing a detailed

report on marketing and sales.
TYPES OF RESEARCH
• Academic research (fundamental or pure research)

• Applied research (business research)
• Action research
ACADEMIC/FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH
• Improving the understanding of a natural phenomenon.
• Gaining better understanding of a subject.
• Not focused on problem solving.
• Focus on expanding the frontier of knowledge.

APPLIED RESEARCH
• Seeks practical solution to existing problems.
• Identify problems, formulate hypothesis and perform experiments to test it.

ACTION RESEARCH
• Research with action and participation in the field.
• Empowers participants, creates opportunities for organizational learning.
• Yields rich data from multiple sources.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
• Scientific methods of research are based on objectivity, systematic and

appropriate use of right tools and techniques of research.
• Non-scientific methods are based on “rule of thumb” and “trial and error”
approaches.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH
. Purposiveness: Aim of the research.
. Rigor: Attention to detail in investigation.
. Testability: Testing potential of logically developed hypothesis.

. Replicability: Support for result of one research in similar research.
. Objectivity: Findings should be based on facts derived from actual data.
. Generalizability: Applicability of findings for similar cases.
. Parsimony: Use of simple measurement models that use minimum number of

parameters.
HYPOTHETICO-DEDUCTIVE METHOD
• It is a typical version of the scientific method, which was popularized by

Australian philosopher Karl Popper.
• Provides a useful, systematic approach for generating knowledge to solve
basic and managerial problems.
7 STEP PROCESS FOR HYPOTHETICO-DEDUCTIVE METHOD
• Problem statement: A clear, precise, and succinct statement of the question or
issue that is to be investigated with the goal of finding an answer or solution.
• Theoretical framework: It is logically developed, described and elaborated

network of associations among the variables relevant to the problem situation.
• Hypothesis: A tentative statement that proposes a possible explanation to some

phenomenon or event. A useful hypothesis is a testable statement which may
include a prediction. A hypotheses should not be confused with a theory.
• Data Collection: Use of observation, interviews and surveys to collect evidences

for testing the hypotheses.
• Data analysis: The data gathered are statistically analyzed to see if the hypotheses
that were generated have been supported.
CONTD..
• Measurement: The process observing and recording the observations that

are collected as part of a research effort.
• Deduction: The process of arriving at conclusions by interpreting the

meaning of the data analysis results.
INFORMATION NEEDS IN BUSINESS
• Almost every organization has to engage in research at some level to stay

competitive.
• Companies gather data both from within and outside the organization.
• Computer technology has improved the process of gathering, analysing, and
synthesizing information.
FIELDS WHERE BUSINESS RESEARCH IS OFTEN USED
General Business Conditions and Financial and Accounting Research

Corporate Research • Forecasts of financial interest rate
trends,
• Short- & Long-Range Forecasting, • Stock, bond and commodity value
• Business and Industry Trends predictions
• Global Environments • capital formation alternatives
• Inflation and Pricing • mergers and acquisitions
• Plant and Warehouse Location • risk-return trade-offs
• Acquisitions • portfolio analysis
• impact of taxes
Management and Organizational
• research on financial institutions
Behaviour Research
• expected rate of return
• • capital asset pricing models
Total Quality Management
• • credit risk
Morale and Job Satisfaction
• • cost analysis
Leadership Style
• Employee Productivity
• Organizational Effectiveness
• Structural ssues
• Absenteeism and turnover
• Organizational Climate 17
FIELDS WHERE BUSINESS RESEARCH IS OFTEN USED
Information Systems Research

Sales and Marketing Research
• Knowledge and information needs
• Market Potentials assessment
• Market Share • Computer information system use and
• Market segmentation evaluation
• Market characteristics • Technical suppot satisfaction
• Sales Analysis • Database analysis
• Establishment of sales quotas • Data mining
• Distribution channels • Enterprise resource planning systems
• New product concepts
•
• Customer relationship management
Test markets
• systems
Advertising research
• Buyer behaviour
• Customer satisfaction Corporate Responsibility Research
• Website visitation rates
• Ecological Impact
• Legal Constraints on advertising and
promotion
• Sex, age and racial discrimination /
worker equity
• Social values and ethics 18
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR MANAGERS TO KNOW ABOUT
RESEARCH?
• Solve problems
• Decision making tool
• Competition
• Risk
• Investment
• Hire researchers and consultants more effectively
OUT UP
FRONT:
BUILDING
BLOCKS
OF
RESEARCH
BUILDING BLOCKS OF
RESEARCH
FEVER
KNOWLEDGE
Degree
INFORMATIO Fahrenheit
N Temperature
DATA 104
Research
Research
Research
Hypothesi
Theory
Research s
Theory Model
Induction
RESEARCH CYCLE: Hypothesis
Knowledg
Theory
e Problem
Researc
h Cycle
Evaluation Deduction
Testing
GENERALLY:
• H01: There is no significant impact of beauty on confidence

