Scribd
Upload
50 views34 pages

Introduction To Research

This document discusses the key aspects of research including: 1. Research is defined as a systematic, objective investigation to find answers or solutions to a problem. 2. The main steps in research are defining the problem, obtaining information, analyzing the information, and taking actions based on the analysis. 3. Research can be either applied, aiming to solve specific problems, or basic, seeking to understand problems and potential solutions more broadly.

Uploaded by

shehan pramodya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
50 views34 pages

Introduction To Research

This document discusses the key aspects of research including: 1. Research is defined as a systematic, objective investigation to find answers or solutions to a problem. 2. The main steps in research are defining the problem, obtaining information, analyzing the information, and taking actions based on the analysis. 3. Research can be either applied, aiming to solve specific problems, or basic, seeking to understand problems and potential solutions more broadly.

Uploaded by

shehan pramodya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 34

Introduction to

Research
What is Research?
An organized, systematic, data-based, critical, objective,
scientific inquiry or investigation into a specific problem,
undertaken with the purpose of finding answers or
solutions to it.
Scope of Research?
• It encompasses the process of :

• inquiry,
• investigation,
• examination and
• experimentation.
Define problem

Steps in
Research: Obtain information

General
Approach Analyze information

Take actions based on analysis


Classification of Research

Applied Basic
Research Research
Applied Research
Research done with the intention of applying the results of findings to
solve specific problems currently being experienced in the
organization is called applied research.
Basic Research
Research done to enhance the understanding of certain problems that
commonly occur in organizational settings and seek methods of solving
them is called basic research.
Question
Why research is important for Business Organizations?
The Hallmarks of Scientific Research
The hallmarks or main distinguishing
characteristics of scientific research may be
listed as follows:

1. Purposiveness
2. Rigor
3. Testability
4. Replicability
5. Precision and Confidence
6. Objectivity
7. Generalizability
8. Parsimony
• Purposiveness

• It has to start with a


definite aim or purpose.
• The focus is on increasing
employee commitment.
• Increase employee
commitment will
translate into less
turnover, less
absenteeism and
increased performance
levels.
• Thus it has a purposive
focus.
Hallmarks of Scientific
Research
2. Rigor

• A good theoretical base and sound methodological design


would add rigor to the purposive study.
• Rigor adds carefulness, scrupulousness and the degree of
exactitude in research.
• Example:
• A manager asks 10-12 employees how to increase the level of
commitment. If solely on the basis of their responses the
manager reaches several conclusions on how employee
commitment can be increases, the whole approach to the
investigation would be unscientific. It would lack rigor for the
following reasons:
1. Based on few employees
2. Bias and incorrectness
3. There might be other influences on
commitment which are ignored and are
important for a researcher to know
Thus, Rigorous involves good theoretical base and
thought out methodology.
• These factors enable the researcher to collect
the right kind of information from an
appropriate sample with the minimum degree
of bias and facilitate suitable analysis of the
data gathered.
3. Testability
After random selection manager and researcher
develops certain hypothesis on how manager
employee commitment can be enhanced, then
these can be tested by applying certain statistical
tests to the data collected for the purpose.

The researcher might hypothesize that


those employees who perceive greater
opportunities for participation in
decision making would have a higher
level of commitment.
4. Replicability

It means that it can be used again if similar circumstances prevails.

Example:
The study concludes that participation in decision making is one of the most
important factors that influences the commitment, we will place more faith
and credence in these finding and apply in similar situations. To the extent
that this does happen, we will gain confidence in the scientific nature of our
research.
5. Precision and
Confidence

• Precision
• Precision refers to the closeness of the findings to “reality” based on a sample.
• It reflects the degree of accuracy and exactitude of the results of the sample.
Example: If a supervisor estimated the number of production days lost during the
year due to absenteeism at between 30 and 40, as against the actual of 35, the
precision of my estimation more favorably than if he has indicated that the loss of
production days was somewhere between 20 and 50.
Confidence
• Confidence refers to the probability that
our estimations are correct.

• That is, it is not merely enough to be


precise, but it is also important that we can
confidently claim that 95% of the time our
results would be true and there is only a
5% chance of our being wrong.

