research method for business chapter # 2

Chapter - 2

Welcome

Chapter 2

SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION

Research Methods: Chapter 2

The Hallmarks of Scientific Research

Limitations to scientific research in the management

Hypo-thetico deductive research method

Other types of research (Case studies and Action research)

Introduction to Research

TOPICS


1. Purposiveness

2. Rigor

3. Testability

4. Replicability

5. Precision and Confidence

6. Objectivity

7. Generalizability

8. Parsimony


The Hallmarks of Scientific Research;

Main Characteristics

Purposiveness

It has to start with a definite aim or purpose.

Thus it has a purposive focus.



A good theoretical base and sound methodological

design would add rigor to the purposive study.

Rigor adds carefulness, scrupulousness and the

degree of exactitude in research.

Example:

How to increase the level of commitment.

A manager asks only from 10-12 employees



Rigor

After random selection manager and researcher develop certain hypothesis on how manager employee commitment can be enhanced, then these can be tested by applying certain statistical tests to the data collected for the purpose.

If the scientific analysis of data supports the hypothesis, it is accepted as a fact or as truth.



Testability

It means that the results of the tests of hypotheses should be supported again and yet again when the same type of research is repeated in other similar circumstances.

Example:

The study concludes that participation in decision making is

one of the most important factors that influences the

commitment, we will place more faith and credibility in these

finding and apply in similar situations.

To the extent that this does happen, we will gain confidence in

the scientific nature of our research.

Every objects is attracted to the center of the earth.



Replicability

Precision refers to the closeness of the findings to “reality” based on a sample.

It reflects the degree of accuracy and exactitude of the results of the sample.

Example:

If a supervisor estimated the number of production days lost

during the year due to absenteeism at between 30 and 40, as

against the actual of 35.

The precision of estimation more favorably than if he has

indicated that the loss of production days was somewhere

between 20 and 50.



Precision and Confidence

Confidence refers to the probability that our

estimations are correct.

That is, it is not merely enough to be precise, but it

is also important that we can confidently claim that

95% of the time our results would be true and there

is only a 5% chance of our being wrong.

This is also known as confidence level.



Precision and Confidence

The conclusions drawn through the interpretation of the results of data analysis should be objective; that is, they should be based on the facts of the findings derived from actual data, and not on our subjective or emotional values.



Objectivity

It refers to the scope of applicability of the research findings in one organization setting to other settings.



Generalizability

Simplicity in explaining the phenomenon or problems that occur, and in generating solutions for the problems, is always preferred to complex research frameworks that consider an unmanageable number of factors.

Example:

For instance, if 2-3 specific variables in the work situation are

identified, which when changed would raise the organizational

commitment of the employees by 45%, that would be more

useful and valuable to the manager than

if it were recommended that he should change 10 different

variables to increase organizational commitment by 48%.



Parsimony

It is not possible to conduct 100% scientific research studies.

It is due to human behavior being studied.

Data collection in the subjective areas of feelings, moods, attitudes and perceptions may not be 100% accurate.

Sometimes, the obstacle is due to lack of a representative sample.

Obstacles to conduct research in management area

In business Research:

Deduction and Induction

Deduction and Induction are the two methods of drawing

conclusions.

a. Deduction: Deduction is a process of arriving at a conclusion by

applying known facts or principles to a specific

situation.

b. Induction: Induction is a process in which certain observations are

used to logically establish a general proposition from

which we draw a conclusion.

CH-2: Scientific Investigation

The Hypothetic-Deductive Method


1 • Identify a broad problem area

2 • Define the problem statement

3 • Develop hypothesis

4 • Determine measures

5 • Data collection

6 • Data analysis

7 • Interpretation of the data

Employee’s Turnover

Low salaries

Manager employee relations

Employees Motivation

Career opportunity

Training Skills

variety

Rumors

Work itself

Location


Observation is the first stage, in which one senses

that certain changes are occurring or that some

new behaviors, attitudes and feelings are surfacing

in one’s environment (i.e., the work place).

