1. What is research? What are the keywords of research? Explain the criteria for a good research.

A process of determining, acquiring, analyzing, synthesizing, and disseminating relevant business

data, information, and insights to decision makers in ways that mobilize the organization to take
appropriate business actions that, in turn, maximize business performance.
Keywords are important words/concepts found in your research question or thesis. A quick way
to pull keywords from a research question/thesis is to choose the most important nouns; all other
words are irrelevant. Using keywords to search will always retrieve more results than phrases or
sentences.
Reliability: consistency or repeatability. We must try to design research which is auditable i.e.
transparent and clear so that the reader can either undertake the same method themselves and
produce the same results, or at least the method is clear enough to instill confidence in the reader
that the results were not fudged in any way.
Validity: There are three main ways of characterizing validity in research studies. It is important
that research methods have “face validity” and “construct validity” and “internal validity”.
 Face validity means effectively that the non-researcher or lay person can broadly see that this is a
valid method of researching this question “on the face of it” it makes sense as a method.
 Construct validity is a more complex idea and means that the method must actually measure what
you think it measures.
 Internal validity relates to causality, i.e. does factor X cause factor Y to happen?
Clearly defined purpose
Detailed research process
Thoroughly planned design
High ethical standards
Limitations addressed
Adequate analysis
Unambiguous presentation
Conclusions justified
Credentials
2. Explain the differences between applied research (practical research) and basic research (academic
research). Please provide examples of research questions for each of them.
Applied research (Practical Research) - designed to apply its findings to solving a specific,
existing problem
– Eg Will it be cost effective to outsource some of the IT applications in the organisation? How
does immigration affect the economy? How is the media affecting females' body perceptions?
How can obesity be prevented? How can social anxiety be overcome?
Basic research (Academic Research) is designed to make a contribution to general knowledge
and theoretical understanding, rather than solve a specific problem
– Eg How can business travellers be encouraged to reduce their carbon footprint? What are
protons, neutrons, and electrons composed of? What is the specific genetic code of the fruit fly?
How did the universe begin?
 BASIS FOR
BASIC RESEARCH APPLIED RESEARCH
COMPARISON

Meaning Basic Research refers to the Applied Research is the research

study that is aimed at that is designed to solve specific
expanding the existing base of practical problems or answer
scientific knowledge. certain questions.

Nature Theoretical Practical

Utility Universal Limited

Concerned with Developing scientific Development of technology and

knowledge and predictions technique

Goal To add some knowledge to the To find out solution for the
existing one. problem at hand.
3. Describe the exploratory research and descriptive research. Based on your research topic, describe which
research problems should be examined by an exploratory research.
Exploratory research – used to gain an initial understanding where there is little or no existing
knowledge (rarely provides conclusive answers but offers guidance for future research)
– Eg What is the value of social media in organisations? Does it add value to marketing or
customer service. How does it increase organisational productivity?
Descriptive research – used to describe phenomena as they exist. Identify and obtain
information on characteristics of the problem/issue
– Eg How often should the social media used for marketing be evaluated for performance and
upgraded or replaced?
4. Briefly describe the steps in a research process.

5. What are the differences between quantitative and qualitative research?

Quantitative approach – focus is on measuring phenomena and analysing quantitative research
data using statistical methods to gain understanding
– Eg What is the impact of aligning IT to business strategy on organisational performance?
 Qualitative approach – focus is on examining phenomena and analysing qualitative research
data using subjective interpretive methods
– Eg How do employees react when they are given a new technology to use?
BASIS FOR
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
COMPARISON

Meaning Qualitative research is a method of Quantitative research is a research

inquiry that develops method that is used to generate
understanding on human and numerical data and hard facts, by
social sciences, to find the way employing statistical, logical and
people think and feel. mathematical technique.

Nature Holistic Particularistic

Approach Subjective Objective

Research type Exploratory Conclusive

Reasoning Inductive Deductive

Sampling Purposive Random

Data Verbal Measurable

Inquiry Process-oriented Result-oriented

Hypothesis Generated Tested

Elements of Words, pictures and objects Numerical data

analysis

Objective To explore and discover ideas To examine cause and effect

used in the ongoing processes. relationship between variables.

Methods Non-structured techniques like In- Structured techniques such as surveys,

depth interviews, group questionnaires and observations.
discussions etc.

Result Develops initial understanding Recommends final course of action

6. What are the differences between positivism and interpretivism? What are the research methodologies
associated with positivism?
Positivism tends to: (methodologies: Experimental studies Surveys Cross-sectional studies
Longitudinal studies)
–Use large samples
–Have an artificial location
–Focus on hypothesis testing
 –Produce precise, objective, quantitative data
–Allow results to be generalized from the sample to the population
Interpretivism tends to: (Ethnography Participative enquiry Longitudinal studies Action
research Case studies Grounded theory Feminist, gender and ethnicity studies)
–Use small sample
–Have a natural location
–Focus on generating theories
–Produce rich, subjective, qualitative data
–Allow results to be generalized from one setting to a similar setting
7. Explain the difference between research methodology and research method.
BASIS OF
RESEARCH METHOD RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
COMPARISON

Meaning Research Method implies the Research methodology signifies way to

methods employed by the efficiently solving research problems.
researcher to conduct research.

