Business Research MethodsM. Phil

The Superior University, Lahore

Course Objective• Enhance your

– understanding,

– knowledge and

– skills enough to

• teach

• conduct a business research project and

• publish

Outline • Understanding business research process, design

and proposal• Problem definition, literature review, secondary

data, citation management and plagiarism• Research methods and techniques: qualitative,

quantitative & mixed methods; survey, observation and experimentation

• Understanding measurement of research constructs, scaling and designing the data collection instrument

• Determining the sample size and data collection• Data analysis, interpretation, publication/sharing

the results

Methodology• Knowledge and understanding

– Lectures, Discussions

• Skills

– Seminars/workshops, Assignments, EndNote, Turnitin, SPSS

• Assessment:

• Attendance and class participation 10%

• Publications/Project 40%

• End term 50%

• Total marks 100

•  Recommended Text Book:

• Business Research Methods, 8th ed. Zikmund et al

•  Reference Book

• SPSS Survival Manual: A Step by Step Guide to Data Analysis Using SPSS, 4th ed. Pallant, J.

Business?

• We do business to earn profits

• Business is a dynamic field

• We have competitors

• We need to keep up

• We need to grow

• We need customers

• We come across problems and issues

• We need to look into opportunities

• This all requires decision-making at the right time and that depends on right information and data

Business research is the systematic and objective process of generating information for aid in making business decisions.

It is the application of scientific method in searching the truth about business phenomena and includes defining business opportunities and problems, generating and evaluating alternative course of action and monitoring employee and organizational performance

What is Business Research?

Business Research

• Research information is neither sensitive nor unsystematically gathered.

• Literally, research (re-search) -“search again” • Business research must be objective• Detached and impersonal rather than biased

(unfair, partial and influenced)• It facilitates the managerial decision process for

all aspects of a business.

Information

Reduces

Uncertainty

I don’t knowif we

shouldoffer on-sitechild care?

Data, Information and Intelligence• Data are facts or recorded measures of certain

things/events

• Information is data processed/formatted to support decision-making or define relationship between two acts

• Business Intelligence is the subset of data and information that actually has some explanatory power enabling power to enable effective managerial decision-making

Example: HKB• Purchased products are recorded in Kot Lakhpat Ware

House by scanner forming data• Each item checked out/sold is recorded and becomes

data• Inventory system structures data in a way that it can

generate stock reports, can place orders for more stocks, hence turning data into information

• Information from Liberty and DHA store’s sales and inventory records may be used by analysts to determine trends in customer purchases, needs for opening new stores in new localities: Johar Town, DHA Phase 6

Characteristics of Valuable InformationCharacteristics of Valuable Information

• Relevance: How pertinent particular information is to the situation at hand

• Quality: The degree to which data is accurate, valid and reliable for the situation in hand

• Timeliness: Business is a dynamic field in which out-of-date information can lead to poor decisions. Data must be current and provided at right time

• Completeness: Information on all aspects of the decision to be made

Sources of Input for Decision-Making• Internal records: Accounting reports of sales and inventory

figures, provide considerable data. Data about costs, shipments, inventory, sales, and other aspects of regular operations are routinely collected and entered into the computer.

• Proprietary business research: Projects gathering of new data to investigate specific problems. Not conducted regularly, market research

• Sales persons Input: Customer complaints, comments, changes in competitors goods and services

• Behavioral Tracking: Scanner data, automated customer counts

• Web tracking: Social media, face book, blogs

• Outside vendors and external distributors: Industry sales trends, competitors, market share, demographics

The Decision-making Process --Development and Implementation of a Strategy

• Identifying problems and opportunities

• Diagnosis and assessment

• Selecting and implementing a course of action

• Evaluating the course of action

Evaluating a Course of Action• Evaluation research is the formal, objective

measurement and appraisal of the extent to which a given activity, project, or program has achieved its objectives.

• Performance monitoring research:– Research that regularly provides feedback for evaluation

and control

– Indicates things are or are not going as planned

– Research may be required to explain why something “went wrong”

Is sufficient time available before

a managerial decision

must be made?

Is the infor-mation already

on handinadequate for making

the decision?

Is the decision of considerable

strategicor tactical

importance?

Does the value of the research

informationexceed the cost of conducting

research?