• This is also known as confidence level.


6. Objectivity
The conclusions drawn through the interpretation of the
results of data analysis should be objective; that is, they
should be based on the facts of the findings derived
from actual data, and not on our subjective or emotional
values.

• Example: If we had a hypothesis that stated that greater


participation in decision making will increase
organizational commitment and this was not supported
by the results, it makes no sense if the researcher
continues to argue that increased opportunities for
employee participation would still help!
7. Generalizability
It refers to the scope of applicability of the research findings in one
organization setting to other settings.

Example: If a researcher’s findings that participation in decision making


enhances organizational commitment are found to be true in a variety of
manufacturing, industrial and service organizations, and not merely in
the particular organization studied by the researcher, then the
generalizability of the findings to other organizational settings in
enhanced. The more generalizable the research, the greater its
usefulness and value.
8. Parsimony
Simplicity in explaining the phenomenon or problems that
occur, and in generating solutions for the problems, is always
preferred to complex research frameworks that consider an
unmanageable number of factors.

For instance, if 2-3 specific variables in the work situation are


identified, which when changed would raise the
organizational commitment of the employees by 45%, that
would be more useful be more useful and valuable to the
manager than if it were recommended that he should change
10 different variables to increase organizational commitment
by 48%.
The Building Blocks
of Science in Research

Deduction and Inductions


Answers to issues can be found either by the
process of induction or the process of induction,
or by a combination of the two.
Deduction
• Deduction is the process
by which we arrive at a
reasoned conclusion by
logical generalization of a
known fact.
Induction

Induction is a
process where we
observe certain
phenomena and
on this basis arrive
at conclusions.
The Hypothetico-Deductive Method
Observation
• Observation is the first stage, in which one senses
that certain changes are occurring or that some
new behaviors, attitudes and feelings are surfacing
in one’s environment (i.e., the work place).
• How does one observe phenomena and changes in
the environment?
Preliminary Information Gathering:
• It involves the seeking of information in depth, of what is
observed.
• This could be done by talking informally to several people in the
work setting or to clients or to other relevant sources, thereby
gathering information on what is happening and why.
(Unstructured interviews)
• Then it is followed by structured interviews.
• Additionally by doing library research or obtaining information
through other sources, the investigator would identify how such
issues have been tackled in other situations.
Theory Formulation
• It is an attempt to integrate all the information in a logical
manners, so that the factors responsible for the problem
can be on conceptualized and tested.
• The theoretical framework formulated is often guided by
experience and intuition.
• In this step the critical variables are identified and
examined as to their contribution or influence in
explaining why the problem occurs and how it can be
solved.
Further Specific Data Collection

• After the development of the hypotheses,


data with respect to each variable in the
hypotheses need to be obtained.

• Further data are collected to test the


hypotheses that are generated in the
study.
Data Analysis
• Data gathered are statistically analyzed to see if the
hypotheses that were generated have been
supported.
• Co relational method will be used to analyze and
determine the relation ship of two or more factors
in the hypotheses for example: stock availability
and customer satisfaction.
Deduction
Deduction is the process of arriving at
conclusions by interpreting the meaning of
results of the data analysis.
Formulating and clarifying
your research topic
The important steps

• Identifying the attributes of a good research topic

• Generating ideas that help you select a suitable topic

• Turning ideas into clear research questions and


objectives

• Writing your research proposal


Capability: is it feasible?

• Are you fascinated by the topic?

• Do you have the necessary research skills?

• Can you complete the project in the time available?

• Will the research still be current when you finish?

• Do you have sufficient financial and other resources?

• Will you be able to gain access to data?


Appropriateness: is it
worthwhile?

• Will the examining institute's standards be met?


• Does the the topic contain issues with clear links to
theory?
• Are the research questions and objectives clearly
stated?
• Will the proposed research provide fresh insights into
the topic?
• Are the findings likely to be symmetrical?
• Does the research topic match your career goals?
Relevance

Does the topic relate clearly to an idea


you were given -

possibly by your organisation ?


Rational thinking Creative thinking

Generating Searching the literature Scanning the media

research Brainstorming Exploring past projects


ideas
Discussion

Keeping an ideas notebook

You might also like