chapter3 problem definition
TRANSCRIPT
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Problem Definition and the
Research Proposal
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Problemdiscovery
Problem definition
(statement of
research objectives)
Secondary
(historical)
data
Experience
survey
Pilot
study
Case
study
Selection of
exploratory researchtechnique
Selection of
basic research
method
Experiment SurveyObservation
Secondary
Data StudyLaboratory Field Interview Questionnaire
Selection of
exploratory research
techniqueSampling
Probability Nonprobability
Collection of
data
(fieldwork)
Editing andcoding
data
Data
processing
Interpretation
of
findings
Report
Data
Gathering
Data
Processingand
Analysis
Conclusions
and Report
Research Design
Problem Discovery
and Definition
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COMPLETELY
CERTAIN
ABSOLUTE
AMBIGUITY
CAUSAL OR
DESCRIPTIVE
EXPLORATORY
REMEMBER - UNCERTAINTY INFLUENCES
THE TYPE OF RESEARCH
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PROBLEM DISCOVERY AND
DEFINITION FIRST STEP
PROBLEM, OPPORTUNITY, OR
MONITOR OPERATIONS
DISCOVERY BEFORE DEFINITION
PROBLEM MEANS MANAGEMENTPROBLEM
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The formulation of the problem isoften more essential than its
solution. To raise new questions,
new possibilities, to regard oldproblems from a new angle requires
creative imagination and marks real
advance in scienceAlbert Einstein
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Problem definition
The indication of a specific business
decision area that will be clarified by
answering some research questions.
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Statement of
Research Objectives
Problem Definition
Defining Problem Results in
Clear Cut Research Objectives
Exploratory
Research
(Optional)
Analysis of
the Situation
Symptom Detection
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The Process of
Problem DefinitionAscertain the
decision makers
objectives
Understand
background of the
problem
Isolate/identify the
problem, not the
symptoms
Determine unit of
analysis
Determine relevant
variables
State research
questions and
objectives
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Ascertain the decision makers
objectives
Decision makers objectives
Managerial goals expressed in measurable
terms.
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The Iceberg Principle
The principle indicating that the dangerouspart of many business problems is neither
visible to nor understood by managers.
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Understand the background of
the problem.
Exercising Judgement
Situation analysis - The informal gathering
of background information to familiarize
researchers or managers with the decision
area.
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Isolate and identify the
problems, not the symptoms.
Symptoms Can Be Confusing
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Symptoms Can Be Confusing
Twenty-year-old neighborhood
swimming association
Membership has been declining for
years.
New water park -residents prefer the
expensive water park????
Demographic changes: Children have
grown up
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ProblemDefinition True
Organization Symptoms Based on Problem
Twenty-year-
old
neighbor-
hood
swimmingassociation
in a major
city.
Membership
has been
declining for
years. New
water park withwave pool and
water slides
moved into
town a few
years ago.
Residents
prefer the
expensive
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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TOTIEMUL
ESTO
What Language is written on this
stone found by archaeologists?
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Determine the unit of analysis
Individuals, households, organizations, etc.
In many studies, the
family rather than the
individual is the
appropriate unit ofanalysis.
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Determine the relevant
VARIABLE
Anything that may assume different
numerical values
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Types of Variables
Categorical
Continuous
Dependent
Independent
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HYPOTHESIS
AN UNPROVEN
PROPOSITION
A POSSIBLE
SOLUTION TO
A PROBLEM GUESS
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State the research questions
and research objectives
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If you do not know where you are going,any road will take you there.
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Statement of
business
problem
Exploratory
research
(optional)
Statement of
business
problem
Broad
research
objectives
SpecificObjective 1
SpecificObjective 2
SpecificObjective 3
Research
DesignResults
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RESEARCH PROPOSAL
A WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE
RESEARCH DESIGN THAT INCLUDES
A STATEMENT EXPLAINING THEPURPOSE OF THE STUDY
DETAILED OUTLINE OF PROCEDURES
ASSOCIATED WITH A PARTICULARMETHODOLOGY
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Purpose of the Research Proposal
To present the question to be researched and
its importance
To discuss the research efforts of others
who have worked on related questions
To suggest the data necessary for solving
the question
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Types of Research Proposals
Internal
External
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The Research Sponsor
All research has a sponsor in one form or
another:
In a corporate setting, management
sponsors research
In an academic environment, the student is
responsible to the class instructor
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What are the Benefits of the
Proposal to a Researcher?
