business research methods students

8/3/2019 Business Research Methods Students

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Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad KLASRA


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Managers constantly engage themselves in studying andanalyzing issues and make decisions.

Sometimes managers make good decisions and problems

get solved; and sometimes they make blunders andorganizations get stuck.

Difference between making good decision and making

blinders depends on how managers go about decisionmaking process.


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Good decision making provides Yes answer to thefollowing questions.

Do managers identify where the exactly the problem lies?

Do they correctly recognize the relevant situational factors?

Do they know the type of information needed and how?Do they know how to make use of the information anddraw conclusions to make right decision?


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Do they know how to implement the results of solveproblem?

WHAT IS RESEARCH? Many definitions..!!!!!

It is a process of finding solutions to a problem after athorough study and analysis ofsituational factors.

It is a systematic and organized effort to investigate a specificproblem encountered in work setting.


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It is an organized, systematic, data-based,

critical, objective, scientific inquiry orinvestigation into a specific problemundertaken with the purpose of finding

answers or solutions to itCOMMONLY RESEARCHED AREAS/ISSUES

Employee behaviors such as performance,

absenteeism and turnover.

Organizational outcomes, such as increased

sales, market share, profit growth etc.


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Ch. 1 (Contd) TYPES OF RESEARCH

Applied Research: A kind of research done with intention ofapplying the results of findings to solve a specific problemcurrently being experienced in an organization, i.e. sale ofparticular product has decreased, Absenteeism of employees

etc.Basic or Fundamental or pure Research:A research done to

generate a body of knowledge, or enhance the understandingof certain problems that commonly occur in the organization


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Chapter 2

SCIENTIFIC

INVESTIGATION


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Definition of Scientific

Research

Scientific Research focusingon solving problems and

pursues a step by step logical,o r g a n i z e d a n d r i g o r o u sm e t h o d t o i d e n t i f y t h e

p r o b l e m s , g a t h e r d a t a ,analyze them and draw validconclusions there from.


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The Hallmarks of Scientific Research

1. Purposiveness2. Rigor

3. Testability

4. Replicability

5. Precision and Confidence6. Objectivity

7. Generalizability

8. Parsimony

The hallmarks or main distinguishingcharacteristics of scientific research may belisted as follows:


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Hallmarks of Scientific Research1. 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 increasedperformance levels.

Thus it has a purposive focus.


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2. Rigor A good theoretical base and sound methodologicaldesign would add rigor to the purposive study.

Rigor adds carefulness and the degree of exactitude

in research.Example:

A manager asks 10-12 employees how to increasethe level of commitment. If solely on the basis of

their responses the manager reaches severalconclusions on how employee commitment can beincreases, the whole approach to the investigationwould be unscientific. It would lack rigor for the

following reasons:


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1. Based on few employees

2. Bias and incorrectness3. There might be other influences on commitment

which are ignored and are important for aresearcher to know

Thus, Rigorous involves good theoretical base andthought out methodology.

These factors enable the researcher to collect theright kind of information from an appropriatesample with the minimum degree of bias andfacilitate suitable analysis of the data gathered.

This supports the other six too.


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3.Testability

The researcher might hypothesize thatthose employees who perceive greateropportunities for participation indecision making would have a higherlevel of commitment.

After random selection manager and researcherdevelops certain hypothesis on how manageremployee commitment can be enhanced, then

these can be tested by applying certain statisticaltests to the data collected for the purpose.


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4. Replicability

It means that it can be used again if similarcircumstances prevails.

Example:

The study concludes that participation in decision makingis one of the most important factors that influences the

commitment, we will place more faith and credence inthese finding and apply in similar situations. To the extentthat this does happen, we will gain confidence in thescientific nature of our research.


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Precision Precision refers to the closeness of the findings toreality based on a sample.

It reflects the degree of accuracy and exactitude of the

results of the sample.Example: If a supervisor estimated thenumber of production days lost during theyear due to absenteeism at between 30 and 40,

as against the actual of 35, the precision of myestimation more favorably than if he hasindicated that the loss of production days wassomewhere between 20 and 50.

5. Precision and Confidence


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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 canconfidently 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.


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6. Objectivity

The conclusions drawn through the interpretation ofthe results of data analysis should be objective; thatis, they should be based on the facts of the findings

derived from actual data, and not on our subjective oremotional values.

Example: If we had a hypothesis that stated that greaterparticipation in decision making will increaseorganizational commitment and this was notsupported by the results, it makes no sense if theresearcher continues to argue that increasedopportunities for employee participation would still

help!


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7. GeneralizabilityIt refers to the scope of applicability of the research

findings in one organization setting to other settings.

Example: If a researchers findings that participation indecision making enhances organizational commitment are

found to be true in a variety of manufacturing, industrialand service organizations, and not merely in theparticular organization studied by the researcher, then thegeneralizability of the findings to other organizationalsettings in enhanced. The more generalizable the research,

the greater its usefulness and value.


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8. ParsimonySimplicity in explaining the phenomenon or problems

that occur, and in generating solutions for the problems,is always preferred to complex research frameworks thatconsider an unmanageable number of factors.

