Business Research Method

Dinesh Basnet
Assistant Professor
Shanker Dev Campus
Tribhuvan University
 Research
• Re + Search: Research which means search again and again.

• Inquisitiveness (asking to many question and trying to find out answer).

• According to Burns “Research is a systematic investigation to find

answers to a problem”.

• According to Grinnell “Research is a careful, systematic, patient study &

investigation in some field of knowledge, undertaken to establish facts
or principles”.

• Simply, Research is one of the ways to find answers to your question.

2
• The research is the process of obtaining the answers to
questions: what, why, when, how, who and where.

• Research simply means a search for facts; answers to

questions and solutions to problems.

• The first look may not be always be adequate. It may be prone

to error. Therefore, we look into the phenomenon again and
again and study the problem differently and thoroughly each
time. This process of searching again and again to come closer
and closer to the truth is known as research.

3
 Scientific Research Process
• Step 1: Problem Identification: (Defining the problem and identifying the variables causing it or
related with it.)

• Step 2: Theoretical Framework: (Literature Review: Review concepts and theories, Review
previous research finding.)

• Step 3: Hypothesis Formulation

• Step 4: Research Design: (Including Sample design)

• Step 5: Data Collection

• Step 6: Data Analysis: (Test hypotheses if any)

• Step 7: Generalization of Data: (Refinement of Theory: Basic Research, Implementation:

Applied Research).

4
Types of Research

5
• PURE RESEARCH: - Gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake. It is also known as
‘Fundamental’ or ‘Basic’ research. Example of pure research includes natural
phenomenon or relating to pure mathematics. Pure research is mainly concerned with
generalizations and with the formulation of a theory. Similarly, research studies,
concerning human behavior carried on with a view to make generalization about human
behavior, are also example of pure research. Developing a sampling technique that can
be applied to a procedure situation; developing an instrument, say, to measure the
stress level in people; and finding the best way of measuring people’s attitudes.
• Application:- Pure research is concerned with the development, examination,
verification and refinement of research methods, procedures, techniques and tools that
forms the body of research methodology.
• ACCORDING TO BAILEY:-
• Pure research involves developing and testing theories and hypotheses that are
intellectually challenging to the researcher but may or may not have practical
application at the present time or in the future. Thus such work often involves the
testing of hypotheses containing very abstract and specialized concepts.

6
2. APPLIED RESEARCH:- research aimed at certain conclusion facing a social or business problem is an
example of applied research. Most of the research in the social sciences is applied. In other words the
research techniques, procedures and methods that form the body of research methodology are
applied to the collection of information about various aspects of a situation, issue, problem or
phenomenon so that information gathered can be used in other ways- such as for policy formulation,
administration and the enhancement of understanding of a phenomenon. Thus the central aim of
applied research is to discover a solution for some pressing practical problem.
Applied research can help make a decision about the following:-
pricing a new product
where to locate a new retail store
how many employees to hire
what to pay employees
REALATION BETWEEN PURE AND APPLIED RESEARCH
There is a relationship between these two types of research: pure research generates new ideas and
applied research takes these ideas to create new inventions. Then, through development, the new
inventions are transformed into commercial products. This is a simple model to understand the
different types of research and the eventual development of new products.

7
 Objectives
Descriptive research.
Attempts to describe systematically a situation, problem, phenomenon
etc.
Correlational research.
Establishes the existence of relationship/association/interdependence
between two or more aspects of a situation.
Explanatory research.
Attempts to clarify why and how there is a relationship between two
aspects of a situation or phenomenon.
Exploratory research.
When study is undertaken with the objective either to explore an area
where little is known or to investigate the possibilities of undertaking a
particular research study.

8
Examples Aim Main Theme Types of research

Types of service provided by a agency To describe what is prevalent To describe what is Descriptive research
Needs of a community regarding: prevalent
Sale of a product A group of people
Attitudes of nurses towards death and dying A community
Number of people living in a community A phenomenon
Problems faced by new immigrants A situation
Consumers likes and dislikes with regards to a product A program
An outcome

Impact of a program To establish for explore: To ascertain if there is Correlation research

Relationship between stressful living and incidence of heart A relationship a relationship
attacks An association
Impact of technology on employment An interdependence
Impact of an advertising campaign on sale of a product

Why does stressful living result in heart attack? To explain: To explain why the Explanatory research
Why does technology creates unemployment/employment? *Why a relationship, association relationship is formed
Why do some people use a product while others do not? or interdependence exists
*Why a particular event occurs

9
 Approaches to Research (Inquiry Mode)
Qualitative Mode (Unstructured Approach)
Quantitative Mode (Structured Approach)
Qualitative Mode:
The descriptive is essay type and is very much subjective. No rules of scientific methods are
followed and conclusions are mainly based on personal intuitions and observations. It is designed
to tell the researcher how (process) and why (meaning) things happen as they do. In business
planning and decision making, qualitative methodologies are used in market segmentation;
advertising creative development; new product development, sales analysis, package design, brand
development and so forth.
Pattern of women trafficking for prostitutions
Marriage ceremony of a particular community
Opinions about the popularity of a person or a political party etc.
Quantitative Mode:
Quantitative research attempts precise measurement of something. Under this method,
information are quantified so that they can be compared in different situations either in places or
in time period. Such methodologies answer questions related to how much, how often, how many,
when and who.

10