RESEARCH METHOD(IN Industrial Management)

• Dr. Golamreza Babaei

• Design :WHO Manual

STEPS TO FOLLOWED IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS:

STEP I -

DEFINITION OF PROBLEM AND OBJECTIVE

STEP II -

APPRAISAL OF EXISTING INFORMATION

STEP III -

FORMULATION OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND HYPOTHESES

STEP IV –

METHODOLOGY

STEP V –

DATA COLLECTION

STEP VI–

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

STEP VII

REPORTING

 STEP I : DEFINITION OF PROBLEM AND OBJECTIVES

 

A. - SELECTION OF RESEARCH TOPIC

CRITERIA

a) PROJECT SHOULD ADDRESS PRIORITY MANAGEMNT NEEDS OR PROBLEMS  b) THE PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE SOME CHANCE TO BE SOLEVED BY THE TYPE OF RESEARCH AND METHODLOGY PROPOSED 

C) RESEARCH PROJECT SHOULD BE FEASIBLE WITHIN THE TIME AVAILABLE  d) THE RESULTS SHOULD BECOMEl AVAILABLE BEFORE THE INFORMATION IS NEEDED FOR DECISION   e) NECESSARY RESEARCHERS AND RESOURCES ( INCLUDING FINANCIAL ) SHOULD BE AVAILABLE   f) THE RESEARCH PROJECT SHOULD BE COST EFFECTIVE  

BY WHOM 

a) POLICY-MAKERS AND PROGRAM MANAGERS 

b) MANAGEMENT PROVIDERS

 c) COMMUNITY LEADERS

 d) ACADEMICIANS AND OTHER RESEARCH WORKERS 

 

__________________________________________________________________________

JOINT SELECTION OF THE TOPIC IS PREFERABLE   

STEP I - DEFINITION OF PROBLEM AND OBJECTIVES 

B - STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM  

a) BACKGROUND CONCERNING MANAGEMENT STATUS AND MANAGEMENT CARE IN THE COUNTRY IN RELATION TO THE PROBLEM UNDER STUDY b) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM c) WHY THE PROBLEM IS IMPORTANT  d) DESCRIPTION OF GEOGRAPHICAL , CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS AND ECONOMIC FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE PROBLEM e) EXISTING SERVICES TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM f) POSITION OF GOVERNMENT ON THE ISSUE  g) WHY IN YOUR OPINION DOES THE PROBLEM MEED TO BE RESEARCHED? FROM WHAT ASPECTS ? HOW WILL THE RESULTS BE USED ? ______________________________________________________________

 

 - WRITE PRECISELY AND CONCISELY AND CONCISELY BUT DO NOT FORGET ESSENTIAL POINTS - DO NOT DROWN THE READER IN DETAILS   

STEP I - DEFINITION OF PROBLEM AND OBJECTIVES

  

C - OBJECTIVES  

a) IMMEDIATE AND SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES  b) ULTIMATE AND GENERAL OBJECTIVES

STEP IV –

METHODOLOGY

BE WHOM a) POLICY-MAKERS AND PROGRAM MANAGERS 

b) MANAGEMENT PROVIDERS 

c) COMMUNITY LEADERS 

d) ACADEMICIANS AND OTHER RESEARCH WORKERS 

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JOINT SELECTION OF THE TOPIC IS PREFERABLE  

STEP I - DEFINITION OF PROBLEM AND OBJECTIVES 

B - STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

a) BACKGROUND CONCERNING MANAGEMENT STATUS AND MANAGEMENT IN THE COUNTRY IN RELATION TO THE PROBLEM UNDER STUDY b) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM c) WHY THE PROBLEM IS IMPORTANT  d) DESCRIPTION OF GEOGRAPHICAL , CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS AND ECONOMIC FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE PROBLEM e) EXISTING SERVICES TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM f) POSITION OF GOVERNMENT ON THE ISSUE  g) WHY IN YOUR OPINION DOES THE PROBLEM MEED TO BE RESEARCHED? FROM WHAT ASPECTS ? HOW WILL THE RESULTS BE USED ? ______________________________________________________________ 

 - WRITE PRECISELY AND CONCISELY AND CONCISELY BUT DO NOT FORGET ESSENTIAL POINTS - DO NOT DROWN THE READER IN DETAILS    

STEP I - DEFINITION OF PROBLEM AND OBJECTIVES   

C - OBJECTIVES

a) IMMEDIATE AND SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES  b) ULTIMATE AND GENERAL OBJECTIVES 

