CH-1 Introduction to research.pptx

CHAPTER ONE
Introduction to Research
1

1. Introduction to Research
• What is research?
The term “Research” consists of two words:
Research = Re + Search
• “Re” means again and again and “Search” means to
find out something, the following is the process:
• The research is a process of which a person observes the phenomena again
and again from different dimensions and collects the data, and on the basis
of collected data he/she draws some conclusions.
2

Definitions of Research:
1. Robert Ross defined research as an investigation, a
recording and analysis of evidences for the purpose
of gaining knowledge.
2. Fred kerlinger – research is an organized enquiry
designed and carried out to provide information for
solving a problem.
3. Francis Rummel – research is a careful inquiry or
examination to discover new information or
relationship and to expand and to verify the
existing knowledge.
3

Definitions of Research:
4. According to Clifford Woody, “Research comprises of
defining and redefining problems, formulating
hypothesis or suggested solutions; making deductions
and reaching conclusions; and at last carefully testing
the conclusions to determine whether they fit the
formulated hypothesis”.
• In short,
–Research is the search for knowledge through
scientific and systematic method of finding
solution to a problem.
4

• On evaluating these definitions, we can
conclude that-Research refers to the
systematic method consisting of
– Formulating the problem,
– Formulating a hypothesis,
– Collecting the fact or data,
– Analyzing the facts and
– Reaching to certain conclusions either in the form of
solutions towards the concerned problem or in certain
generalizations for some theoretical formulation.
5

Characteristics of Research
1. Controlled: in exploring the causality in relation to
two variables, you set up your study in a way that
minimizes the effect of other factors affecting the
relation ship.
2. Rigorous: you must be reliable in ensuring that the
procedures followed to find answers to questions are
relevant, appropriate and justified.
3. Systematic: this implies that the procedures adopted
to understand an investigation follow the certain
logical sequence. The different steps can not be
taken in a haphazard way. Some procedures must
follow others.
6

Characteristics of Research
4. Valid and verifiable: this concept implies that what ever
you conclude on the basis of your findings is correct and
can be verified by you and others.
5. Empirical: this means that any conclusions drawn are
based up on hard evidence gathered from information
collected from real-life expectations or observations.
6. Critical: critical study of the procedures used and the
method employed is crucial to a research inquiry. The
process of investigation must be full proof and free from
any drawbacks. The process adopted and the procedures
used must be able to withstand ‘critical scrutiny’.
7

Types of Research
• Research can be classified from three perspectives:
– Application of the research study
– Objectives in undertaking the research
– Inquiry mode employed.
8

Types of Research
Based on Application
1. Pure research/ Basic/ Fundamental involves
developing and testing theories and hypothesis that are
intellectually challenging to the researcher but may or
may not have practical application at the present time or
in the future.
– It is also concerned with the development,
examination, verification and refinement of research
methods, procedures and techniques and tools that
form the body of research methodology.
9

Types of Research
Based on Application
2. Applied research: aims at finding a solution for an
immediate problem facing a society, or an
industrial/business organization, whereas fundamental
research is mainly concerned with generalizations
and with the formulation of a theory”
– This research type uses empirical methodologies, such as
experiments, to collect further data in an area of study.
– Applied research focuses on answering one specific question for
a client or sponsor.
10

Types of Research
Based on Objectives
1. Descriptive research– describes or defines a particular
phenomenon
2. Explanatory research– explains why particular phenomena work
in the way that they do, answers “why” questions
3. Exploratory research– conducted during the early stages of a
project, usually when a researcher wants to test the feasibility of
conducting a more extensive study
4. Correlational research - measures two variables, understands and
assesses the statistical relationship between them with no influence
from any extraneous variable.
11

Types of Research
Based on Inquiry mode
1. Qualitative Research: Qualitative research is used to gain an
understanding of human behavior, intentions, attitudes, experience,
etc., based on the observation and the interpretation of the people.
– It is an unstructured and exploratory technique that deals with
the highly complex phenomena which are not possible.
– This kind of research is usually done to understand the topic in-
depth.
– It is carried out by taking the interview with the open-ended
questions, observations which are described in words, and so on.
12

Types of Research
Based on Inquiry mode
2. Quantitative Research: Quantitative research method relies on the
methods of natural sciences, that develops hard facts and numerical
data.
– it establishes the cause and effect relationship between two
variables using different statistical, computational, and statistical
methods.
– As the results are accurately and precisely measured, this research
method is also termed as “Empirical Research”.
– This type of research is generally used to establish the generalized
facts about the particular topic.
– This type of research is usually done by using surveys,
experiments, and so on.
13

