3-1

Chapter 3

The Business Research Process:

An Overview

3-2

• Understand that research is decision- and dilemma-centered

• The clarified research question is the result of careful exploration and analysis and sets the direction for the research project

Learning Objectives

3-3

Learning Objectives

• How value assessments and budgeting influence the process for proposing research, and ultimately, research design

• What is included in research design, data collection, and data analysis

• Which research process problems to avoid

3-4

The Research Process

The primary purpose of research is to reduce the level of risk of a business decision

3-5

Exhibit 3-1 The Business Research Process

3-6

Stage 1 Clarifying the Research Question

• Management-research question hierarchy

• Begins with management dilemma

3-7

Exhibit 3-2 Management-Research Question Hierarchy

3-8

Exhibit 3-3 Formulating the Research Question

3-9

Types of Management Questions

3-10

The Research Question

Determine necessary evidence

Set scope of

study

Examine variables

Break questions

down

Evaluate hypotheses

Fine-Tuning

3-11

Performance Considerations

© 2002 McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., McGraw-Hill/Irwin

Investigative Questions

Attitudinal Issues

Behavioral Issues

3-12

Stage 2 Proposing Research

• Exhibit 3-7 • Budget Types

– Rule-of-thumb– Departmental– Task

3-13

Exhibit 3-6 Gantt Chart

MindWriter Project Plan

3-14

Evaluating the Value of Research

Option Analysis

Decision Theory

Prior or Interim Evaluation

Ex Post Facto Evaluation

3-15

The Research Proposal

Delivery

Legally-bindingcontract

Obligations

Written proposals establish

Methods

Timing

Budgets

ExtentPurpose

3-16

Stage 3

Designing the

Research Project

Research Design

SamplingDesign

Pilot Testing

3-17

Stage 4 Data Collection

Data Characteristics• Abstractness• Verifiability• Elusiveness• Closeness

3-18

Reducing data to manageable size

© 2002 McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., McGraw-Hill/Irwin

Stage 5 Data Analysis and Interpretation

Developing summaries

Looking for patterns

Applying statistical techniques

3-19

Stage 6 Reporting the Results

Research Report

ExecutiveSummary

ResearchOverview

TechnicalAppendix

ImplementationStrategies

3-20

The Research Overview

Problem’s background

Summary of exploratory findings

Research design and procedures

Conclusions

3-21

Research Process Issues

• The Favored-Technique Syndrome

• Company Database Strip-Mining

• Unresearchable Questions

• Ill-Defined Management Problems

• Politically Motivated Research

3-22

Everything must have a beginning

Source: Cooper R. D. & Schindler, S. P. (2006). Business Research Methods 9e. McGraw.Hill