research pro (ok)

8/8/2019 Research Pro (OK)

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Research ProposalResearch Proposal

A written statement of the research designA written statement of the research designthat includes a statement explaining thethat includes a statement explaining the

purpose purpose of the study.of the study.D etailed outline of procedures associatedD etailed outline of procedures associatedwith a particular methodology.with a particular methodology.

The proposal needs to communicate exactlyThe proposal needs to communicate exactlywhat information will be obtained, where itwhat information will be obtained, where itwill be obtained and how it will bewill be obtained and how it will beobtained.obtained.


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W riting a proposal for a research design,W riting a proposal for a research design,specifying exactly what will be done, creates aspecifying exactly what will be done, creates a

record to which everyone can refer andrecord to which everyone can refer andeliminates many problems that might ariseeliminates many problems that might ariseafter research has been conducted.after research has been conducted.Preparation of a research proposal forces thePreparation of a research proposal forces theresearcher to think critically about each stageresearcher to think critically about each stageof research process.of research process.


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B asic QuestionsB asic Questions - -

Problem DefinitionProblem DefinitionW hat is theW hat is the purpose purpose of the study?of the study?H ow much is already known?H ow much is already known?

Is additional background information necessary?Is additional background information necessary?W hat is to be measured? H ow?W hat is to be measured? H ow?Can the data be made available?Can the data be made available?Should research be conducted?Should research be conducted?Can a hypothesis be formulated?Can a hypothesis be formulated?


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B asic QuestionsB asic Questions - -B

asic Research DesignB

asic Research DesignW hat types of questions need to be answered?W hat types of questions need to be answered?Are descriptive or causal findings required?Are descriptive or causal findings required?

W hat is the source of the data?W hat is the source of the data?


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B asic QuestionsB asic Questions - -B

asic Research DesignB

asic Research DesignCan objective answers be obtained by askingCan objective answers be obtained by asking people? people?

H ow quickly is the information needed?H ow quickly is the information needed?H ow should survey questions be worded?H ow should survey questions be worded?H ow should experimental manipulations beH ow should experimental manipulations be

made?made?


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Selection of SampleSelection of SampleW ho or what is the source of the data?W ho or what is the source of the data?Can the target population be identified?Can the target population be identified?Is a sample necessary?Is a sample necessary?H ow accurate must the sample be?H ow accurate must the sample be?Is a probability sample necessary?Is a probability sample necessary?Is a national sample necessary?Is a national sample necessary?H ow large a sample is necessary?H ow large a sample is necessary?H ow will the sample be selected?H ow will the sample be selected?


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Data GatheringData GatheringW ho will gather the data?W ho will gather the data?H ow long will data gathering take?H ow long will data gathering take?

H ow much supervision is needed?H ow much supervision is needed?W hat operational procedures need to beW hat operational procedures need to befollowed?followed?


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Data AnalysisData AnalysisW ill standardized editing and coding proceduresW ill standardized editing and coding procedures be used? be used?H ow will the data be categorized?H ow will the data be categorized?W hat statistical software will be used?W hat statistical software will be used?W hat is the nature of the data?W hat is the nature of the data?W hat questions need to be answered?W hat questions need to be answered?H ow many variables are to be investigatedH ow many variables are to be investigatedsimultaneously?simultaneously?Criteria for evaluation?Criteria for evaluation?


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Type of ReportType of ReportW ho will read the report?W ho will read the report?Are managerial recommendations requested?Are managerial recommendations requested?

H ow many presentations are required?H ow many presentations are required?W hat will be the format of the written report?W hat will be the format of the written report?


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Overall EvaluationOverall EvaluationH ow much will the study cost?H ow much will the study cost?Is the time frame acceptable?Is the time frame acceptable?

Is outside help needed?Is outside help needed?W ill this research design attain the statedW ill this research design attain the statedresearch objectives?research objectives?

W hen should the research be scheduled toW hen should the research be scheduled to begin? begin?


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Anticipating OutcomesAnticipating Outcomes

D ummy tablesD ummy tablesRepresentations of the actual tables that will beRepresentations of the actual tables that will be

in the findings section of the final report; usedin the findings section of the final report; usedto gain a better understanding of what theto gain a better understanding of what theactual outcomes of the research will be.actual outcomes of the research will be.


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COMPLETELY

CERTAIN

ABSOLUTE

AMBIGUITY

AUSAL OR

ESCRIPTIVE

EXPLORATORY

U ncertainty Influences the TypeU ncertainty Influences the Type

of Researchof Research


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Problem Discovery and DefinitionProblem Discovery and Definition

F irst stepF irst stepProblem or opportunityProblem or opportunity

D iscovery before definitionD iscovery before definitionProblem means management problemProblem means management problem


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C onceptualizing andC onceptualizing and

FormulatingB

usiness ProblemFormulatingB

usiness ProblemProblem D efinitionProblem D efinition

The indication of a specific business decisionThe indication of a specific business decisionarea that will be clarified by answering somearea that will be clarified by answering someresearch questions.research questions.


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The Process of The Process of Problem DefinitionProblem Definition

Ascertain thedecision makersobjectives

Understandbackground of the problem

Isolate/identifythe problem, not the symptoms

Determine unit of analysis

Determinerelevant variables

State researchquestions andobjectives


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Ascertain the Decision MakersAscertain the Decision Makers

ObjectivesObjectivesD ecision makers objectivesD ecision makers objectivesManagerial goals expressed in measurableManagerial goals expressed in measurable

terms.terms.


