Institute of Professional StudiesSchool of Research and Graduate

Studies

Introduction to Business and Management Research

Lecture One (1)

Outline of Presentation Definition of Research Nature of Research, Business and

Management Research Purpose of Research Types of Research The Research Process Formulating and Clarifying the Research

topic Attributes of a good research topic Turning research ideas into research projects Writing the Research Proposals

Definition of ResearchSaunders and Lewis (2007) define research as something that people undertake in order to find out things in a systematic way, thereby increasing their knowledge.“systematic research” suggest that research is based on logical relationships that can be justified and not just beliefs“to find out things” suggests there are multiplicity of possible purposes for your research. These may include describing, explaining, undertaking, criticising and analysing.

Research may also be defined as a systematic inquiry into a question or problem to arrive at justifiable conclusion

What Research is not1. Research is not mere information

gathering e.g. searching the internet or library for information. This is merely information gathering

2. Research is not transportation of facts from one location to another

3. Research is not reassembling and recording facts or information without interpretation.

4. Research is not a catchword to get attention

Attributes of ResearchResearch involves the quest for answers to

unsolved problems that lead to high degree of originality.

Research involves a careful collection, organization and articulation of what is already known about the problems and what is yet to be known.

Research is a structured process which follows a systematic order or rule of execution

Research is characterized by carefully designed procedures that apply rigorous analysis. 

Research involves rigorous application of logic and objectivity in the procedures employed, in the data collected and the conclusions reached

Attributes of Research Cont’dResearch is based upon observable experience or

empirical evidenceResearch demands accurate observation and

descriptionResearch involves gathering new data from primary

or firsthand sources or using existing data for new purposes. 

Research involves logical and plausible explanation of the findings of the study or investigations

Research usually goes beyond the specific subjects in an investigation and emphasizes the development of generalizations, principles, or theories that will be useful in predicting future occurrence.

Research process is replicable

Purpose of ResearchAccording to Collis & Hussey Research is to:Review or synthesize existing knowledgeInvestigate existing problems or situationsProvide solutions to problemsExplore and analyze more general solutionsConstruct or create new procedures or

systemsExplain new phenomenonGenerate new knowledgeOr a combination of any of the above

Types of Research1. Basic or Pure Research2. Applied Research3. Action Research

Basic research is also referred to as fundamental or academic research and it is conducted to advance scientific knowledge through the development of theories. 

The primary aim of Basic Research is to improve knowledge generally, without any particular purpose in mind at the outset. Basic research is driven by a scientist’s or the researcher’s interest in a scientific question. Main thing here is to motivate the people not to create something.

Types of Research Cont’dApplied research on the other hand is research conducted to solve practical problems. It is not just to gain knowledge. Applied research is design from the start to apply its findings to a particular situation or problem. We can say that an applied researchers have the goal of bringing betterment in human lives. It is also called “Evaluation”, “Utilization”, “Appraisal”, “Assessment” or “Policy research”.

Types of Research Cont’dAction research is an inquiry or research in the context of focused efforts to improve the quality of an organization and its performance. The purpose of action research is to solve immediate and pressing practical problems. Though similar to applied research in purpose, it is more restricted in outlook, because the value of action research is confined to those conducting itIt is typically designed and conducted by practitioners who analyze the data to improve their own practice. Action research can be done by individuals or by teams of colleagues

Research ApproachesResearch can be approached in the following ways:1.Quantitative/Qualitative/Mix2.Deductive/InductiveQuantitative research is a means for testing

objective theory by examining the relationship among variables.

The emphasis of Quantitative Research is on collecting and analysing numerical data; it concentrates on measuring the scale, range, frequency etc. of the phenomena

This type of research although harder to design initially, is usually highly detailed and structured and results can be easily be collated and presented statistically

Research Approaches Cont’dQualitative research is a means for exploring and understanding the meaning individuals and groups ascribe to a social or human phenomenonQualitative Research is more subjective in nature than quantitative research and involves examining and reflecting on the less tangible aspects of a research subject. e.g. Values, attitudes, perceptions etc.Although this type of research can be easier to start, it can be often difficult to interpret and present the findings

Research Approaches Cont’d

Deductive Research moves from general ideas/theories to particular & situation

Inductive research moves from particular situation to make or infer broader general ideas/theories

The Research ProcessConceptualizationDeveloping the research question /

HypothesisReviewing LiteratureMethodologyDesign and data collection and analysisReportingFurther research

Formulating and Clarifying the Research Topic

So how do researchers come up with the idea for a research project?

Practical problems in the fieldLiterature in your specific field

Requests for Proposals (RFPs)Think up their research

Attributes of a good Research Topic

Not Too Broad?You have decided you are interested in Employees. Well, that is a broad subject area likely to have a large amount of information written on it. To narrow your topic, choose some specific aspect of Employees, such as: performance, commitment, engagement, turnover, motivation, attitude, etc.

Just Right! What drives employee engagement at GCB?

Is the Study FeasibleData--Access to data is very important in selecting

study areasAvailability of Literature on the SubjectTiming--You have to think about how long the

research will take to accomplish. Ethical Considerations--You have to question whether

there are important ethical constraints that need consideration.

Cooperation--Can you achieve the needed cooperation to take the project to its successful conclusion?

Cost Considerations--How significant are the costs of conducting the research. Failure to consider any of these factors can mean disaster later.

Research Proposal A formal written proposal is the result

of interactions between a client and a researcher.

It translates business concerns into research problems.

An approach to solve the problem(s) is agreed upon (it involves performing research).