Allows the researcher to plan and review
the projects steps
Serves as a guide throughout the
investigation
Forces time and budget estimates
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Proposal Complexity
3 levels of complexity:
The exploratory studyis used for the most
simple proposals
Thesmall-scale studyis more complex and
common in business
The large-scale professional studyis the
most complex, costing millions of dollars
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How to Structure the Research
Proposal?
Create proposal modules
Put together various modules to tailor your
proposal to the intended audience
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Modules in a Research Proposal
Executive Summary
Problem Statement
Research Objectives Literature Review
Importance of the Study
Research Design Data Analysis
Nature and Form of Results
Qualifications of
Researcher
Budget Schedule
Facilities and Special
Resources Project Management
Bibliography
Appendices
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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?
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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?
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BASIC QUESTIONS -
BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN
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?
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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?
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BASIC QUESTIONS -
SELECTION OF SAMPLE (cont.)
Is a national sample necessary?
How large a sample is necessary?
How will the sample be selected?
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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?
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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?
AS C Q S O S
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BASIC QUESTIONS -
DATA ANALYSIS (cont.)
How many variables are to be
investigated simultaneously?
Performance criteria for evaluation?
BASIC QUESTIONS
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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
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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?
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ANTICIPATING OUTCOMES
Dummy 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.
Wh i l d i h
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What to include in the
Appendices?
A glossary of concepts, constructs, and
definitions
Samples of the measurement instrument
Other materials that reinforce the body of
the proposal
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Evaluating the Research Proposal
Proposal must be neatly written in
appropriate writing style
Major topics should be easily found and
logically organized
Proposal must meet specific guidelines set
by the sponsor
Technical writing style must be clearly
understood and explained
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Literature Review
Literature review involves identification
systematically, searching and analyzing
documents which contains informationrelated to the problem being researched
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Development of Literature Review
Data Set A
Data Set B
A Theory
B Theory
Main Issue/Topic
Related
Issues
Sub-theme X
Sub-theme Y
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Documents
Documents include
General Source
Newspaper, magazines etc
Secondary Source
Books, Reviews, research, etc
Primary SourceJournal, abstract, etc
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Doing the Literature Review
Identify the relevant sources
Bibliographic databases
Abstract databases
Full text databases
Extracting the relevant information
Writing the literature review
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Purpose of a literature review
Identify all that is already known
Help us to plan what needs to be done
Gives rational and justification for the further research
Forward the research strategy and specific proceduresincluding effective measurement untuk measure the
problem
Helps the researcher to avoid mistakes by building on the
strength of previous research Helps in interpreting the data and also the research findings
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Types of Literature review
Inclusive Seeks to identify and list everything that has been written on
a particular topic.
Inclusive/Evaluative Takes the inclusive approach a stage further by providing a
commentary on the literature in terms of its coverage and itscontribution to knowledge and understanding (Meta analysis)
Exploratory More focused. Seeks to discover existing research that might
throw light on a specific research question or issue. Classicliterature review in academic
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Types of Literature review
Instrumental Primary focus of the research is a business issue, and the
literature is used as a source of suitable ideas on how the
research question might best be tackled
Focus to identify useful methodology or research instrument to
provide an effective approach
Content Analysis
Detailed analysis of the content of a certain body of literatureor other documentary sources that are viewed as texts.
Counting how many times management of change was
mentioned in a literature
C id ti h iti
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Consideration when writing a
Literature review
More does not mean good
Areas where a lot of research has been done
do not need a lot of emphasis
New areas of research needs to be given
more emphasis
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The benefits of a Literature review
A good literature review ensures:
The important variables are not left out
Gives the researcher a clearer idea about the research Replicability of the findings can be increased
Problem statement can be made more clearly
Do not have to waste time researching something that has
already been done or established The problem being researched has high scientific value
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Writing a Literature review
Read other peoples literature review
Develop a theme from very general to very
specific
Use a organized system, discussion based
on each research question
Use a simple frame as guideline
Practice leads to perfection
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Why literature review is important?
To show the researcher has knowledge
about the topic of research
The research model is developed based on
the previous literature and strengthened by
the current understanding