The Research Process: A Quick Glance
14

Steps in planning a research study
1. Formulating a research problem
• The main function of formulating a research problem is to decide
“what you want to find out about”.
• Issue (problem) definition is statement of the topic looked in to via
business research.
• Without a focused definition, irrelevant and expensive data which
will confuse rather than illuminate may be gathered.
• A good problem definition directs the research process to correct
and analyze appropriate data for the purpose of decision making.
15

2. Conceptualizing a research design
• The main function of a research design is to explain “how” you will
find answer to your research questions.
• The research design sets out the logic of your inquiry.
• A research design should include the following: the study design to
pursue and the logical arrangements that you propose to undertake,
the measurement procedures, the sampling strategy, the frame of
analysis time-frame.
16

3. Constructing an instrument for data collection
• Anything that becomes a means of collecting information for your
study is called a “research tool” or a “research instrument”.
• For example, observation forms, interview schedules,
questionnaires and interview guides are all classified as research
tools.
17

4. Selecting a sample
• The basic objective of any sampling design is to minimize within the
limitation of cost, the gap between the values obtained form you
sample and those prevalent in the population.
• The underlying premise in sampling is that, if a relatively small
number units is selected it can provide with a sufficiently and high
degree of probability a fairly true reflection of the sampling population
that is being studied.
• There are three categories of sampling designs;
1. Random/probability sampling designs
2. Non- Random/probability sampling designs
3. “Mixed” sampling designs
18

5. Writing a research proposal
• This “overall plan” tells a reader about your research problem and
how you are planning to investigate; and is called a research
proposal.
• Broadly a research proposal’s main function is to detail the
operational plan “for obtaining answers to your research
questions.
19

5. Writing a research proposal
• A research proposal must tell you, your research supervisor and a reviewer the following
information about your study:-
– what you are proposing to do;
– what you plan to proceed;
– why you selected the proposed strategy;
– a statement of the objective of the study;
– a list of hypothesis, if you are testing any;
– the study design you are proposing to use;
– the setting for your study;
– the research instrument(s)you are planning to use
– information on sample size and sampling design;
– information on data processing techniques;
– an outline of the proposed chapters for the report
– the study’s problems and limitations, and
– the proposed time-frame
20

Steps in Conducting a research study
6. Collecting data
• At this stage you actually collect the data. For example, depend up on
your plans, you might commence interviews, mail out a questionnaire, conduct
nominal /focused group discussions or make observations.
• Secondary data: consists of information not collect for the issue
or problem at hand but for some other purpose; this information is
available within a firm or externally.
• Primary data: consists of information gathered to address a
specific issue or problem at hand.
21

7. Processing data
• The way you analyze the information you collected
largely depends up on two things;
1. Type of information:- descriptive, qualitative,
quantitative or attitudinal
2. The way you want to communicate your findings
to your readers (texts, graphs, and tables).
• There are two broad categories of report: - qualitative
and/or quantitative approach.
22

7. Processing data
• Data analysis: the information on questionnaires or answers forms/
schedules is first coded, edited, tabulated, and then analyzed.
• Recommendation: are suggestions for a firm’s future actions that
are based on business research findings.
• Implementation of findings : A research report represents feedback
for business analysis, who are responsible for using findings.
– If they ignore the findings, research was little value.
– If they base decisions on the results, then business research
has a greater value and the organization benefits in the short
and long run.
23

8. Writing a research report
• Writing a research is the last and, for many, the most
difficult step of the research process.
• Thus report informs the world what you have done,
what you have discovered and what conclusion you
have drawn from your findings.
• Your report should be written in an academic style and be
divided into different chapters and/or sections based
upon the main themes of your study.
24

Quick Review
• What is research?
• Characteristics of Research
– Controlled
– Rigorous
– Systematic
– Valid & Verifiable
– Empirical
– Critical
25

The Business Research Process
• The business research process consists of a
series of activities from
– defining the issue or problem to be studied;
– examining secondary data (previously collected);
– generating primary data (new);
– if necessary analyzing information;
– making recommendations and
– implementing findings.
26

27

A. Issue ( problem) definition
• Issue (problem) definition is statement of the topic
looked in to via business research.
• Without a focused definition, irrelevant and expensive
data which will confuse rather than illuminate may be
gathered.
• A good problem definition directs the research process
to correct and analyze appropriate data for the
purpose of decision making.
28

B. Secondary data
• The secondary consists of information not collect for
the issue or problem at hand but for some other
purpose; this information is available within a firm or
externally.
• Whether secondary data fully resolve an issue or problem
or not, their low cost and rather fast accessibility, mean
that primary data should not be collected until a
thorough secondary data search is done.
29

