Research Process

By: M. Saeed Mujahid

ARM Lecture # 2
Definitions of Research

• Systematic and objective process of generating information for

making decisions. ( William D Zikmund)

• Organized, systematic, data based, critical, objective, scientific

inquiry or investigation into a specific problem, undertaken with
the purpose of finding answers or solution to it. (Uma Sekaran)
The hallmarks of scientific research

❑ Purposiveness: Researcher must have clear understanding of topic and

its purpose.

❑ Rigor: A good theoretical base and a sound methodological design add

rigor to a purposive study.

❑ Testability: On the basis of previous researches, a researcher develops

certain hypotheses that can be tested by applying certain statistical tests.
The hallmarks of scientific research

❑ Reliability : The results of the tests of hypotheses should be supported

again and yet again when the same type of research is repeated in other
similar circumstances.

❑ Precision: It refers to the closeness of the findings to ―reality based on a

sample.
• Precision reflects the degree of accuracy or exactitude of the results on the
basis of the sample, to what really exists in the universe.
• For example : Number of production days lost during the year due to absenteeism
The hallmarks of scientific research

❑ Objectivity: The conclusions drawn through the interpretation of the

results of data analysis should be objective, based on the facts of the
findings derived from actual data not on our own subjective or emotional
values.

❑ Generalizability: Generalizability refers to the scope of applicability of the

research findings in one organizational setting to other settings.

❑ Parsimony: A good understanding of the problem and the important

factors that influence it. Literature review or in-depth interviews.
Writing Research Proposal
Purposes/reasons for writing a Research Proposal

Academic Managerial

Funded
How to start our Research?

❑ Selection of Topic:
• No formula for the selection of topic. Freedom of interest.
• Keeping an eye on the collection of “Secondary Data Availability” and
“Primary Data Respondents’ Interest and Availability”.

❑ Funnel method:
• In research, we usually go for Funnel Method, and getting narrow the topic
in terms of being distinct in nature for providing unique studies on
innovative thinking.
How to start our Research?

❑ RAW cause and effect:

• We need to find the effect or happening occurs in the scenario related to
our topic. It will lead to find the Dependent Variable.
• Then we found the causes of this effect on the bases on of their direct
impact or influence. It will lead to find the Independent Variable.
• Found Effect and Causes could be changed after Introduction and
Literature Review, that’s why we call it “RAW”.
Research Proposal

• “ A research proposal is a document that describes the essential features

of a study to be conducted in the future, as well as the strategy whereby
the inquiry may be logically and successfully accomplished.” Busha & Harter,

Research Methods in Librarianship, p. 343.

Writing Academic Proposals: The Big Picture

• What you intend to study (scope , Problem and objective(s).

• How you intend to study your topic (methodology).

• Why this topic needs to be studied (significance).

• When you will complete this work (timeline)

 Components of a Research Proposal

1. Title of the proposal

2. Abstract
3. Background of the study
4. Statement of the problem
5. Research objectives/questions
6. Significance/Justification of the study
7. Scope of Study
8. Limitations
9. Definitions of key terms
10. Review of related literature
11. Research methods and procedures
12. Plan of Work
13. Preliminary working bibliography
Background

• Area of study
• Evolution and current state
• Broader issues in context of theories linkage
 Introduction Pattern (Paragraph-wise)

❑ What we know?
❑ What we do not know but need to know?
❑ What have we done?
❑ What is our contribution?
“The formulation of the problem is often more
essential than its solution.”

Albert Einstein
Starting Off…
What is your research about?

▪
General
Research Interest
■ Research Topic
■ Research Problem
■ Research Purpose
❑ Research Question

Specific
Distinguishing the Research Problem From Other Research
Steps

Differences Among Topic, Problem, Purpose

and Questions

• A research topic is the broad subject matter or

interest being addressed in a study.
• A research problem is a specific issue or concern
to be studied.

• A purpose is the major intent or objective of the

study… Why should you do it?
• Research questions are questions the researcher
would like specifically answered or addressed in
the study.
Examples

Genera
l Topic Employee Turnover

Research Why Employee leave the

Problem organizations.

Purpose
To determine factors To increase
Statemen
employee’s turnover rate.
t

Research Which factors play an important

Specific Question role in the increasing employee’s
turnover rate in Pakistan
Pharmaceutical industry ?
Problem Statement

• Highlight the Base issue of study (will lead to draw Purpose statement)
• Demonstrate various dimensions of problem (Leading to draw RQ)

• Casuist Research Problem

• Difference Research Problem
• Descriptive Research Problem
• Relational Research Problem
 Problem Statement
Four elements
❑ Stable Context (What is & significance)
• Setting the scene
• Old Information
❑ Destabilizing Condition (Gap, What has not been done)
• Clear statement of gap
• Evidences of gap
❑ Consequences
• Causes of gap
❑ Resolution
• How to mitigate causes
• Presenting the way to solve
Flow of Ideas in Problem Statement
Research Objectives, Questions, Hypotheses

❑ Derived from Problem statement

What , Why , How

What is the role of management style in relationship of expansion and innovation

❑ Objective(s) of study
Can be in points
• To investigate, To explore, To determine, To identify, To ascertain etc.
In paragraph:
• Begin with signaling words such as “the purpose or intent of”
• Indicate the overall intent of the study such as “the intent is to examine the role of
school teacher in promoting reading habit”
Research Objectives, Questions, Hypotheses
Significance of the Study

• Specify the reasons of your study

• Why this study is significant?
• Contribution
• Literature
• Practice
• Social
• Who will benefit from it?
Scope of Study

• To what extent this study will be conducted

• To what conditions / settings the results
• can be generalized / applicable
Limitations & Assumptions

• What and Why this study will not accomplish

• Application of results (Assumptions)
• Limitations – Before and After
▪ Factors that will affect the study
▪ Not controlled by the researcher
• Should appear when imposed by the nature of the problem

• Control Variables
Definitions of key terms

• Operational definition of all the major concepts to be employed in the study

• These definitions will establish the basis for the objective tests for the
outcomes of the proposed study
Plan of Work

• Gant Chart