Slide 1.

 Introductions
 Syllabus Review
 Class Discipline (Attendance and Student Conduct)
 Class CR?
 Email Address

Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 1.2

BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS

Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 1.3

 Be able to outline the purpose and distinct focus of

management research;
 Be able to place your research project on a basic-
applied research continuum according to its purpose
and context;
 Understand the stages you will need to complete (and
revisit)as part of your research process

Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 1.4

Things to consider

 Realities and pitfalls of research

 Methodologies and methods

 Supervisor/Mentor-Student Relationship

 Personal Challenges

Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 1.5

Methods -

The techniques and procedures used to obtain

and analyse data

Methodology -

The theory of how research should be undertaken

Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 1.6

 Just collecting facts or information with no

clear purpose
 Reassembling and reordering facts or
information without interpretation
 As a term to get your product or idea noticed
and respected

Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 1.7

 “The systematic investigation into and study of

materials, sources, etc., in order to establish facts and
reach new conclusions” Oxford English dictionary

 “A process of finding out information and

investigating the unknown to solve a problem” Maylor
and Blackmon (2005)

 “Something that people undertake in order to find out

things in a systematic way, thereby increasing their
knowledge” Saunders et al (2007, p.5)

Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 1.8

 “Systematic” suggests that research is based on

logical relationships and not just beliefs.
 “To find out things” suggests there are a
multiplicity of possible purposes of your
research. These may include describing,
explaining, understanding, criticizing, and
analyzing.

Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 1.9

Characteristics:

 Data are collected systematically

 Data are interpreted systematically

 There is a clear purpose to find things out

Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 1.10

 Managers draw on knowledge from other disciplines

 Managers are more likely to allow access if they see

commercial or personal advantage

 Managers now tend to be as educated as the researchers

 Managers require research to have some practical consequence

Easterby-Smith et al. (2008)

Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 1.11

Key debates

 Knowledge production –
(Modes 1, 2 & 3 knowledge)

 The ‘relevance gap’

 Basic and applied research

Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 1.12

 Mode I: questions set and solved by academic

interests, fundamental nature, little emphasis on
utilisation (Gibbons et al., 1994) – ‘pure research’

 Mode II: context governed by practice, collaborative,

need for practical consequences (Gibbons et al., 1994) –
‘applied research’

 Mode III: focus on the human condition – ‘assure

survival and promote the common good’ (Huff and
Huff, 2001 via Saunders et al, 2007)

Basic Research Vs. Applied Research

Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 1.13

Basic and applied research

Sources:

authors’ experience; Easterby-Smith et al. (2008); Hedrick et al. (1993)

Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 1.14

Formulate & Clarify Your Research Topic

Critically Review The Literature

Choose Research Paradigm/Approach and Strategy

Negotiate Access & Address Ethical Issues

Plan Data Collection and Collect Data Using One or More of:

(i) Sampling (ii) Secondary Data (iii) Observations (iv) Interviews (v) Questionnaires

Analyze Your Data Using One or Both of:

(i) Quantitative Methods (ii) Qualitative Methods

Forward Planning
Write Your Thesis Report

Reflection & Revision Prepare & Appear for Viva Reference: Course Textbook
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 1.15

Business and management research

 Is transdisciplinary

 Engages with both theory and practice

 Involves undertaking systematic research

 Should be undertaken with rigour

Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 1.16

“there is no one best way for undertaking

all research”

Saunders et al. (2009)

Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 1.17

 Read Chapter 2
 Come prepared for discussion next week
 Read the “Sample Research Proposal” to be
emailed by your instructor

Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009