researchmethodology_week03

8/3/2019 ResearchMethodology_Week03

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29 August 2005 MBA III (Research Methodology) Course Instructor: Dr. Aurangzeb Z. Khan 1

RESEARCH

METHODOLOGY

(Business Research Methods)

Week 3


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Decision-Making

Decision-Making is the process of resolving aproblem or choosing amongst alternative

opportunities

What is the problem or opportunity?

How much Information is available?

What Information is needed?

Decision-MakingSituation

CompleteCertainty

AbsoluteAmbiguity

Value of Research


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Certainty, Uncertainty, Ambiguity

Certainty Decision-maker has all the requisiteinformation concerning the business problem (oropportunity). Research may be unnecessary. Completecertainty about the future is rare in practice

Uncertainty General nature of the business problem isclear but information about alternative courses of actionis incomplete as are the events which may occur.Research may be a potentially valuable tool here

Ambiguity Nature of the problem to be solved isunclear. Objectives are vague and alternatives difficult todefine. Research may be a useful excercise


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Types of Research

Exploratory Research:

undertaken with the aim of clarifying ambiguous problems

general problems usually known but not sufficiently

understood the purpose is to get more information, not to uncover

specific courses of action (subsequent research)

Determining a specific course of action to follow is not a

purpose of exploratory research!

Example: Child-Care support programme for employees


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Types of Research

Descriptive Research:

undertaken with the aim of determining the characteristicsof a population or phenomenon

Previous knowledge of problem exists High degree of precision or accuracy required

Examples:

Who are the main consumers of organic foods?

How many students read the prescribed course literature?

Where do most holiday-makers travelling overseas go?

When do petrol stations tend to raise their prices?


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Types of Research

Causal Research:

undertaken with the aim of identifying cause and effectrelationships amongst variables

are normally preceeded by exploratory and descriptiveresearch studies

Often difficult to determine because of the influence ofother variables (concommitant Variation and the presence

of other hidden variables)

Example: Higher ice-cream consumption causes more

people to drown (indicative of a causal relationship (?))


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Stages in the Research Process

DefineProblem

Planning aResearch Design

Planning

a Sample

Gatheringthe Data

Processing and

Analysing the Data

Conclusionsand Report


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Forward and Backward Linkages

Forward Linkage The earlier stages of a researchproject determine the design at a later stage

Example: The goal of the research project will determine

the selection of the sample and the way data is collected

Backward Linkage The later stages of a researchproject determine how its earlier stages are conducted

Example: The company executives require certainspecific information which the researcher anticipates andfor which he or she plans the data collection andanalysis steps accordingly


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Flowcharting the Research Process (1)

Problem Discovery

Secondary (historical) dataPilot Study

Experience SurveyCase Study

Problem Definition(Statement of research objectives)

Selection ofexploratory

research technique

Selection ofbasic research

method

Survey (Interview, Questionnaire)Experiment (Laboratory, Field)

Secondary Data StudyObservation


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Flowcharting the Research Process (2)

Survey (Interview, Questionnaire)Experiment (Laboratory, Field)

Secondary Data StudyObservation

Sample Design

ProbabilitySampling

Non-ProbabilitySampling

Collection of Data (Fieldwork)

Editing and Coding Data

Data Processing and Analysis

Interpretation of Findings

Report


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Ethical Interfaces in Business Research

Subjects Rights

Researchers Obligation

Researchers Rights

Clients Obligation

Researchers Obligation

Clients Rights

Researchers Rights

Subjects Obligation

ResearchSubject

ResearcherResearchSponsor

Subjects Rights & Clients Obligation


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Ethical Behavior Considerations:

Research Subjects Truthfulness in giving information to the researcher if a

research subject or respondent gives his or her consentto participate in a research study

Sustained cooperativeness with the researcherthroughout the course of the research study

Adhere to responsibility if informed consent is given tothe researcher

State any constraints or limitations in advance


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Ethical Behavior Considerations:Researchers

No deception, be forthright and do not conceal the truepurpose of the research

Maintain objectivity, courtesy and high professionalstandards through scientific process

No falsification, alteration or misrepresentation of datafor political or other purposes

Protect the confidentiality of the research subjects andresearch sponsors

No faulty conclusions

No inclusion or use of information or ideas contained incompeting research proposals


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Ethical Behavior Considerations:

Research Sponsors No request for submission of competitive bids by

researchers if selection of the researcher has alreadybeen made

Avoid manipulation and influencing of the researcherwith a view to discrediting individuals or organizations

The conclusions drawn from research work should beconsistent with the data and not influenced by other

undesirable conditions or motives

Observe the confidentiality of the research subjects andresearcher

Avoid Advocacy Research


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The Menace of Plagiarism

Please read the CIIT Academic HonestyPolicycompiled by Mr. Laeeq-ur-RehmanKhan which is distributed in this class as a

separate sheet

ZERO TOLERANCE (and ZERO MARKS)for cheating and plagiarism at COMSATS

Institute of Information Technology!

researchmethodology_week03

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