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Business Research Methods: Problem Definition and The Research Proposal
Business Research Methods: Problem Definition and The Research Proposal
Research Methods
William G. Zikmund
Chapter 6:
Problem Definition and the
Research Proposal
A Sea Horse’s Tale
Problem Discovery Problem Selection of
and Definition discovery exploratory research
technique
Sampling
Selection of
exploratory research
technique Probability Nonprobability
Secondary
Experience Pilot Case Collection of
(historical) Data
survey study study data
data Gathering
(fieldwork)
Data
Editing and
Problem definition Processing
coding
(statement of and
Analysis data
research objectives)
Data
Selection of processing
Research Design basic research
method Conclusions
Interpretation
and Report
of
findings
Experiment Survey
Secondary
Laboratory Field Interview Questionnaire Observation
Data Study Report
Uncertainty Influences the Type
of Research
• First step
• Problem, opportunity, or monitor operations
• Discovery before definition
• Problem means management problem
“The formulation of the problem
is often more essential than its
solution.”
Albert Einstein
Problem Definition
• The indication of a specific business
decision area that will be clarified by
answering some research questions.
Defining Problem Results in
Clear Cut Research Objectives
Symptom Detection
Analysis of
the Situation
Exploratory
Research
(Optional)
Problem Definition
Statement of
Research Objectives
The Process of
Problem Definition
Ascertain the Determine unit of
decision maker’s analysis
objectives
10
The Iceberg Principle
12
Isolate and Identify the Problems,
Not the Symptoms
• Symptoms can be confusing
13
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 Definition
Organization Symptoms Based on Symptom True Problem
TOTI
EMUL
ESTO
The Language Is English: To Tie
Mules To
TOTI
EMUL
ESTO
Determine the Unit of Analysis
• Individuals, households, organizations, etc.
• In many studies, the family rather than the
individual is the appropriate unit of
analysis.
18
Determine the Relevant Variable
• Anything that may assume different
numerical values
19
Types of Variables
• Categorical
• Continuous
• Dependent
• Independent
Hypothesis
• An unproven proposition
• A possible solution to a problem
• Guess
State the research questions and
research objectives
22
If you do not know where you are going,
any road will take you there.
Broad research Statement of Exploratory
objectives business research
problem (optional)
Research
Results
Design
The Process of
Problem Definition
Ascertain the Determine unit of
decision maker’s analysis
objectives