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The Iceberg PrincipleThe Iceberg Principle

The principle indicating that thedangerous part of many business

problems is neither visible to nor understood by managers.


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U nderstand the B ackground of U nderstand the B ackground of

the Problemthe ProblemIn situations in which the decision makersIn situations in which the decision makersobjectives are clear, the problem may beobjectives are clear, the problem may bediagnosed exclusively by exercisingdiagnosed exclusively by exercisingmanagerial judgment.managerial judgment.But, when information about what hasBut, when information about what has

happened previously is inadequate or whenhappened previously is inadequate or whenmanagers have trouble identifying themanagers have trouble identifying the

problem, a situation analysis should be done. problem, a situation analysis should be done.


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Situation analysisSituation analysis A preliminaryA preliminaryinvestigation or informal gathering of investigation or informal gathering of

background information to familiarize background information to familiarizeresearchers or managers with the decision area.researchers or managers with the decision area.Gaining an awareness of organizational or Gaining an awareness of organizational or environmental conditions often requiresenvironmental conditions often requiresExploratory Research.Exploratory Research.


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Isolate and Identify theIsolate and Identify the

Problems, Not the SymptomsProblems, Not the SymptomsSymptoms can be confusingSymptoms can be confusingOrganization: Cellular phoneOrganization: Cellular phone

manufacturer.manufacturer.Symptoms: Women employeesSymptoms: Women employeescomplain that salaries are too low.complain that salaries are too low.

Problem Definition based onProblem Definition based onSymptoms: Salaries need to beSymptoms: Salaries need to becompared to industry averages.compared to industry averages.


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True Problem:True Problem:Benefits program is not suited to womensBenefits program is not suited to womens

needs.needs.


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Problem DefinitionOrganization Symptoms Based on Symptom True Problem

Twenty-year-oldneighborhoodswimmingassociation in amajor city.

Membership has beendeclining for years.New water park withwave pool and water slides moved intotown a few years ago.

Neighborhoodresidents prefer theexpensive water park and havenegative image of swimming pool.

Demographic changes:Children in this 20-year-old neighborhoodhave grown up. Older residents no longer swim anywhere.


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Determine the U nit of AnalysisDetermine the U nit of Analysis

The researcher must specify whether the levelThe researcher must specify whether the levelof investigation will focus on the collection of of investigation will focus on the collection of data aboutdata aboutThe entire organization,The entire organization,D epartments,D epartments,W

ork groupsW

ork groupsIndividuals, or Individuals, or ObjectsObjects


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Determine the relevant variablesDetermine the relevant variables

Va ri abl e is defined a s a nything th a t ch a nges inVa ri abl e is defined a s a nything th a t ch a nges inval ue.val ue.

Resea

rchVa

riabl

e: Resea

rchVa

riabl

e:The term v a ri abl e is a cha r a cteristic, tr a it or The term v a ri abl e is a cha r a cteristic, tr a it or

a ttri b ute th a t is me a sured. Its s sym b ol toa ttri b ute th a t is me a sured. Its s sym b ol towhich v al ues a re a ssigned.which v al ues a re a ssigned.


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An independent variable is a variable thatAn independent variable is a variable that

changes unrelated to other factors; a variablechanges unrelated to other factors; a variablewe manipulate, or change, on purpose.we manipulate, or change, on purpose.An independent variable is the variable whoseAn independent variable is the variable whosevalue we know before we start an experimentvalue we know before we start an experimentEx a mpl e : Ex a mpl e : D oes the drop height affect theD oes the drop height affect theb ounce height of a b ounce height of a super ball super ball ? ? W e know the drop heights we will use.W e know the drop heights we will use.


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D ependent VariableD ependent VariableA dependent variable is a variable thatA dependent variable is a variable thatchanges depending on some other factors;changes depending on some other factors;the variable we are trying to find out.the variable we are trying to find out.The dependent variable is the variableThe dependent variable is the variablewhose value we do not know before wewhose value we do not know before we

start an experiment.start an experiment.


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Ex a mpl e: Does the drop height a ffect the Ex a mpl e: Does the drop height a ffect theb ounce height of a super ball ?b ounce height of a super ball ?W

e do not know theb

ounce heightsb

efore weW

e do not know theb

ounce heightsb

efore we st a rt. st a rt.


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Statement of the ResearchStatement of the ResearchQuestions and ResearchQuestions and Research

ObjectivesObjectivesStatement of research questions:Statement of research questions:A series of research questions andA series of research questions andhypotheses adds clarity.hypotheses adds clarity.A researcher question is the researchersA researcher question is the researcherstranslation of the business problem into atranslation of the business problem into aspecific need for inquiry.specific need for inquiry.The goal of defining the problem is to stateThe goal of defining the problem is to statethe research questions clearly and to havethe research questions clearly and to have

wellwell--formulated hypothesis.formulated hypothesis.


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Research Objective : Purpose of the researchResearch Objective : Purpose of the researchexpressed in measurable terms and defineexpressed in measurable terms and definestandards of what the research shouldstandards of what the research shouldaccomplish.accomplish.


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Statement of

businessproblem

Exploratory

research(optional)

Statement of

businessproblem

Broad

researchobjectives

SpecificObjective 1

SpecificObjective 2

SpecificObjective 3

ResearchDesign

Results

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