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LECTURE ONE

INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH

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RECOMMENDED TEXT BOOK

RESEARCH METHODS FOR BUSINESS

BY UMA SEKARAN

(LATEST EDITION)

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WHAT IS RESEARCH?

Research is simply the process of finding solutions to a problem after a thorough study

and analysis of the situational factors.

BUSINESS RESEARCH

Business research can be described as a systematic and organized effort to investigate a specific problem encountered in the work setting that needs a solution.

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Broad Definition of ResearchWe can now define business research as an organized, systematic, data-based, critical, objective, scientific inquiry or investigation into a specific problem, undertaken with the purpose of finding answers or solutions to it.

Broad Definition of ResearchWe can now define business research as an organized, systematic, data-based, critical, objective, scientific inquiry or investigation into a specific problem, undertaken with the purpose of finding answers or solutions to it.

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TYPES OF RESEARCH

From the viewpoint of

Application Objectives Inquiry mode

Pureresearch

Descriptiveresearch

Exploratoryresearch

Quantitativeresearch

Appliedresearch

Co relationalresearch

Explanatoryresearch

Qualitativeresearch

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APPLIED RESEARCH

If one is to solve a current problem faced by the manager in the work setting, demanding a timely solution. Then the research is called applied Research.

APPLIED RESEARCH

If one is to solve a current problem faced by the manager in the work setting, demanding a timely solution. Then the research is called applied Research.

Examine a Research from the Perspective of its Application

BASIC RESEARCH

If research done chiefly to enhance the understanding of certain problem that commonly occur in organizational settings, and seek methods of solving them, is called basic or fundamental research. It is also known as pure research.

BASIC RESEARCH

If research done chiefly to enhance the understanding of certain problem that commonly occur in organizational settings, and seek methods of solving them, is called basic or fundamental research. It is also known as pure research.

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Examine a Research from the Perspective of its Objectives

•Descriptive research attempts to describe systematically a situation, problem, or provides information about, say, the living conditions of a community, or describes attitudes toward an issue.

•Correlational research study is to discover or establish the existence of a relationship/association/interdependence between two or more aspects of a situation.

•Explanatory research attempts to clarify why and how there is a relationship between two aspects of a situation or phenomenon.

•Exploratory research is undertaken with the objective either to explore an area where little is known or to investigate the possibilities of undertaking a particular research study. When a study is carried out to determine its feasibility it is also called a feasibility study or a pilot study.

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Example of research from the viewpoint of objectivesExample of research from the viewpoint of objectives

Examples Aim Main themeType of research

• Attitudes of students towards quality of teaching

• Types of service provided by an agency

• Sale of a product

• Attitudes of nurses towards death and dying

• Attitudes of workers towards management

• Problems faced by new immigrants

• Consumer’s likes and dislikes with regard to a product

• Effects of living in a house with domestic violence

• Strategies put in place by a company to increase productivity of workers

To describe what is prevalent regarding:• A group of people• A community • A program• A situation• An outcome

To describe what is prevalent

Descriptive research

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Examples Aim Main theme Type of research

• Relationship between stressful living and incidence of heart attacks

• Impact of technology on employment• Impact of maternal and child health services on

infant mortality• Effectiveness of a marriage counseling service on

extent of marital problems• Impact of an advertising campaign on sale of a

product• Impact of incentives on productivity of workers

To establish or explore:• A relationship• An association• An interdependence

To ascertain if there is a relationship

Co relational research

• Why does stressful living result in heart attacks?• How does technology create

unemployment/employment?• How do maternal and child health services affect

infant mortality?• Why does a particular intervention work for some

people and not for others?• Why do some people use a product while others

do not?• Why do some people migrate to another country

while others do not?• Why do some people adopt a program while

others do not?

To explain:•why a relationship, association or interdependence exists•why a particular event occurs

To explain why the relationship is formed

Explanatory research

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Example of Research from the Purpose of Inquiry Mode or Concern the Process

Quantitative research / structured:

In this approach everything that forms the research process-objectives, design, sample, and the questions that you plan to ask of respondents is predetermined.

Qualitative research / unstructured:

In this approach, by contrast, allows flexibility in all these aspects of the process.

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INTERNAL VERSUS EXTERNAL CONSULTANTS / RESEARCHES

Internal Consultants / Researchers

Some organizations have their own consulting or research department, which might be called the Management Services Department, the Organization and Methods Department, or

R&D (Research and development department).

Internal Consultants / Researchers

Some organizations have their own consulting or research department, which might be called the Management Services Department, the Organization and Methods Department, or

R&D (Research and development department).