STEP I - DEFINITION OF PROBLEM AND OBJECTIVES

D - WORKABLE DEFINITION OF TERMS

a) PREPARE LIST OF DEFINITIONS b) CLARIFY THE MEANING OF EACH TERM  c) MENTION THE FULL MANING OF ALL ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS  

STEP II - APPRAISAL OF EXISTING INFORMATION   

A - WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT  

a) TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM IN GENERAL AND IN THE COUNTRY CONTEXT   b) TO LEARN OUT HOW OTHERS HAVE DEALT WITH THE PROBLEM   c) TO BECOM FAMILIAR WITH VARIOUS APPROPRIATE METHODOLOGIES   d) TO AVOUD 'REINVENTION OF THE WHEEL '  e) TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL JUSTIFICATION CONVINCE DECISION MAKERS AND FUNDING AUTHORITIES FOR SUPPORT

STEPP II : APPRAISAL OF EXISTING INFORMATION   

B - SOURCES  

a) BOOK

b) INDEXES AND PERIODICALS  c) SUMMARIES AND ABSTRACTS  d) COMPUTER BASED LITERATURE SEARCHES ( e.g. MEDLINE )  e) BIBLIOGRAPHIES AT THE END OF ARTICLES, CHAPTERS OF BOOKS, THESES , ETC. f) NEWSPAPERS , MAGAZINES , ETC. ( LOCAL AND NATIONAL ) g) STATISTICS COLLECTED AT THE NATIONAL, REGTONAL , DISTRICT LEVEL - HOSPITAL AND BEALTH CENTERS DATA h) INFORMATION FROM VARIOUS AGENCIES ( NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ) i) OPINIONS ( OF EXPERTS AND NON- EXPERTS ) BELIEFS, POINTS OF VIEWS  j) CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS  k) ANECDOTAL INFORMATION

__________________________________________________________________

- SEARCH WIDELY

- BEWARE OF BIASES   

STEP II - APPRAISAL OF EXISTING INFORMATION   

C - HOW IT IS DONE  

a) IDENTIFY REFERENCES  b) READ THEM CAREFULLY - SELECT THE ONES  c) PREPARE A SUMMARY OF INFORMAION ON AN INDEX CARD d) HOW TO SUMMARIZE ON INDEX CARD:  AUTHOR , LAST NAME FIRST . TITLE OF THE BOOK , PLACE OF PUBLICATION , PUBLISHER , YEAR OF ARTICLE   AUTHOR , LAST NAME FIRST , 'TITLE OF THE ARTICLE ' , NAME OF JOURNAL , VOLUME, NUMBER, DATE , PAGE NUMBERS  MAKE A BRIEF ANALYSIS  MENTION YOUR COMMENTS ON   - APPROPRIATENESS OF METHODOLOGY - STRONG POINTS OF STUDY. SOURCES OF BIAS IF ANY e) CLASSIFY INDEX CARDS IN A WAY THAT CAN BE EASILY RETRIEVED  f) MAKE A MASTER TABLE IF THERE ARE ONLY A FEW REFERENCES       

STEP III - FORMULATION OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND HYPOTHESES

  

a) LIST AS MANY QUESTIONS FOR WHICH YOU WANT TO FIND ANSWERS FOR THEM IN THIS RESEARCH b) IDENTIFY QUESTIONS THAT CAN BE ABOUT THE PROBLEM  c) IDENTIFY THOSE QUESTIONS FOR WHICH YOU WANT TO FIND ANSWERS FOR THEM IN THIS RESEARCH d) FORMULATE RESEARCH HYPOTHESES IN RELATION TO EACH QUESTION e) CHECK YOUR HYPOTHESES WHICH YOU HAVE ALREADY STUDIED IN THE APPRAISAL OF EXISTING INFORMATION  f) SELECT THOSE HYPOTHESES THAT STILL MIGHT BE VALID  g) CONSTRUCT STEP IV ( METHODOLOGY ) TO TEST THESE HYPOTHESES          

STEP IV - METHODOLOGY   

A: QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED IN DECISION ABOUT METHODOOGY

   

 a) WHAT VARIABLES DO WE WANT TO MEASURE ?  b) HOW CAN WE MEASURE THEM ?  c) WHERE SHOULD WE DO THE STUDY AND WHEN ? d) HOW CAN WE CHECK THAT OUR METHODS FOR MEASURING ARE CORRECT BEFORE BEGINNING A LARGE STUDY?  HOW CAN WE AVOID BIAS? e) WHAT PROFESSIONAL AND NON-PROFESSIONAL STAFF DO WE NEED TO CARRY OUT THIS STUDY? f) WHAT TYPE OF LOGISTICAL SUPPORT DO WE NEED ? g) ARE THERE ETHICAL PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE STUDY? h) WHAT CONSTRAINTS MAY AFFECT THIS STUDY?                 