• Self-Categorization Theory
• Testing through questionaires, calculations etc.
• Evaluating
• Inrepreting
BUILDING UP OR BREAKING DOWN
INDUCTIVE DEDUCTIVE
OB
SER Theory
VE
GENERALIZATIO Collect/ analyze

N data
Con
THEORY clusi
on
All dogs
have fleas
Benno is a dog
All dogs
All
have fleas
observed
dogs have
Dog A and fleas
Dog B
have fleas Benno has fleas
RESEARCH PARADIGMS
• Ontology:
• The 'study of being', which is concerned with what actually exists in the world
about which humans can acquire knowledge.
• Epistemology
• The theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and
scope, and the distinction between justified belief and opinion.
• Methodology:
• Methodology describes how we as researcher go about finding out knowledge
and carrying out our research.
REALISM, INSTRUMENTALISM,
CONSTRUCTIVISM
• Realism: What we observe is real
• Instrumentalism: What we observe doesn’t need to be real
• Social constructivism: Theories only get meaning through social and political
context.
THREE MAIN EPISTEMOLOGIES:
• Positivist: should use quantitative methods and aim to identify and measure
social structures.
• Interpretivist: approach is based on naturalistic approach.
• Critical: combination of qualitative and critical analysis.

APPROACH TO RESEARCH
ETHICS IN BUSINESS RESEARCH
Researcher
Business/
Industry Ethics Responden
ts
Company
RESEARCHER
• Plagiarism
• Incompetency
• Violating non disclosure agreement
• Poor research team work
• Scope of research enhanced for more revenues
• Too technical
RESPONDENT
• Breaking respondents confidentiality

• Commercializing the data
• Misinterpretation of data and its findings
• Wrong approach to respondents
MANAGER
• Defending company specific legal liabilities

• Individual interest over company’s interest
• Ego or adamancy to accept the facts
BUSINESS / INDUSTRY
• Cross comparison
• Level playing field
• Legal Compulsions
• Policy Directives
THANKYOU
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RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES

BASIC INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH

- Process of finding solution to the problems

Business research is a research

It helps to get updated

• Business research is a systematic inquiry that provides

• Business research is an organized, systematic, data-based, critical, objective,

• For example; Gathering detailed sales information and writing a detailed

• Academic research (fundamental or pure research)

• Improving the understanding of a natural phenomenon.

• Gaining better understanding of a subject.

• Not focused on problem solving.

• Focus on expanding the frontier of knowledge.

• Seeks practical solution to existing problems.

• Identify problems, formulate hypothesis and perform experiments to test it.

• Research with action and participation in the field.

• Empowers participants, creates opportunities for organizational learning.

• Yields rich data from multiple sources.

• Scientific methods of research are based on objectivity, systematic and

. Rigor: Attention to detail in investigation.

. Testability: Testing potential of logically developed hypothesis.

. Objectivity: Findings should be based on facts derived from actual data.

. Generalizability: Applicability of findings for similar cases.

. Parsimony: Use of simple measurement models that use minimum number of

• It is a typical version of the scientific method, which was popularized by

• Theoretical framework: It is logically developed, described and elaborated

• Hypothesis: A tentative statement that proposes a possible explanation to some

• Data Collection: Use of observation, interviews and surveys to collect evidences

• Measurement: The process observing and recording the observations that

• Deduction: The process of arriving at conclusions by interpreting the

• Almost every organization has to engage in research at some level to stay

General Business Conditions and Financial and Accounting Research

Information Systems Research

• H01: There is no significant impact of beauty on confidence

GENERALIZATIO Collect/ analyze

• Instrumentalism: What we observe doesn’t need to be real

• Interpretivist: approach is based on naturalistic approach.

• Critical: combination of qualitative and critical analysis.

• Breaking respondents confidentiality

• Defending company specific legal liabilities

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