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Advantages of Internal Consultants / Researchers1. The internal team would stand a better chance of being readily accepted

by the employees in the subunit of the organization where research needs to be done.

2. The team would require less time to understand the structure, the philosophy and climate, and the functioning and work systems of the organization.

3. They would be available for implementing their recommendations after the research findings are accepted. This is very important because any “bugs” in the implementation of the recommendations could be removed with their help.

4. The internal team might cost considerably less than an external team for the department enlisting help in problem solving, because they will need less time to understand the system due to their continuous involvement with various units of the organization.

Advantages of Internal Consultants / Researchers1. The internal team would stand a better chance of being readily accepted

by the employees in the subunit of the organization where research needs to be done.

2. The team would require less time to understand the structure, the philosophy and climate, and the functioning and work systems of the organization.

3. They would be available for implementing their recommendations after the research findings are accepted. This is very important because any “bugs” in the implementation of the recommendations could be removed with their help.

4. The internal team might cost considerably less than an external team for the department enlisting help in problem solving, because they will need less time to understand the system due to their continuous involvement with various units of the organization.

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Disadvantages of Internal Consultants / Researchers1. In view of their long tenure as internal consultants, the internal team may

quite possibly fail into a stereotyped way of looking at the organization and its problems. This would inhibit any fresh ideas and perspectives that might be needed to correct the problem.

2. There is scope for certain powerful coalitions in the organization to influence the internal team to conceal (hide), distort (distruction), or misrepresent certain facts.

3. There is also a possibility that even the most highly qualified internal research teams are not perceived as “experts” by the staff and management, and hence their recommendations do not get the consideration and attention they deserve.

4. Certain organizational biases of the internal research team might in some instances make the findings less objective and consequently less scientific.

Disadvantages of Internal Consultants / Researchers1. In view of their long tenure as internal consultants, the internal team may

quite possibly fail into a stereotyped way of looking at the organization and its problems. This would inhibit any fresh ideas and perspectives that might be needed to correct the problem.

2. There is scope for certain powerful coalitions in the organization to influence the internal team to conceal (hide), distort (distruction), or misrepresent certain facts.

3. There is also a possibility that even the most highly qualified internal research teams are not perceived as “experts” by the staff and management, and hence their recommendations do not get the consideration and attention they deserve.

4. Certain organizational biases of the internal research team might in some instances make the findings less objective and consequently less scientific.

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External Consultants / Researchers

Advantages of External Consultants

1. The external team can draw on a wealth of experience from having worked with different types of organizations that have had the same or similar types problems.

2. The external teams, especially those from established research and consulting firms, might have more knowledge of current sophisticated problem-solving models through their periodic training programs, which the teams within the organization may not have access to.

Advantages of External Consultants

1. The external team can draw on a wealth of experience from having worked with different types of organizations that have had the same or similar types problems.

2. The external teams, especially those from established research and consulting firms, might have more knowledge of current sophisticated problem-solving models through their periodic training programs, which the teams within the organization may not have access to.

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Disadvantages of External Consultants

1. The cost of hiring an external research team is usually high.

2. In addition to the considerable time the external team takes to understand the organization to be researched, they seldom get a warm welcome, nor are readily accepted by employees.

3. The external team also charges additional fees for their assistance in the implementation and evaluation phases.

Disadvantages of External Consultants

1. The cost of hiring an external research team is usually high.

2. In addition to the considerable time the external team takes to understand the organization to be researched, they seldom get a warm welcome, nor are readily accepted by employees.

3. The external team also charges additional fees for their assistance in the implementation and evaluation phases.

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In given the situations below

a. Discuss with reasons whether they fall into the category of applied or basic research, and

b. Explain with reasons, who will conduct the research.

In given the situations below

a. Discuss with reasons whether they fall into the category of applied or basic research, and

b. Explain with reasons, who will conduct the research.

Reasons for Absenteeism

A university professor wanted to analyze in depth the reasons for absenteeism of employees in organizations. Fortunately, a company within 20 miles of the campus

employed her as a consultant to study that very issue.

Reasons for Absenteeism

A university professor wanted to analyze in depth the reasons for absenteeism of employees in organizations. Fortunately, a company within 20 miles of the campus

employed her as a consultant to study that very issue.

Effects of Nasal Spray on Flu

A research scientist surveys 1,000 employees in different organizational settings to study the effectiveness of several types of nasal sprays in

controlling the flu virus. He subsequently publishes his findings in a highly respected medical journal.

Effects of Nasal Spray on Flu

A research scientist surveys 1,000 employees in different organizational settings to study the effectiveness of several types of nasal sprays in

controlling the flu virus. He subsequently publishes his findings in a highly respected medical journal.

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