STEP IV - METHODOLOGY 

  

B: VARIABLES  

VARIABLES ARE CHARACTERISTICS WHICH TAKE ONDIFERENT VALUES IN RESEARCH AND ARE MEASURED  TYPES OF VARIABLES   - QUANTITATIVE VARIABLES - QUALITATIVE VARIABLES  - INDEPENDENT VARIABLES - DEPENDENT VARIABLES - BACKGROUND VARIABLES ( e.g. AGE , SEX , MARITAL STATUS , ETC.)  ______________________________________________________

- VARIABLES SHOULD BE CLEARLY DEFINED  - METHODS OF THEIR MEASUREMENT AND UNIT OF MEASUREMENT CLEARLY INDICATED  - NUMBER OF VARIABLES SHOULD BE AS MANY AS NECESSARY, AS FEW AS POSSIBLE   

STEP IV - METHODOLOGY

C: DATA COLLECTION METHODS AND TECHNIOUES  

METHODS  a) USE OF EXISTING DATA b) OBSERVATION   PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION NON-PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION   OBSERVATION OF OBJECTS   OBSERVATION AGAINST A DEFINED SCALE ( MEASUREMENT )   TOOLS AND INSTRUMENTS OF OBSERVATION AND MEASUREMENT

 TECHNIQUES   a) DESCRIPTIVE, CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY ( SURVEY )   b) ANALYTICAL , CASE- CONTROL STUDY ( RETROSPECTIVE )   c) ANALYTICAL , COHORT STUDY ( PROSPECTIVE )   d) INTERVENTIONAL STUDY ( EXPERIMENTAL AND QUAST-EXPERIMENTAL )   e) TIME MOTION STUDY

STEP IV - METHODOLOGY    D: DESIGN OF QUESTIONNAIRE AND INTERVIEW

SCHEDULE

a) OPEN AND CLOSED QUESTIONS ( DEFINITIONS , ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES )   b) LIST VARIABLES  c) MAKE CLEAR AND SHORT QUESTIONS FOR EACH VARIABLE   d) EACH QUESTION SHOULD MEASURE ONE THING   e) PUT MORE DELICATE QUESTIONS AT THE END   f) MAKE QUESTIONNAIRE AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE   g) ARRANGE QUESTIONS IN A RATIONAL WAY   h) TRANSLATE QUESTIONNAIRE INTO LOCAL LANGUAGE IF NECESSARY  i) ALWAYS PRE-TEST QUESTIONNAIRE INTO LOCAL LANGUAGE IF NECESSARY

STEP IV - METHODOLOGY    E: SAMPLING

 

a) DEFINITION OF SAMPLE   - PROBABILITY SAMPLING  - NON-PROBABILITY SAMPLING b) COMMON METHODS OF PROBABILITY SAMPLING   1- SIMPLE RANDOM SAMPLING 2- SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING  3- STRATIFIED SAMLING  4- CLUSTER SAMPLING  5 - MULTISTAGE SAMPLING c) COMMON METHODS OF NON-PROBABILITY SAMPLING  1- CONVENIENCE SAMPLING  2- QUOTA SAMPLING  d) SAMPLE SIZE  

IN RELATION TO YOUR STUDY  1- DEFINE THE POPULATION 2- DEFINE THE UNIT OF STUDY  3- DECIDE ABOUT SAMPLING METHOD 4- CALCULATE THE SAMPLE SIZE    

STEP IV - METHODOLOGY   

F: PLAN FOR DATA COLLECTION  

 

a) PLACE b) TIME , DURATION , AND FREQUENCY c) DATA COLLECTION TEAM ( AVAILABILITY , NEED FOR TRAINING ) d) PERMISSION FROM AUTHORITIES e) ARRANGEMENT FOR CONFIDENTIALITY f) REWARD FOR PARTICIPATING SUBJECT ( IF DESIRED )  g) LOGISTIC SUPPORT (TRANSPORT, REPAIR, LODING AND FOOD FOR DATA COLLECTION TEAM, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, ETC.) h) MONITORING OF ALL ACTIVITIES (AS A CONTINUOUS PROCESS) i) SAFE STORAGE FOR COMPLETED FORMS        

