Types of Research and Important Terminologies

Smita Mukherjee
Asst. Professor MMS & Research Scholar at TISS
 Purpose of Business Research
 Exploratory Research

– Exploratory research is conducted to clarify ambiguous situations or discover potential

business opportunities
 Descriptive Research

– The purpose is to describe characteristics of objects, people, groups, organisations or

environments
 Causal Research

– Causal research attempts to establish that when we do one thing, another thing will
follow Source: Business Research Methods by William G. Zikmund, Chapter 4, Page 56 to 60
 Terminologies

 Problem / Questions
 Concept
 Construct

 Theory

– Exploring underlying relationships between concepts related to business/social world

– Theory explains and predicts

 Terminologies
 Variable - A variable is defined as anything that has a quantity or quality that varies
 Dependent & Independent
 Continuous
 Categorical (nominal)
 Control
 Moderating & Mediating
Unit of Analysis

Hypothesis (plural Hypotheses)

 Moderating Variable
 Strengthens or weakens the relationship between dependent and
independent variable
Problem solving
requirement in the
job

Job
High Intelligence
Performance
Problem
solving
Performance

Low
Problem
solving

Intelligence
 Mediating Variable

 Explains the relationship between Problem

independent and dependent variable Solving
Requirement

High Training Job Job

Intelligence
Problem Performance Knowledge Performance
solving
Performance

Low
Problem
solving

Intelligence
 Problem Solving
Requirement on the job

Intelligence

Training Job Knowledge Job

Performance Performance
Conscientiousness

Emotional
Intelligence
Extent of Interpersonal
Interaction on the job
Terminologies
 Variable
 Dependent & Independent
 Continuous / Categorical (nominal)
 Control
 Moderating & Mediating
Unit of Analysis

Hypothesis (plural Hypotheses)

Problem Definition
Smita Mukherjee
Asst. Professor MMS & Research Scholar at TISS
 Problem Definition Process Step

Write
Research
Determine Questions /
Relevant Hypotheses
Determine Variables
the Unit of
Write Analysis
Managerial
Identify Key Decision and
Problems Research
Understand Objectives
Business
Situation
Comprehensive Case Analysis
 What is the type of research? Explain with justification
 Define research problems
 Write research objectives
 Identify variables
 Determine unit of analysis
 Write hypotheses