INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH

Business Research Methods

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Topic Outline Why Study Business Research?

Meaning & Definition of Research in Business

Business Strategy, Tactics & Research

Hierarchy of Business Decision Makers

Basic Research & Applied Research

Characteristics of a Good Research

Ethics in Research

Consequences of Plagiarism

Topic & Structure of the lesson

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Why Study Business Research

• Business Research provides information to guide business decisions i.e. understand processes, products, customers, markets & competition; to develop policies, strategies & tactics that are more likely to succeed.

• Tools & Processes needed to reduce risk in managerial decision making

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Business Research defined

• Systematic and Objective Process of gathering, recording & analyzing data that provides information to guide business decisions

• A systematic inquiry that provides information to guide managerial decision making

Business Planning Drives Business Research

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Organizational Mission

BusinessStrategies

Business Goals

BusinessTactics

Business Strategy, Tactics & Research

• Business TacticsSpecific timed activities that execute a strategy

– Super premium – Dozens of flavors– Small packages– Signature colors on packaging– Available in franchise and grocery stores

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Business StrategiesGeneral Approach an organization follows to achieve its

goals.

On-the-job training/Class room Activities Rigorous periodic maintenance/Repair

on breakdown positioning goods & services to customer

needs

Hierarchy of Business Decision Makers

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Intuitive Decision Makers

Standardized Decision Makers

Visionaries

Intuitive Decision Makers

Standardized Decision Makers

Visionaries

Basic Research and Applied Research

BR is basically an applied research. In fact, we can divide all research into basic and applied categories.Basic research: Focused, systematic study or investigation

undertaken to expand the body of knowledge itself or to verify the acceptability of a given theory.

Applied research : Research undertaken to answer questions about specific problems or to make decisions about a particular course of action or policy decision.

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Basic Research and Applied Research

Basic Research– A study directed by a professor to measure differences between high and

low performing employees, relative to their job satisfaction and their job turnover.

– Academic Research on whether an individuals perception that he or she was doing well on a task would have any influence on future performance

Applied Research – Evaluating the impact of a training program on employees performance– Employees are not satisfied with the present promotion policy, research is

conducted to find out the reasons of dissatisfaction. A Decision is then taken to rectify the defects.

• Methods and techniques are common in both types of research.

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Research may be unnecessary

• Can information be applied to a critical decision?

• Does it improve managerial decision-making?

• Are sufficient resources available?

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Characteristics of Good Research

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Clearly defined purposeClearly defined purpose

Detailed research processDetailed research process

Thoroughly planned designThoroughly planned design

High ethical standardsHigh ethical standards

Limitations addressedLimitations addressed

Adequate analysisAdequate analysis

Unambiguous presentationUnambiguous presentation

Conclusions justifiedConclusions justified

CredentialsCredentials

Ethical Issues in Business Research

Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality,- concepts such as good & evil, right & wrong, justice & crime etc.

Rights and obligations of Individuals are generally dictated by norms of Society (Social Norms).

Three Parties Involved in most research SituationsRights & Norms Obligations of : 1. Respondent: Right of privacy and right to be informed about all

aspects of research. Obligation – to be honest to research questionsApril 22, 2023 12

Ethical Issues in Business Research cont..

2. Researcher: Adhere to purpose of the Research (i.e. Research), Maintain Objectivity; avoid Misinterpretation of research findings. Protect subjects and client’s right to confidentiality and to report actual data collection.

3. Sponsoring Client (User): avoid misuse of the research finding to support its aim; respect research respondents privacy and be open about its intentions to conduct research and about the business problem to be investigated.

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Plagiarism & Its Consequences• Plagiarism by students, or researchers is considered academic

dishonesty or academic fraud, and offenders are subject to academic censure, up to and including expulsion.

• In the academic world, plagiarism by students is a very serious offense that can result in punishments such as a failing grade on the particular assignment or for the course.

• For repeated plagiarism, or severe plagiarism (e.g., submitting a copied piece of writing as original work), a student may be suspended or expelled. In many universities, academic degrees or awards may be revoked as a penalty for plagiarism

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Plagiarism & Its Consequences cont…• Easy to detect Plagiarism: 1. Choice of source – unoriginal 2.

whether student used his/ her own voice 3. Source may be inappropriate inaccurate or off-topic 4. online plagiarism detector

• Plagiarism may also occurs because students are unaware of acceptable writing practices/ prior education practice.

• As a consequence, consideration has now been given to the best ways to help students learn about plagiarism with suggestions Carroll (2006) that students should be allowed to experiment and to develop their understanding of plagiarism through making mistakes, which means that they may need to produce some writing and receive feedback on it and understanding that it is unacceptable.

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References:

1. Business Research Methods – Cooper, Schindler; Tata Mc Graw Hills

2. Business Research Methods – William G Zikmund; Thomson.3. Research Methodology, Concepts & Cases – Chawla, Sondhi4. Marketing Research – Tull, Hawkin; PHI5. Marketing Research: A South Asian Perspective6. Research Methods: Donald H.McBurney, Thomson Asia Pvt. Ltd.7. http://en.wikipedia.org8. fhttp://eprints.hud.ac.uk/7521/1/Let_them_plagiarise.pdf

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Q & A

Thank you!