ConductingBusinessResearch

Do Not Conduct Business Research

Time ConstraintsAvailability of

Data Nature of the DecisionBenefits vs. Costs

Yes YesYesYes

No No No No

Determining When to Conduct Business Research

Value

•Decreased certainty•Increased likelihood of a correct decision•Improved business performance and resulting higher profits

Costs•Research expenditures•Delay of business decision and possible disclosure of information to rivals•Possible erroneous research results

Potential Value of Business Research Should Exceed Estimated Costs

Major Areas for Business Research• General Business Conditions and Corporate

Research• Financial and Accounting Research• Management and Organizational Behavior Research• Sales and Marketing Research• Information Systems Research• Corporate Responsibility Research• Cross-functional-- Teams are composed of

individuals from various organizational departments such as engineering, production, finance, and marketing who share a common purpose

Global Business Research• Business Research is increasingly global

• Market knowledge is essential

• General information about country - economic conditions and political climate

• Cultural and consumer factors

• Market and competitive conditions - demand estimation

The Internet is Transforming Society

• Time is collapsing.

• Distance is no longer an obstacle.

• Crossing oceans is only a mouse click away.

• People are connected 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• "Instantaneous" has a new meaning.

• Seeking facts and figures about an issue

• Surveys on Web sites

Business Research Categories• Foundational to answer basic questions. What

business should we be in?• Testing addresses things like new product concepts,

promotional ideas. How effective they will be?• Issues examines how specific issues impact the firm.

How does organizational structure impact employee job satisfaction and turnover?

• Performance monitors specific metrics profitability, delivery times. They are critical in real-time management. The potential impact of policy changes

Basic Research• Attempts to expand the limits of knowledge.• Not directly involved in the solution to a

pragmatic problem.Example• Is executive success correlated with high need for

achievement?• Are members of highly organized work groups

more satisfied than members of less organized work groups?

• Do consumers experience cognitive (act of knowing, perception) disagreement (intellectual thinking ability) in low-involvement situations?

Applied Research • Conducted when a decision must be made about a

specific real-life problem

• Example

• Should McDonalds add Italian pasta dinners to its menu?

• Business research told McDonald’s it should not?

• Should Procter & Gamble add a high-priced home teeth bleaching kit to its product line?

• Research showed Crest Whitestrips would sell well at a retail price of $44

Scientific Method• The analysis and interpretation of empirical

evidence (facts from observation or experimentation) to confirm or disprove prior conceptions.

• A way to use knowledge and evidence to reach objective conclusions about the real world

• A set of prescribed procedures for establishing and connecting theoretical statements about events for analyzing empirical evidence, and for predicting events yet unknown in an attempt to confirm or disapprove prior conceptions

AssessAssessrelevant relevant existingexistingknowledgeknowledge

FormulateFormulateconcepts &concepts &PropositionsPropositions

StatementStatementof of HypothesesHypotheses

Design Design researchresearch

Acquire Acquire empiricalempiricaldatadata

Analyze &Analyze &evaluate evaluate datadata

Provide Provide explanation-explanation-state newstate newproblemproblem

The Scientific Method: An Overview

Theory

• Theory is the foundation of research

• It guides and help researcher to be focused and systematic so that the ultimate purpose of research is obtained and problem is solved

Theoretical framework• A theoretical framework is the foundation of

hypothetico-deductive research as it is the basis of the hypotheses that you will develop.

• A theoretical framework represents your beliefs how certain phenomenon (variables, concepts) are related to each other ( a model) and an explanation of why you belief that these variables are associated with each other (theory)

• Both model and theory flow logically from previous research in the problem area.

Components of Theoretical Framework

• Definitions of the concepts or variables in your model

• Developing a conceptual model that provides a descriptive representation of your theory

• Coming up with a theory that provides an explanation for relationships between the variables in your model

• From the theoretical framework then testable hypotheses can be developed to examine whether your theory is valid or not?

Theoretical Framework: (Air Safety Violations)

• Independent variables Dependent variable

Communication among cokpit members

Communication between ground control and cokpit

Decentralization

Training of cokpit crew

Air Safety violations

Research Stages• Cyclical process - conclusions generate new

ideas• Stages can overlap (something else )

chronologically (arranged in the order of time)

• Stages are functionally interrelated– Forward linkages– Backward linkages

Stages of the Research Process

Problem Discoveryand Definition

ResearchDesign

Sampling

DataGathering

Data Processingand Analysis

Conclusions andReport

Discovery andDefinition

and so on

Problemdiscovery

Problem definition(statement of

research objectives)

Secondary(historical)

data

Experiencesurvey

Pilotstudy

Casestudy

Selection ofexploratory research

technique

Selection ofbasic research

method

Experiment SurveyObservation

SecondaryData StudyLaboratory Field Interview Questionnaire

Selection ofexploratory research

techniqueSampling

Probability Nonprobability

Collection ofdata

(fieldwork)

Editing andcoding

data

Dataprocessing

Interpretationof

findings

Report

DataGathering

DataProcessingandAnalysis

Conclusionsand Report

Research Design

Problem Discoveryand Definition

Stages In The Research Process

• Problem Discovery and Problem Definition

• Research Design

• Sampling

• Data Gathering

• Data Processing and Analysis

• Conclusions And Report

Problem Discovery And Definition

• First step

• Problem, opportunity, or monitor operations

• Discovery before definition

• Problem means management problem

“The formulation of the problem is often more essential than its

solution”