Drop in sales

Customer switching

Disinterestedness of employees


The Hypothetico-Deductive Method;

Identify a broad problem area: Step 1

Scientific research starts with a definite aim or purpose

It involves the seeking of information in depth, of what is

observed, to find solutions for identified problems

A problem statement that states the general objective of the

research should be developed

This could be done by talking informally to several people in

the work setting or to clients or to other relevant sources,

thereby gathering information on what is happening and why,

Then it is followed by structured interviews.



Define the problem statement: Step 2

To find solutions for identified problems, a problem statement that state a general objective of the research should be developed

Initial information helps to narrow the broad problem area and to define the problem statement

A clear, precise, and to the point statement of the question or issue that is to be investigated with the goal of finding an answer or solution.


Define the Problem statement:


What are the effects of downsizing on the long-range growth patterns of companies?

What are the specific factors to be considered in creating a data warehouse for a manufacturing company?

Has the new advertising message resulted in enhanced recall?


Examples of Problem statement:


Employee’s Turnover

Low salaries

Manager employee relations

Employees Motivation

Career opportunity

Training Skills

variety

Rumors

Work itself

Location

It is the next logical step after theory formulation.

From the theorized network of associations among the

variables, certain testable hypotheses or educated conjectures

can be generated.

Hypothesis testing is called deductive research. Sometimes,

hypotheses that were not originally formulated do get

generated through the process of induction.


Develop hypotheses: Step 3


Gathered information also helps the manager to formulate a conceptual model and theoretical framework of all the factors contributing to the problems.

It is an attempt to integrate all the information in a logical

manners, so that the factors responsible for the problem can

be on conceptualized and tested.

In this step the critical variables are identified and examined as

to their contribution or influence in explaining why the problem

occurs and how it can be solved.



Develop hypotheses: Step 3

Measurement of variables (variables and measuring scales)

After the development of the hypotheses, data with respect to

each variable in the hypotheses need to be obtained.

The variables in the theoretical framework should be

measurable in some way.

Some variables cannot be measured quantitatively, such as

unresponsive employees, we need to operationalize this

variable


Determine measures: Step 4


Further data are collected to test the hypotheses that are

generated in the study.



Data Collection: Step 5

Data gathered are statistically analyzed to see if the

hypotheses that were generated have been supported.

Co-relational method will be used to analyze and

determine the relationship of two or more factors in the

hypotheses for example:

Stock availability and customer satisfaction.



Data Analysis: Step 6

Now we must decide whether our hypotheses are supported or

not by interpreting the meaning of the results or the data

analysis.

Based on these results, the researcher would make

recommendations in order to solve the problem in hand.

Deduction is the process of arriving at conclusions by

interpreting the meaning of results of the data analysis.



Interpretation of data: Step 7

Case studies and action research are sometimes

used to study certain types of issues.

1. Case Studies

2. Action Research


Other Types of Research;

Other Types

Case studies involve in depth, contextual analyses of similar

situations in the other organizations, where the nature and

definition of the problem happen to be the same as

experienced in the current situation.

Case study, as a problem solving technique, is not often

undertaken in organizations

Because such studies dealing with problems similar to the

one experienced by a particular organization of a particular

size and in a particular type of setting are difficult to come by.


Other Types of Research;

Case Studies

Action Research is used by trained and experienced consultants

to bring about a planned change.

In Action Research, the researcher begins with a problem that is

already identified, and gathers relevant data to provide a

tentative problem solution.

This solution is then implemented, with the knowledge that there

may be unintended consequences as a result of this

implementation.

The effects are then evaluated, defined and diagnosed and the

research continues on an ongoing basis until the problem is

fully resolved.

CH-2: Other Types of Research

Action Research

Download five research papers and make a list.

HR – Marketing – Management – Finance – Project Management

TitleAuthor

(s)Year Journal Vol. Issue Page

1

2

3

4

5

Assignment # 1

Assignment # 1

Example;

Title Author (s) Journal Year Vol. Issue Page

The Influence of Advertising

on Consumer Brand

Preference.

Ayanwale, A. B., &

Alimi, T.

Journal of

Social Science2005 10 1 9-16

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