STEP IV – METHODOLOGY  G: PLAN FOR ANALYSIS  

a)      PLANS FOR QUALITY OF DATA IN THE FIELD FOR COMPLETENESS  b)      RECEPTION OF DATA SENT FROM THE FIELD ,LLABELING , STORAGE , CODING , CLASSIFICATION   c)      DECISION ABOUT TYPE OF PROCESSING 1-     BY HAND2-     BY MACHINE ( MECHANICAL SORTING , ETC.)3-     BY COMPUTER   d)      PLAN FOR ANALYSIS  -   PREPARATION OF DUMMY TABLES -   SEQUENCE OF TABLES -   SPECIFICATION OF STAFF REQUIRED FOR ANALYSIS-   ESTIMATION OF THE TIME FOR EACH PARTOF ANALYSIS -   ESTIMATION OF THE COST OF ANALYSIS                     

STEP IV - METHODOLOGY  

H: STAFFING AND ADMINISTRATION

 a) DETERMINE THE TYPE OF PERSONNEL YOU NEED CONSIDERING THE TASKS TO BE

ACCOMPLISHED b) MAKE A LIST OF TYPES AND NUMBERS OF

HOURS THEY WILL SPEND IN THE PROJECT  c) USE CONSULTANTS ONLY WHEN PROJECT STAFF DO NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY SKILLS FOR CERTAIN TECHNICAL TASKS  d) MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR TRAINING IF

NECESSARY e) PREPARE PLAN FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE

PROJECT ( STAFF , MATERIALS , EQUIPMENTS, TRANSPORT, ETC(.

 f) MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR SMOOTH FLOW OF FUNDS

  g) ENSURE CONTINUITY OF ADMINISTRATION EVEN WHEN PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR IS ABSENT

STEP IV - METHODOLOGY

I: BUDGETING

a) GO OVER THE STEPS AND CONSIDER ALL NECESSARY EXPENSES IN RELATION TO :

 1 -PERSONEL ( SALARIES, PER DIEM ,

ALLOWANCES, FRINGE BENEFITS,ETC (.  

2 -TRAINING OF PERSONNEL  

3 -FACILITIES ( OFFICES, LABORATORY, LODGING, ETC (.

  4 -OFFICE COSTS ( DUPLICATING , MIMEOGRAPH,

POSTAGE , SHIPMENT , INSURANCE, TAXES AND DUTIES, TELEPHON , ETC (.

 5 -TRANSPORTATION

  6 -SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT

 7 - DATA ANALYSIS

  8 - DISSEMINATION OF THE RESULTS ( TYPING, REPRODUCTION , PUBLICATION , POSTAGE , FILMS , SLIDE SHOWS , ETC .)  b) CONSIDER THE BUDGET LEVEL THAT DONOR AGENCY MIGHT ACCEPT. TAILOR YOUR ACTIVITIES AROUND THIS LEVEL  c) GIVE JUSTIFICATION FOR EACH ITEM OF BUDGET      

STEP IV – METHODOLOGY    J: ETHICAL ASPCTS   

a)      RESEARCH TOPIC SHOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE POPULATION UNDER STUDY  b)      SERVICES OR STANDARD TREATMENTS SHOULDNOT BE WITHDRAWN WHEN NECESSARY  c)      RESEARCH SHOULD NOT PRODUCE PHYSICALOOR EMOTIONAL HARM  d)      ACCEPTABLE INFORMED CONSENT SHOULD BE ‘TTAKEN IF APPLICABLE  e)      CONFIDENTIALITY OF DATA SHOULD BE ASSURED  f)       SCIENTIFIC QUALITY AND ITS BENEFITS FOR POPULATION UNDER STUDY SHOULD BE ENSURED  g)      DOUBLE STANDARDS ( UNDERTAKING STUDIES NOT PERMITTED IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES ) SHOULD BE AVOIDED  h)      NATIONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL ETHICAL APPROVAL SHOULD BE PROVIDED IF APPLICABLE             

STEP IV - METHODOLOGY  

K : CONSTRAINTS   

 a)      UNAVAILABILITY OF MANPOWER  b)      UNAVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES ( BUDGET,SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT )  c)      TIME LIMITS d)      POLITICAL CONSTRAINTS  e)      CULTURAL , SOCIAL AND TRIBAL CONSTRAINTS  f)       GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTRAINTS  g)      OTHER CONSTRAINTS h)      HOW IS IT POSSIBEL TO OVERCOME THESECONSTRAINT ?                    