Albert Einstein

35

State the research questions and research

objectives

Hypothesis

• A statement

• that can be proved false

• by empirical data

SecondarySecondary((historicalhistorical))

DataData

PilotPilot

StudyStudy

ExperienceExperience

SurveySurvey

CaseCaseStudyStudy

ExploratoryExploratory

ResearchResearch

Exploratory Research Techniques Two Examples

• Secondary data (historical data)

– Previously collected

– Census of population

– Literature survey

• Pilot study

– A number of diverse techniques

Focus Group Interview

Research Design

• Master plan

• Framework for action

• Specifies methods and procedures

Basic Research Methods

• Surveys

• Experiments

• Secondary data

• Observation

POPULATIONPOPULATION

SAMPLESAMPLESample: Sample: SubsetSubsetof a larger populationof a larger population..

Selecting a Sample

Sampling

• Who is to be sampled?

• How large a sample?

• How will sample units be selected?

Data Gathering Stage

Data Processing and Analysis

Conclusions And Report Writing

• Effective communication of the research findings

Questions?

Thank you

What is a Research Design? I• A research design is the arrangement of

conditions for collection and analysis of data in a manner that aims to combine relevance to the research purpose with economy in procedure. Research design is the conceptual structure within which research is conducted, constitutes blue print for collection, measurement and analysis of data

• A plan of what data to gather, from whom, how and when to collect the data, and how to analyze the data obtained

• Research program strategy

What is a Research Design? II

• A research is a framework or blueprint for conducting a research project. It details the procedures necessary for obtaining the information needed to structure or solve the research problems.

Components of Research Design-1

• Introduction

• Purpose statement

• Objectives and outcome of the study

• Significance of the study

• Methods and methodology

• Theory

• Research questions and hypothesis

• Limitations /delimitations and assumptions of the study

• Population, field of study, geographical, cultural considerations and sampling

• Supervisor, approval/permission to conduct research

• Staffing

• Time frame, deadlines, submission dates

Components of Research Design-II

• Finances (Grants, travel, photocopying etc)

• Equipments (PC, Printer, Scanners)

• Software (MS Word, Citation Management Software, Plagiarism Control; Turnitin)

• Email, Internet

• Library, Laboratory

• Qualitative (open ended questions) Quantitative (close-ended questions)/mixed

• Data and information collection techniques

• Data analysis procedure

• Findings, outcome of the research, Interpretations and implications and Review

• Publishing the research findings (Thesis, papers, reports)

The Introduction

Apr 10, 2023 53Azra Naheed Center for Research and Development Superior University Lahore

• Components of introduction– Background of the study

– The research problem

– Studies that have addressed the problem

– Deficiencies in the studies

– The significance of the study

Introduction is the opening part of the proposal that justifies the problem to be researched and clarifies the significance of the proposed study in order to establish a framework for research.

Purpose Statement

54

The purpose statement indicates “why you want to do the study and what you intend to accomplish” (Locke et al, 2000)

Why Purpose StatementIt is the most important statement in an entire research study.• It conveys the overall intention of a proposed study.• It establishes the direction for the research. Qualitative Research: In qualitative research we use the worlds like explore, understand, or discover and we have focus on single phenomena.Quantitative Research: In quantitative research we use words like determine, identify, or compare and we have focus on comparing and relating two or more variables. Mixed Methods Research: In Mixed methods research we focus on both qualitative and quantitative research and mention the design with justification.

The objectives of this research study are as follows:

To explore teacher’s view on performance that how they define performance and what they see as good, bad or acceptable performance.

To explore teacher’s experiences about HRM practices and how they feel about these practices?

To explore teacher’s opinion about organizational factor that contributes to their performance.

To establish the basis for evolving effective and performance oriented human resource practices.

To facilitate the policy making bodies to evolve a comprehensive view of teacher’s performance and thus undertake necessary administrative adjustments.

Example

Significance of the study

56

• A significance sections elaborates on the importance and implication of a study for researcher, practitioners, and policy maker. In designing the section one might include

– 3 or 4 ways in which the study adds to scholarly research and literature in the field

– 3 or 4 ways in which the study helps improve practice

– 3 or 4 reasons why the study will improve policy

Methodology and MethodsMethodology and MethodsThe methodology includes the methods, procedures, and techniques used to collect and analyze information.

