1.lecture 1 introduction to business research method

INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCHCHAPTER 1

Objectives• Describe what research is and how it is defined• Distinguish between applied and basic research, giving

examples, and discussing why they fall into one or the other of the two categories

• Explain why managers should know about research• Discuss what managers should or should not do in

order to interact most effectively with researchers• Identify and fully discuss specific situations in which a

manager would be better off using an internal research team, and when an external research team would be more advisable, giving reasons for the decision

Definition - Research

A Process• Formal, systematic, intensive process of scientific

method • Careful inquiry or examination• Systematic, controlled, empirical and critical

investigation • Unusually stubborn and persisting effort to think straight

(“Research without important ideas is busy work”)• The process of finding solutions to a problem after a

thorough study and analysis of the situational factors.

Definition – Research

Aims of Research • Discover new information or relationships; to expand

and to verify existing knowledge • Gathers new knowledge; discovery of general principles• Provide new knowledge• Investigation of hypothetical propositions about the

presumed relations among natural phenomena. End sought by science (research) is theory

• To solve problems and for decision making purposes (business research)

Definition – Research

Aims of Research • Gage:

- Increase our power to understand, predict, control outcomes

- Predict an event by relating it empirically to antecedents in time

- Control an event by manipulating the independent variables to which it is functionally related

Definition – Research

How of research • Define the problem areas• Identify specifically the problems which need to be

studied and resolved• Gather information, analyze data and determine the

factors associated with the problem• Solve the problem by taking the necessary corrective

measures

Definition – Business Research

Business research as an

“organized, systematic, data-based, critical, objective, scientific inquiry or investigation into a specific problem”,

undertaken with the

“purpose of find answers or solutions.”

Definition – Business Research

Quantitative Research

“structured questions usually questionnaires based on certain scale and analyzed statistically”

Qualitative Research

“open ended questions in a questionnaire, interviews, observation, or information gathered from various sources.”

Definition – Business Research

Basic Research, Fundamental or Pure Research

“for the purpose of contributing to existing body of knowledge”

Applied Research

“to solve a current problem.”

What are some typical examples of research areas?In Accounting?

In Finance?

In Management

In Marketing?

Managers & Research• Identify and effectively solve minor problems in the work

setting• Know how to discriminate good from bad research• Appreciate and be constantly aware of the multiple

influences and multiple effects of factors impinging on a situation

• Take calculated risk in decision making, knowing full well the probabilities associated with the different possible outcomes

• Prevent possible vested interests from exercising their influence in a situation.

Managers & Research• Relate to hiring researchers and consultants more

effectively• Combine experience with scientific knowledge while

making decisions

Internal vs. External /Consultants Research

Discuss the advantages /disadvantages of using/hiring internal /external consultants to conduct company’s research

Ethics and Business Research

Code of conduct and societal norm of behavior • Data collection• Data analysis• Reporting• Dissemination of information on the Internet

Business Ethics

Journal of Business Ethics

Business Ethics Quartery

SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONChapter 2

Objectives• Explain what is meant by scientific investigation, giving

examples of both scientific and non scientific investigations

• Explain the eight hallmarks of science• Briefly explain why research in the organizational behavior

and management areas cannot be completely scientific• Describe the building blocks of science• Discuss the seven steps of the hypothethico-deductive

method, using an example of your own• Describe the processes of induction and deduction • Appreciate the advantages of knowledge about scientific

investigation

Scientific vs. Non scientific Investigation

• Scientific Investigations – more objective rather than subjective, for effective problem solving, purposive, rigorous, state their findings with accuracy and confidence

• Non scientific research – hunches, experience, and intuition

Scientific Research • Purposiveness

definite aim or purpose• Rigor

good theoretical base and a carefully thought-out methodology, carefulness, scrupulousness and the degree of exactitude in research investigations

• Testability

Testing logically developed hypotheses / the data support the educated conjectures or hypotheses that are developed.

• ReplicabilityCan be repeated with the same results

Scientific Research • Precision

Closeness of findings to “reality” based on a sample• Confidence

Probability that our estimations are correct• Objectivity

Based on the facts of findings derived from actual data /not subjective emotional values

• GeneralizabilityScope of applicability of the research findings in one organizational setting to other organizational settung

Scientific Research • Parsimony

The most relevant, manageable factors should be considered when conducting research

The hypothetical-deductive method

• Identify a broad problem area• Define the problem statement• Develop hypotheses• Determine measures• Data collection• Data analysis• Interpretation of data

Review of the hypothetical-deductive method

• Deductive reasoning- general to specific

• Inductive reasoning

- specific to general conclusion

Other types of research • Case studies

- Purpose is to explore and to describe, for problem solving purposes

- Usually qualitative rather than quantitative, analysis of documented case studies, interviews, observation

• Action research

- Immediate application type of research to solve current problems