For instance, if 2-3 specific variables in the work situationare identified, which when changed would raise theorganizational commitment of the employees by 45%,that would be more useful be more useful and valuable tothe manager than if it were recommended that he should

change 10 different variables to increase organizationalcommitment by 48%.


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The Building Blocks of Science in Research

Deduction and Inductions

Answers to issues can be foundeither by the process of inductionor the process of induction, or by acombination of the two.


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Deduction Deduction is the process by which we arrive at a

reasoned conclusion by logical generalization of aknown fact.

Example: we know that all high performers arehighly proficient in their jobs.If John is a high performer, we then conclude that

he is highly proficient in his job


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Induction Induction is a process where we observe certain

phenomena and on this basis arrive atconclusions.

In other words, in induction welogically establish a generalproposition based on observed facts.


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The Hypothetico-Deductive Method (Research

Process)


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Hypothetic-deductive method can be discussed into two distinct

aspects;

(i). Research Process: It is a process of developing the conceptual

framework and hypothesis for testing.

(ii). Research Design: It involves the planning of actual study, the

selection of he sample and collection and analysis of the data.


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RESEARCH PROCESS

11. Managerial decision making

10. Report presentation

9. Report writing

If YES proceed to steps 9 to 11 otherwise repeat process from step 28. Deduction (Is Hypothesis substantiated?

7. Data collection, Analysis and Interpretation

6. Scientific research Design5. Generation of Hypotheses

4. Theoretical Framework (Variables clearly identified and labled)

3. Problem definition (research problem identified)

2. Preliminary data Gathering (Interviewing Literature Survey)

1. Observation ( Broad Area of Research interest identified)


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RESEARCH PROCES (Contd) Remember

First five (5) steps in above flow chart define theResearch process and steps six (6) and seven (7)embody research design.


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Observation (Broad Problem Area)

1. Observation is the first stage, in whichone senses that certain changes areoccurring or that some new behaviors,attitudes and feelings are surfacing inones environment (i.e., the work place).

How does one observe phenomena andchanges in the environment?

This area refers to entire situation whereone sees a possible need for research andproblem solving.


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Research process (Cont..) Those areas where manager believes that there is a room for

improvement.

Problems could be currently existing or potential one that may

occur in future.

Examples: Inventory control is not effective.

Minority group members in organizations are not advancing in

their careers.

Training programs are not as effective as anticipated.

Sales Volume of company product is not picking up.

2 P li i D C ll i (I i i d Li


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2. Preliminary Data Collection (Interviewing and Literature

Survey) It is a comprehensive review of published and unpublished work

from secondary sourcesof data in the areas of interest.

This could be done by talking informally to several people in thework setting or to clients or to other relevant sources, therebygathering information on what is happening and why. (Unstructuredinterviews)

Then it is followed by structured interviews.

Additionally by doing library research or obtaining informationthrough other sources, the investigator would identify how suchissues have been tackled in other situations.

At this stage information required can be classified as:

(i): Background Information: (a) origin and history of thecompany, (b). Size in terms of employees, assets or both. Resources-Human and others


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Research process contd..(ii). Information on structural factors; Like company

policies, Extent of specialization, Reward system, etc(iii). Perception, Attitudes and Behavioral Responses;

Employees perception of the work, work environment,Workflow interdependencies, opportunities for

advancement, Organizations attitudes toward employeesfamily responsibilities, etc


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Research process contd..2.(a). Literature Survey: It is a comprehensive review of

the published and unpublished work from secondarysource of data interest.

Why we do Literature Survey? (i). To ensure that noimportant variable has been ignored, (ii). to avoid

repetition in investigating an issue (avoid waste ofresources)


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Research process contd..Conducting Literature Survey: Two steps:

1. Identify the various published and unpublishedmaterials that are available on the topics ofinterest.

2. Gathering the relevant information

Three forms of databases:

(i). Bibliographic databases, Displays name of author,title of article (book), publication source, year, volume

and page number


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Research process contd..(ii). Abstract Databases: It also provides an abstract or

summary of the articles.

(iii). Full-Text Databases: It provides the full text of thearticle.

3. Problem Definition: after interview andliterature surveyResearcher narrows down the problem.Problem definition or problem statement is a clearand precise statement of the question or issue that

is to be investigated with the goal of finding ananswer or solution.


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Research process contd..Examples of Problem statement or definition

How has new packaging affected the sales of the product?What are the effects of downsizing on the growth pattern

of companies?

Can cultural differences account for the differences in thenature of relationships between superiors andsubordinates in different countries


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Research process contd..Example: Employee Loyalty

Companies benefit through employee loyalty. Crudedownsizing in organizations during the recession crushedthe loyalty of millions. The economic benefits of loyaltyembrace lower recruitment and training costs, higherproductivity of workers, customer satisfaction, and theboost to morale of fresh recruits. In order that thesebenefits are not lost, some companies while downsizingtry various gimmicks.


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Research process contd.. Flex leave, for example, is one. This helps employees

receive 20% of their salary, plus employer providedbenefits, while they take a 6 to 12 month sabbatical, with acall option on their services.

Question: How would you define the problem in the abovecase? Or what is the problem statement in this situation?

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