Chapter One

Introduction to Research

1
 Basic Concepts of Research
What is Research?
• “a careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for
new facts in any branch of knowledge”. Advanced Learner’s
Dictionary of Current English
• Research deals with curiosity (the desire to know about
something new).
• We are curious to know about ourselves, our institutions, our
environment, our planet, other planets and the universe.
 Some of the Questions that may come to our minds:
 How do such problems arise?
 Why there is object poverty in our country?
 Why does the performance of similar organizations vary?
 What are causes of various business problems?
 Etc.
2
 Concepts of Research…
 A systematic search for an answer to a question or a solution to
a problem is called research.
 Research simply means a search for facts- answers to questions
and solutions to problems.
o It is a purposive investigation.
o It is an organized inquiry.
 Business research is a process of planning, acquiring,
analyzing and disseminating relevant data, information and
insights to decision makers in ways that mobilize the
organization to take appropriate actions that, in turn, maximize
performance.

3
 Objectives of Research?
 to discover answers to questions through the application of
scientific procedures.
 business research methods are used in situations of uncertainty,
that is, when decision-makers face two or more courses of action
and seek to select the best possible alternative under the
circumstances.
 is aimed at improving the quality of decision-making which, in
turn, benefits the organization and helps ensure its continuity and
efficiency.

4
Characteristics of Research
 to qualify as a good research, a process must have the
following general characteristics:
• Controlled: it must be set in way that minimizes the effects
of other factors affecting relationship.
• Rigorous: it must ensure that the procedures followed to find
answers to questions are relevant, appropriate and
justified. A good theoretical base and sound methodological
design would add rigor to the study.
• Systematic: the procedure adopted to undertake an
investigation follows certain logical sequence.
• Valid and verifiable: whatever you conclude on the basis of
your findings is correct and can be verified by you and
others
5
Characteristics …
• Empirical: any conclusions drawn are based upon hard
evidence gathered from data collected from real life
experiences or observations.
• Critical: The methods employed and procedures used should be
critically scrutinized.
̶The process of investigation must be foolproof and free
from any drawbacks.
̶ The process adopted and the procedures used must be able
to withstand critical scrutiny.

6
 The Building Blocks of Scientific Research
 Deduction vs. Induction
 Answers to issues can be found either by the process of
induction or the process of deduction, or by a combination
of the two.
a. Deduction: is the process by which we arrive at a reasoned
conclusion by logical generalization of a known fact.
 i.e., the conclusion must necessarily follow from the
reasons (premises) given.
 Move from more general to more specific.
• Man is mortal….. (premise 1)
• John is a man……(premise 2)
• John is mortal…(conclusion)

7
 Deduction vs. Induction…
b. Induction: is a process where we observe certain
phenomena and on this basis arrive at conclusions.
 It moves from specific observation to a broader
generalization.
 In other words, in induction we draw conclusion from one or
more facts or pieces of evidence.
 The conclusion explains facts, and the facts support the
conclusion.
 Research here is used to:
a. Determine the nature of the evidence needed to confirm or
reject hypothesis, and
b. Design methods by which to discover and measure this
other evidence.

8
 Methods Versus Methodology
 Some literatures use these two terms interchangeably.
 Research Methods: can be understood as all those approaches
and techniques that are used in conducting a particular research.
 Examples of research methods are:
 Making observations,
 Other instruments used
 Recording data,
 Techniques of processing data and the like
• In general,
Research method refers to the techniques researchers use in
performing research operations.

9
 Methods Versus Methodology…
 Research Methodology: is a way to systematically solve the
research problem.
• Methodology refers to a science of studying how research is
done scientifically.
• It explains the various steps that are generally adopted by a
researcher in studying his research problem along with the logic
behind them.
 The researcher not only needs to know
o how to develop certain indices or
o how to calculate the mean, the mode, the median or the
standard deviation or chi-square or
o how to apply particular research techniques,
• But s/he also needs to understand the assumptions underlying
various techniques.
10
 Motivations in Research
 What motivates people to undertake research?
 The possible motives for doing research may include the
following among others:
 As an individual
• Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential
benefits (financial benefits and respect);
• Desire to face the challenges in solving various problems;
e.g., concern over practical problems initiates research;
• Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some innovative and
creative work;
• Desire to be of service to society;
• Desire to get respectability.
• Etc
11
Motivations in Research…
 as a manager you need to conduct business research because:
 Competition in business is increasing day to day. You need to
know about your customers, products, industry competition
 Dynamic business environments: those factors which affect
your business but are not under the control of managers
 Decision making: managers have more variables to consider in
every decision.

