MUHAMMAD SHAFIQ

Lecture 5

Problem Definition and the

Research Proposal

A TALE

Problemdiscovery

Problem definition(statement of

research objectives)

Secondary(historical)

data

Experiencesurvey

Pilotstudy

Casestudy

Selection ofexploratory research

technique

Selection ofbasic research

method

Experiment SurveyObservation Secondary

Data StudyLaboratory Field Interview Questionnaire

Selection ofexploratory research

techniqueSampling

Probability Nonprobability

Collection ofdata

(fieldwork)

Editing andcodingdata

Dataprocessing

Interpretationof

findings

Report

DataGathering

DataProcessingandAnalysis

Conclusionsand Report

Research Design

Problem Discoveryand Definition

COMPLETELYCERTAIN

ABSOLUTEAMBIGUITY

CAUSAL ORDESCRIPTIVE

EXPLORATORY

UNCERTAINTY INFLUENCES THE TYPE OF RESEARCH

IMPORTANCE OF STARTING WITH A GOOD PROBLEM DEFINITION

Translating research situation into specific research objective

Res project proof useful---- how well the research objective

Chapter looks at translation of business situation into relevant actionable research

Good answer but bad question- coke others

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Translating a reseach situation into something that can be researched

Translation of something form one language to another.

Starts from statement of problem

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

A written expression of the key question(s)that the researcher wishes to answer

PROBLEM DEFINITION

The indication of a specific business decision area that will be clarified by answering some research questions.

PROBLEM DEFINITION

The process of defining and developing a research statement and the steps involved in translating it into more precise research terminology, including a set of research objective

Process breaks-----research may be useless, irrelevant not assist decision making

Wrong prob definition: waste resources and poor direction

PROBLEM DEFINITION

Can’t say any step is more important than others but problem definition

it develop problem statement which guides towards actionable research

Even, the best research procedure will not

overcome poor problem definition

COMPLEXITY OF PROBLEM

Harder

Situation appear new

Changes in situation subtle

Symptoms scattered

Symptoms ambiguous

Easier

Situation recurring

dramatic change occur

Symptoms are isolated

Symptoms consistent

COMPLEXITY OF PROBLEM

Situation frequency Cyclical: pricing problem in airline industry

Dramatic change

Easy look at the key factor changes and other

Subtle changes having long term effect

More difficult to identify, define the actual decision and research problem

Dif to deduct in beg n then dif to know whether trend is temporary or permanent

WIDESPREAD THE SYMPTOMS?

Scattered symptom More difficult to put togather into some coherent problem

statement

Sometime many symptoms but one specific area E-g a auto co may exhibit symptoms such as increased

complaints abt a car handling, increase warranty cost due to repair, higher labor cost due to ineffficency and lower perf rating by consumers etc ------problem in production

WIDESPREAD THE SYMPTOMS?

Symptoms scattered--- dif to develop useful research questions

If consumer complaints dealt with the handling and the appearance of the car, and these were accompanied by symptoms including consumer beliefs that the gas consumption high etc

Symptoms ambiguity– so many problems non have clear Sales and traffic up but margin is down

PROBLEM MEANS GAP

Difference between the current conditions and more preferable set of condition

Bus perf is worse than expected bus perf

Actual bus perf is less than possible bus perf

Expected bus perf is grater than possible bus perf

THE PROBLEM-DEFINITION PROCESS STEP

Understand the situation- identify key symp

Identify key problem(s) from symptoms

Write problem statement-as per objectives

Determine the unit o analysis

Determine the relevant variables

Write research questions and /or research hypotheses

“THE FORMULATION OF THE PROBLEM IS OFTEN MORE ESSENTIAL THAN ITS SOLUTION.”

Albert Einstein

Statement of Research Objectives

Problem Definition

Defining Problem Results inClear Cut Research Objectives

ExploratoryResearch(Optional)

Analysis of the Situation

Symptom Detection

The Process ofProblem Definition

Ascertain the decision maker’s 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

ASCERTAIN THE DECISION MAKER’S OBJECTIVES

Decision makers’ objectives

Managerial goals expressed in measurable terms.

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THE ICEBERG PRINCIPLE

he principle indicating that the dangerous part of many business problems is neither visible to nor understood by managers.

UNDERSTAND THE BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

Exercising judgment

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

Problem DefinitionOrganization Symptoms Based on Symptom True Problem

Twenty-year-old neighborhood swimming association in a major city.

Membership has been declining for years. New water park with wave pool and water slides moved into town a few years ago.

Neighborhood residents prefer the expensive water park and have negative image of swimming pool.

Demographic changes: Children in this 20-year-old neighborhood have grown up. Older residents no longer swim anywhere.

TOTIEMULESTO

WHAT LANGUAGE IS WRITTEN ON THIS STONE FOUND BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS?

TOTIEMULESTO

THE LANGUAGE IS ENGLISH: TO TIE MULES TO

DETERMINE THE UNIT OF ANALYSIS

Individuals, households, organizations, etc.

In many studies, the family rather than the individual is the appropriate unit of analysis.

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DETERMINE THE RELEVANT VARIABLE

Anything that may assume different numerical values

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TYPES OF VARIABLES

Categorical- (groups or color or gender)

Continuous (take on arage of vlues that corresponds to some quatitative amount –consumer attitude towards performance)

Dependent (y)

Independent (X)

Relevant and actionable variable rather than superfluous

HYPOTHESIS

An unproven proposition

A possible solution to a problem

Guess

STATE THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

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RESEARCH QUESTION

Translation of the problem into specific inquiry

Can be too vague and general Is advertising copy 1 is better than 2

Advertising effectiveness can be measured b sales, brand awareness, intention to buy…

Should provide input that can be used as a standard for selecting from among alternative solutions

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

It expresses the research objectives in terms of questions that can be addressed by research

Example are wages and long haul distance related to driver loyalty and retention

Research questions are more general than hypothesis

Dif between the two: hypotheses can generally speecigy the direction of the relationship

IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING,ANY ROAD WILL TAKE YOU THERE.

Statement of business

problem

Exploratory research (optional)

Statement of business

problem

Broad research

objectives

Specific Objective 1

Specific Objective 2

Specific Objective 3

Research Design

Results

The Process ofProblem Definition

Ascertain the decision maker’s 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

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?

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?

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?

I DON’T KNOW WHAT IS KEY TO SUCCESS BUT THE KEY TO FAILURE IS TRYING TO PLEASE EVERYONE