C. Primary data
• Primary data consists of information gathered to
address a specific issue or problem at hand.
• Such data are needed if secondary data are insufficient
for proper business decision to be made.
• If a firm decides primary data are needed, it must device
a research design – which outlines the procedures for
collecting and analyzing data.
• After a research design is detailed, data are then
collected.
30

D. Recommendation
• Recommendations are suggestions for a firm’s future
actions that are based on business research findings.
• They are typically presented in written form to
business decision makers.
• The report must be written for the audience that reads
it. Thus, technical terminology must be defined.
31

E. Implementation of findings
• A research report represents feedback for business
analysis, who are responsible for using findings.
• If they ignore the findings, research was little value. If
they base decisions on the results, then business
research has a greater value and the organization
benefits in the short and long run.
32

1.5 REVIEWING THE LITERATURE
• existing literature acquaints yourself with the
available body of knowledge in your area of
interest.
• The literature review is an integral part of the entire
research process and makes a valuable contribution to
almost every operational step.
33

The Importance of Literature Review
• In any research project it is essential to understand what
has already been done (if anything) in the specific topic
you have chosen and what has been done in the wider
subject area of that topic.
• Reviewing literature can be time consuming, daunting
and frustrating, but it is also rewarding.
• A literature review has a number of functions…..
34

Functions of Literature Review
1. It provides a theoretical background to your study
2. It reviews the meanings by which you establish the links
between what you are proposing to examine and
what has already been studied.
3. Through the literature review you are able to show how
your findings have contributed to the body of
knowledge in your profession.
4. It enables you to contextualize your findings (How
your findings fit into the existing body of knowledge).
35

What should the literature review do?
• It should enable you to sharpen and focus your initial research
questions or even suggest new research questions.
• It should provide you with a wide and deep knowledge of the
theoretical, empirical and methodological issues within your chosen
research topic.
• It should provide a ‘bridge’ between your research questions and
your research findings.
• It should enable you to speak with authority on your research topic
and the wider subject area.
• It should enable you to compare your research methods, theoretical
framework and findings with work already done.
• It should enable you to set the scope and range of your research topic.
36

Procedures for reviewing the literature
1. Search for existing literature in your area of study
– There are two major sources that you can use to
prepare a bibliography or references used:
• Books
• Journals and reports
37

2. Review Critically the selected literature
– Reviewing academic literature is not the same as
just reading it! You need to think about the ideas, the
research methods, how the data was collected, and
how the findings have been interpreted. This is what
we mean by Critical Reading.
38

3. Develop theoretical framework
– The key point here is that we need a theory in order
to inform us what kind of data we require in order
to answer the research questions we have already set
ourselves—in other words, following the modern
deductivist methodology of research. Where does one
find this theory? The answer to this question is easy—
you will find it in the literature related to your
research topic.
39

4. develop conceptual frame work
– A conceptual framework is a set of broad ideas and
principles taken from relevant fields of inquiry and
used to structure a subsequent presentation.
– The information obtained from different books and
journals now need to be sorted under the main themes
and theories, highlighting agreements and
disagreements among the authors and identifying the
unanswered questions or gaps.
40

5. Writing up the literature reviewed
– The conceptual framework stems from the theoretical
framework and concentrates usually on one section of
the theoretical framework which becomes the basis
of your study.
– It consists of the theories or issues in which your study
is enabled.
41

Types of Literature Review
1. Evaluative Review
• This type of literature review focuses on providing a
discussion of the literature in terms of its coverage and
contribution to knowledge in a particular area.
42

2. Exploratory Review
• This is a literature review which is seeking to find out
what actually exists in the academic literature in terms of
theory, empirical evidence and research methods as they
pertain to a specific research topic and its related wider
subject area.
43

3. Instrumental Review
• This is where the literature is used exclusively as a
source of information on how to conduct some
research on a highly specific research problem.
• It is not designed to identify the state of current
knowledge in an area but to identify the best way to
carry out a research project without reinventing the
wheel and without incurring unnecessary and avoidable
costs.
44

Some General Points in Literature Reviewing
• some questions which you should keep in mind when studying (not just reading)
academic literature.
• For any given piece of work:
• Is there a theoretical framework?
• If so, what is it and how does it fit into this topic?
• Does the work provide links to other work in the topic?
• Is there an empirical aspect to the work?
• If so, what is its basis?
• Does the work relate to a specific social group?
• Does it relate to a particular place?
• How applicable might it be outside the latter two?
• How old is the work?
• Is it still valid?
45

Some General Points in Literature Reviewing
• In addition to asking these questions, you also need to summarize
the literature review. This should be done in the following terms:
– What does the previous research tell us about this topic?
– What does it not tell us?
– What are the key weaknesses in terms of theory, methods and
data?
46

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