It should generally include statements about:

Site and sample – Methods of data collection– Data analysis procedures

Why Methodology– it clarifies the procedures and methods of data

collection and analysis– It increases the efficiency and authenticity of

the research

Theory

58

Theory is the standard principle that defines the relationship of two or more variables

Qualitative Research: In case of qualitative research theory is an outcome of the whole research process by finding the answers to the research questions

Quantitative Research: In case of quantitative research theory is used as bases to be verified through the acceptance or rejection of hypothesis using statistical results.

Mixed Methods Research: in case of Mixed Methods Research theory is both developed and also verified.

Research Questions and Hypothesis• Research questions are interrogative statements or questions

that the researcher seeks to answer

(Main question)• HRM practices and performance among teachers in Pakistan.

(Sub questions)• What are the teacher’s experiences about Human Resource

management Practices and how they feel about that?• How do teachers perceive about their own performance and

what they perceive as good, bad or acceptable performance?• What are the teacher’s opinions about organizational factors

that contribute to their performance?

59

Hypothesis are predictive statements that the researcher holds about the relationship among variables to be tested

HO = There is no relationship between HR practices and performance

HA = There is relationship between HR practices and performance

Limitations and Delimitations• Limitations:

possible weaknesses of the study that were not / could not be controlled.

• Delimitations:

boundaries set by the researcher that limit the generalizability of findings.

Example: Due to limitations of resources• This study is restricted to the Teachers with 02 or more years of experience (02

years are supposed to be minimum)• This study is restricted only to the teachers of higher education sector in

Pakistan.

Classification of

Research

Classification of

Research

A Classification of Research Designs

Single Cross-Sectional Design

Multiple Cross-Sectional Design

Research Design

Conclusive Research Design

Exploratory Research Design

Descriptive Research

Causal Research

Cross-Sectional Design

Longitudinal Design

A Comparison of Basic Research Designs

Objective:

Characteristics:

Methods:

Discovery of ideas and insights

Flexible, versatile

Often the front end of total research design

Expert surveysPilot surveysSecondary data:qualitative analysisQualitative research

Describe market characteristics or functions

Marked by the prior formulation of specific hypotheses

Preplanned and structured design

Secondary data:quantitative analysisSurveysPanelsObservation and other data

Determine cause and effect relationships

Manipulation of one or more independent variables

Control of other mediating variables

Experiments

Exploratory Descriptive Causal

Research Proposal

• A written statement of the research design that includes a statement explaining the purpose of the study

• Detailed outline of procedures associated with a particular methodology

Basic Questions - Problem Definition

• What is the purpose of the study?

• How much is already known?

• Is additional background information necessary?

• What is to be measured? How?

• Can the data be made available?

• Should research be conducted?

• Can a hypothesis be formulated?

Basic Questions - Basic Research Design

• What types of questions need to be answered?

• Are descriptive or causal findings required?

• What is the source of the data?

• Can objective answers be obtained by asking people?

• How quickly is the information needed?

• How should survey questions be worded?

• How should experimental manipulations be made

Basic Questions - Selection of Sample

• Who or what is the source of the data?

• Can the target population be identified?

• Is a sample necessary?

• How accurate must the sample be?

• Is a probability sample necessary?

• Is a national sample necessary?

• How large a sample is necessary?

• How will the sample be selected?

Basic Questions -Data Gathering

• Who will gather the data?

• How long will data gathering take?

• How much supervision is needed?

• What operational procedures need to be followed?

Basic Questions - Data Analysis

• Will standardized editing and coding procedures be used?

• How will the data be categorized?• What statistical software will be used?• What is the nature of the data?• What questions need to be answered?• How many variables are to be investigated

simultaneously?• Performance criteria for evaluation?

Basic Questions -Type of Report

• Who will read the report?

• Are managerial recommendations requested?

• How many presentations are required?

• What will be the format of the written report?

Basic Questions - Overall Evaluation

• How much will the study cost?

• Is the time frame acceptable?

• Is outside help needed?

• Will this research design attain the stated research objectives?

• When should the research be scheduled to begin?

Anticipating Outcomes

• Dummy (a representation or copy of something) tables:

• Representations of the actual tables that will be in the findings section of the final report; used to gain a better understanding of what the actual outcomes of the research will be.

Outline of the Structure of a Sample Proposal

1.Title

2. Introduction• Background of the study (Sectoral Brief)• The research problem• Studies that have addressed the problem• Deficiencies in the studies• The significance of the study• The purpose statement

3. Purpose Statement• The purpose or study, aim of the project and reasons for the

research design• The research questions and hypotheses

Outline of the structure of a proposal

4. Philosophical Foundations worldview and philosophical assumptions for using specific research approach.

5. Literature Review

6. Methodology and Methods • Site and sample • Data collection procedures • Data analysis procedures

7. Theoretical Framework8. Potential Ethical issues9. References and appendixes

Thank youDr. Muhammad Ramzanmramzaninfo@gmail.com, 03004487844