12
Types of Research
 There are several different types of research based on various
conditions.
 the most common bases for classification of research are:
a. Based on Application
i. Applied or Policy oriented research
• Focuses on a real-life problem or situation
• Concerned with the solution to particular problems.
• It is thus problem-oriented and action-directed.
• It is used to solve a current problem faced by the manager

13
Types of Research…
ii. Basic research (fundamental, pure)
 Aims at developing a body of general knowledge for the
understanding of human social behaviour by means of a
combination of empirical inquiry and application of
theory.
 Involves developing and testing theories and hypothesis
that are intellectually challenging to the researcher but
may not have practical application at the present time or in
the future.
 is aimed at investigating or search for new principles and
laws

14
 Types of Research…
b. Based on Objectives/Purpose of the study
i. Descriptive Research: attempts to describe systematically a
situation, problem, phenomenon, service or program, or
 provides information about, say, living condition of
community, or
 describes attitudes to wards an issue.
 More concerned with facts.
ii. Explanatory Research: attempts to clarify why and how
there is a relationship between two or more aspects of a
situation or phenomenon.
 It involves theory testing or elaboration of a theory.
 Used mostly in basic research.

15
 Types of Research…
iii. Exploratory Research: is undertaken to explore an area where
little is known; or
 to investigate the possibilities of undertaking a particular
research study.
 is primarily to:
• generate some initial idea about the phenomenon.
 goal is to generate many ideas.
• develop tentative theories and inference.
• become familiar with the basic facts, people and concerns
involved.
• formulate questions and refine issues for future research.
• it is the initial research.
• Usually qualitative research
 In practice most studies are a combination of the first two
categories in terms of objectives. 16
 Types of Research…
c. Based on the Type of Data
i. Quantitative Research: is applicable to phenomena that
are measurable so that they can be expressed in terms of
quantity.
 Uses numerical data.
ii. Qualitative Research: is concerned with qualitative
phenomenon.
 When research is designed to find out how people feel
or what they think about a particular subject is a
qualitative research.
 It is important in the behavioral sciences where the aim
is to discover the underlying motives of human behavior.
17
 Quantitative versus Qualitative
Quantitative Research Strategy
• Investigation aims to assess a
pre-stated theory (Deductive
Reasoning)
• Often involves hypothesis
testing
• Attempts to minimise the
influence of the researcher on
the outcome
• Quantitative data infers
statistics
• Data collection therefore
requires ‘closed’ responses
Qualitative Research Strategy
• Investigation aims to create a
novel theory (Inductive
Reasoning)
• Researcher becomes an inherent
part of the study - ethnography
• Qualitative data infers complex
statements or opinions
• Data collection therefore
permits ‘open’ responses
18
 Types of Research…
D. Based on the Environment where the Research is Conducted
i. Field research: is a research carried out in a field.
 Such research is common in social science, agricultural
science, history and archaeology.  
ii. Laboratory research: is a research carried out in a laboratory.
This is commonly experimental research.
 These researches are common in medical science,
agriculture and, generally in natural sciences.  
iii.Simulation research: Such research uses models to represent
the real world.
 Simulation is common in physical science, economics and
mathematics.  
19
Types of Research…

E. Based on the Time Required to Complete

the Research
i. One time research/ Cross-sectional: It is a research
limited to a single time period
 Example: MBA thesis

ii. Longitudinal research: Such research is also called

on-going research. It is a research carried out over
several time periods.
 The Living Conditions of a Particular community

20
 Scope of Business Research
• Business research covers several areas of business and/or
management which include, among others:
 Marketing – Demand, Supply, Sales, Consumer Behaviour,
Advertising, etc.
 Finance - Working Capital, Fixed Assets, Financial Position,
Stock & Commodity Mkt., Share and Debentures, Budgeting,
etc.
 Production & Material Control – Volume, Quality, Fashion,
Inventory, Purchase, Storage, Cost Analysis, etc.
 Banking - Loans And Advance, NPA, Assets, Liability,
CAMEL, Financial inclusion, Interest Rates, deposits, etc.
 Human Resource – Recruitment, Selection, Performance
Appraisals, Employee turnover, Training and Development,
Wage rate system, etc.
21
Ethics in Business Research
• Ethics – ‘that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating
to human conduct with respect to the rightness and
wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness
of the motives and ends of such actions.’
 How should we treat the individuals who participate in our
research?
 Are there activities in which we should not engage?
 What are the professional standards of behaviour?
• Ethical dilemmas are more likely to arise out of qualitative
research than in quantitative survey research.

22
Ethics…
 Ethical consideration in research:
• Voluntary – research disrupts respondent’s normal activity,
it should be on the basis of informed consent,
• Non-malfeasance – researchers should avoid harming
participants
• Beneficence – research on human participants should
produce some identifiable, positive benefit, not just be
carried out for its own sake
• Autonomy/self-determination – participants’ values and
decisions should be respected
• Justice – all people should be treated equally
• Anonymity – Respondent not identified in any way.
• Confidentiality – Information is confidential. Is this always
possible?

23
End of Chapter

24