What is it? Behavior and instrument used in Science of understanding, how research
the selection and construction of is performed methodically.
the research technique.

Encompasses Carrying out experiment, test, Study different techniques which can be
surveys and so on. utilized in the performance of
experiment, test, surveys etc.

Comprise of Different investigation Entire strategy towards achievement of

techniques. objective.

Objective To discover solution to research To apply correct procedures so as to

problem. determine solutions.
8. What information should be included in the reference list and the in-text citation, according to popular
reference style (APA or Harvard)?
 APA Style citations consist of two parts:
In-text citation: brief citation included in the sentence where the information is used. The in-text
citation only contains the author’s last name and year of publication, e.g. (Smith, 2019). It
identifies and helps locate the full source in the reference list.
Reference list entry: full publication details listed alphabetically on the reference page, which
appears right after the main body. The reference provides all information that is required to find
the source, e.g. Andreff, W., & Staudohar, P. D. (2000). The evolving European model of
professional sports finance. Journal of Sports Economics, 1(3), 257–276.
https://doi.org./10.1177/152700250000100304
 Harvard Style: Like APA style, Harvard style is based on an author-date system.
In-text citation: The book uses success stories from the authors’ own lived experiences to make
the case for a creative revolution in the business world (Stewart & Simmons 2010, p. 22).
Reference list entry: Stewart, D & Simmons, M (2010), The Business Playground: Where Creativity
and Commerce Collide, New Riders Press, Berkeley.
9. Explain the criteria for a good literature review.
 Selecting Literature

 Have you clearly indicated the scope and purpose of the review?
 Have you found balanced coverage of research that is available?
 Have you included the most recent and relevant studies?
 Have you included enough material to show the development and limitations in this area?
 Have you indicated the source of the literature by referencing accurately?
 Have you used mostly primary sources or appropriate secondary sources?

Critiquing the sources found

 Have you clearly (and logically) ordered and sorted the research, focusing on themes or ideas?
 Does the review move from broader concepts to a more specific focus?
 Have you considered a critique including research limitations of design and methodology?
 Are the studies compared and contrasted with controversies highlighted?
 Is the relevance to your problem clear?

Summarizing & Interpreting

 Have you made an overall interpretation of what is available?

 Do the implications provide theoretical of empirical justification for your own research questions/hypothesis?
 Do the implications provide a rationale for your own research design?

10. Explain the difference between cross-sectional research and longitudinal research.

Cross-sectional study Longitudinal study

Cross-sectional studies are quick to conduct as
compared to longitudinal studies.
A cross-sectional study is conducted at a given
point in time.
Cross-sectional study is conducted with different
samples.
Cross-sectional studies cannot pin down cause-
and-effect relationship.
Multiple variables can be studied at a single
point in time.
Cross-sectional study is comparatively cheaper.
Longitudinal studies may vary from a few years to
even decades.
A longitudinal study requires a researcher to revisit
participants of the study at proper intervals.
Longitudinal study is conducted with the same
sample over the years.
Longitudinal study can justify cause-and-effect
relationship.
Only one variable is considered to conduct the study.
Since the study goes on for years longitudinal study
tends to get expensive.

11. What is a semi-structural interview?

Semi-structured interviews are conducted with a fairly open framework which allow for focused,
conversational, two-way communication. They can be used both to give and receive information.
Unlike the questionnaire framework, where detailed questions are formulating ahead of time, semi
structured interviewing starts with more general questions or topics. Relevant topics (such as
cookstoves) are initially identified and the possible relationship between these topics and the issues
 such as availability, expense, effectiveness become the basis for more specific questions which do
not need to be prepared in advance.
Not all questions are designed and phrased ahead of time. The majority of questions are created
during the interview, allowing both the interviewer and the person being interviewed the flexibility
to probe for details or discuss issues.
Semi-structured interviewing is guided only in the sense that some form of interview guide and
provides a framework for the interview.
12. Describe and provide examples of four types of scales.
13. Define validity and reliability in research.
14. Provide examples of probability and nonprobability sampling.
Probability sampling Non-probability
A A probability sampling provides for random selection, A A type of unit sampling where it is not known which of
meaning each unit has the same or a known chance of being the units will be picked to be sampled, and where some
selected so that it is possible to confidently make estimates of the units have a zero probability of being chosen.
about the total population based on the sample results.

Th The use of probability samples requires that each individual

in the population be identifiable on a list or at a location,
which is called sampling frame.

15. What is sampling in qualitative and quantitative research? How are they different?

16. Sampling in qualitative research is similar to which type of sampling in quantitative research?
It is similar to purposive sampling. Here is a list of the different types used in qualitative
research:
 Maximum variation sampling (purposively selecting a wide range of cases)
 Homogeneous sample selection (selecting a small and homogeneous case or set of cases
for intensive study)
 Extreme-case sampling (identifying the extremes or poles of some characteristic and then
selecting cases representing these extremes for examination)
 Typical-case sampling (selecting what are believed to be average cases)
 Critical-case sampling (selecting what are believed to be particularly important cases)
 Negative-case sampling (selecting cases that disconfirm the researcher’s expectations and
generalizations)
 Opportunistic sampling (selecting cases when the opportunity arises)
 Mixed purposeful sampling (mixing of more than one of the above sampling strategies).