STEP V – DATA COLLECTION   

A: PRETEST AND PILOT STUDIES   

ASPECTS TO BE EXAMINED DURING PRETEST  a)     THE INSTRUMENT, TO DETERMINE: 1-      VALIDITY 2-      RELIABILITY 3-      TIME NEEDED TO LOCATE THE STUDY UNIT AND TO ADMINISTER THE INSTRUMENT 4-      ANY NEED FOR REVISION ( PAPER, FORMATWORDING, SEQUENCE OF QUESTIONS,SPACES FOR ANSWERS , ACCURACY OF

TRANSLATION, ETC.) 

b)     PROBLEMS OF BIAS THAT MAY ARISE 

c)      EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES NEEDED 

d)     RECTION OF RESPONDENTS ( ACCEPTABILITY OF THE METHOD , ACCEPTABILITY OF

QUESTION , CLARITY OF QUESTIONS AND LANGUAGE )

 e)     APPROPRIATENESS OF PLACE AND TIME

 f)       APPROPRIATENESS OF DATA TABULATION AND

STATISTICAL PROCEDURES  

               

STEP V - DATA COLLECTION   

B : MAIN STUDY   

a)      PERSONNEL RECRUITMENT  b)      TRAINING OF PERSONNEL ( BOTH TO BE DONE BEFORE PRETESTING INSTRUMENTS AND PILOT STUDIES) c)      CONDUCT OF STUDY ACCORDING TO THE DESIGN d)      DAY- TO – DAY COORDINATION AND SUPERVISION  e)      RECORD- KEEPING , EDITING ( ACCORDING TO PLAN )0 f)       PRELIMINARY DATA PROCESSING  g)      PROGRESS REPORT                       

STEP VI – DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION   

A: ANALYSIS  

a)      TABULATION   b)      GRAPHS AND DIAGRAMS  c)      RATES AND RATIOS   d)      COMPARISONS   e)      STATISTICAL TESTS OF SIGNIFICANCE  

B: INTERPRETATION OF THE RESULTS  

STEP VI – DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

a)      PERSONNEL RECRUITMENT  b)      TRAINING OF PERSONNEL ( BOTH TO BE DONE BEFORE PRETESTING INSTRUMENTS AND PILOT STUDIES) c)      CONDUCT OF STUDY ACCORDING TO THE DESIGN d)      DAY- TO – DAY COORDINATION AND SUPERVISION  e)      RECORD- KEEPING , EDITING ( ACCORDING TO PLAN )0 f)       PRELIMINARY DATA PROCESSING g)      PROGRESS REPORT                            

STEP VI – DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION   

A: ANALYSIS  

a)      TABULATION   b)      GRAPHS AND DIAGRAMS  c)      RATES AND RATIOS   d)      COMPARISONS   e)      STATISTICAL TESTS OF SIGNIFICANCE  

B: INTERPRETATION OF THE RESULTS  

STEP VI – DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION  

a)      REVIEW THE RESULTS IN RELATION TO RESEARCH HYPOTHESES  b)      REVIEW THE RESULTS IN RELATION TO KNOWN c)      DISCUSS ALTERNATIVE INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS  d)      PRESENTATION OF CONCLUSIONS DRAWN AND REASONS FOR THEM – PRESENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION e)      RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE STUDIES    

C: UTILIZATION OF RESULTS  

STEP VI – DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

a)      PRESENTATION OF A PLAN OF ACTION FOR UTILIZATION OF RESULTS  b)      SUGGESTED TIME FRAME WHICH TO EFFECT CHANGE   

STEP VII - REPORTING   

PREPARATION , PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION  

OF THE REPORT

a)      REPORT SHOULD BE PREPARED AND DISTRIBUTED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE  b)      REPORT NEED TO BE PUBLISHED FOR WIDER DISTIBUTION AND LONG- LASTING EFFECT  c)      AN ABBREVIATED REPORT SHOULD BE GIVENTO CONCERNED PLANNERS /DECISION MAKERS AS SOON AS FINAL RESULTS ARE READY d)      INCLUDE THE NAMES OF ALL TECHNICAL PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN THE STUDY IN YOUR FINAL PUBLICATION  e)      ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUPPORT ( FINANCIAL ,TECHNICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE ) RECEIVEDFROM INDIVIDALS OR ORGANIZATIONS f)       DETAILED REPORT SHOULD HAVE ANAPPROPRIATE SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ,CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS