BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS

(RCH201)
 Unit One
Introduction
Meaning of Research
An effort to search new fact, knowledge, principles or
theories in systematic and scientific way.
“Research is a systematic, controlled, empirical and critical
investigation of hypothetical prepositions about the
reassumed relation among natural phenomenon.” –F.N.
Kerlinger
“A careful investigation or inquiry especially through
research for new facts in any branch of knowledge.” –
Advanced Learner Dictionary
In brief, research
is always directed towards the solution of the problems.
is based on observable experience or empirical evidence.
demands accurate observation and description.
involves gathering new data from primary and/or using
existing data for a new purpose.
requires expertise and courage necessary to accomplish
the research
Involves the quest for answers to unsolved questions
Scientific Research
A systematic, controlled, empirical and critical investigation
of hypothetical proposition about the presumed relation
among the natural phenomenon is called scientific research.
It is characterized as,
1. Directed towards the solution of a problem.
2. Tries to answer a question or to relate two or more
variables under study.
3. Based on empirical evidence.
4. Involves precise observation and accurate description.
5. Characterized by systematic objectives and logical
procedures.
6. Marked by patience, courage and unhurried activities.
7. The design, procedures and results of scientific
research should be replicable.
8. Requires skill of writing and reproducing the report.
 Features of Scientific Research
Rigorous: sound theoretical base and a sound methodological
design
Purposive: having fixed objective.
Testability: relationship established in hypothesis should be
tested using statistical and mathematical tools.
Replicability: design, procedures and methods can be used by
others.
Objective: based of the accurate and unbiased facts rather than
subjective information.
Precision: degree of exactness of the results.
Generalizability: research finding is applicable to other
organizations.
Scientific Research Process
Realizing the Problem
Identification of Problem
Review of Literature
Theoretical Framework
Formulation of Hypothesis
Research Design
Collection of Data
Analysis of Data
Interpretation and Generalizability
 Types of Research
• Main types of research are pure/fundamental and
action/applied research.
• But it can be classified on different basis.
• On the basis of application, it is pure and applied.
• On the basis of objective, it can be classified as
exploratory, descriptive, correlational and
explanatory.
• On the basis of information, it is classified as
quantitative, qualitative and mixed.
 On the Basis of Application
a. Basic or Fundamental Research
Conducted to acquire the depth knowledge on any issue or
for the development of theory.
Main aim is to obtain/get more knowledge and
understanding of the issue and build theory based of
research result.
“A research that is primarily interested to find out certain
basic principles not the solution of the problem is basis
research.”
– DB Bhattacharya
Features
Develops fundamental principles.
Principles can be generalized.
Finds major facts of practical problems.
Helps to understand the problem of depth.
Develops various alternative solutions of various problems.
b. Applied or Action Research
Conducted to find out the solution for immediate problem faced
by the society or business organization.
Main aim is to find out the solution for some practical problem.
Conducted when required.
Concerned more with actual life.
“A research method that is used in social science research which
helps to contradict, alter or modify any existing theory or
theories and helps to formulate policy is called applied
research.”
– DB Bhattacharya
Features
Related for solving the real life problems
Conclusion can be implemented immediately.
Helps to prove concepts.
Helps to formulate new policies and programs
improving previous procedures and practices.
 On the Basis of objective
A. Exploratory Research
Investigation of problem which is not clearly defined.
Helps to clarify the existing problem with better
understanding.
This types of research starts with general idea, uses it as
medium to identify the problem and focuses for the future by
using best research design, data collection method and
selection of subject for exploratory research.
Generally conducted in the preliminary stage of research.
B. Descriptive Research
Study of the characteristics of the population or phenomenon.
Focuses on ‘what’ rather than ‘why’.
Primarily focuses on describing the subject of the research
without covering why it happens.
Also called observational research.
C. Correlational Research
Measurement of statistical relationship between two variables.
Positive or negative relationship between the variables is
established.
But no possibility of establishing the fact ‘what causes what’.
D. Explanatory Research
Measures the cause and effect relationship between the
variables.
Also known as the causal research.
Clarifies actually what is happening.
Helps the researcher to understand the issue more effectively
and efficiently.
Leads to assist about the finding of the problem which was not
studied before in-depth.
Leads to assess the impact of explicit changes on existing
standards, different procedures and so on.
 On the Basis of Information Sought
a. Qualitative Research
Research conducting from the use of non-numerical data or
information.
Main aim to gain the understanding of basic reasons, opinion
and inspirations.
Gives insights into the issue or problem with creating ideas or
hypothesis.
 On the Basis of Information Sought
b. Quantitative Research
Research conducting with the use of numerical data.
Statistical or mathematical methods are used to analyze such
data.
c. Mixed Research
Research conducting by using both numerical and non-
numerical information.
Provides depth investigation about the issues.
Used in business, economic, social issues.
 Approaches to Research
It is plans and procedures for research.
It includes methods of data collection, analysis and
interpretation.
It is an arrangement and technique of collection, analysis
and interpretation of data.
There are following types of research approaches.
A) Quantitative Research
Qualitative research is the research of such phenomenon
which can be expressed in terms of quantity.
It uses statistical and mathematical tools to analyze.
It is associated with positivism.
Tools used in quantitative research are: Mean, SD, CV,
Correlation, regression, t-test, z-test etc.
B) Qualitative Research
It is concerned with qualitative phenomenon relating to
quality or kind.
Related to subjective phenomenon.
It is about the recording, analyzing and attempting to
uncover the deeper meaning and significance of human
behaviour and experience, including contradictory beliefs,
behaviour and emotion.
It emphasized the process of finding out how the social
meanings are constructed.
Common methods of qualitative research are:
ethnography, phenomenology, feminism, constructivism
etc.
C) Mixed Research
It is combination of both quantitative and qualitative research.
It is pragmatic in nature as it gives the freedom to use any of
the methods, techniques and producers typically associated
with quantitative or qualitative research.
 Paradigm of Research
Paradigm means standard, perspective or set of ideas.
It is a way of looking something.
Research paradigm is the ‘school of thought or a framework for
thinking’ for conducting research.
In other words, research paradigm is the set of common belief and
agreement shared among the scientists about how problems should
be understood and addressed.
It can be characterized through ontology (What is reality?),
epistemology (How do you know something?) and methodology
(How do you go about finding it out?).
A) Positivism
The research which conducted with considering the natural
setting rather than perception and interpretation of the people is
known as positivism.
It is based on the concept that social science should use the
same methods and approaches to study the social world as
natural science uses to investigate the physical world.
That is, knowledge is derived from experience of natural
phenomenon, and their properties and relations.
The information obtained from experience can be interpreted
through reason and logic.
• Main principles of positivism are:
Based on naturalistic enquiry.
Science of only valid knowledge.
Fact is the object of the knowledge.
The task of philosophy is to find the general principles
common to all.
Rejects intuition, theological and metaphysical
knowledge
Knowledge is generated with the help of
quantification.
Main elements of positivism are:
• An objective world with universal laws and causality,
• Value free contexts,
• The use of precise and objective measures usually
associated with quantitative data,
• Researcher remains separated from the subjects,
• Research is rigorous, linear and rigid, based on hypothesis
testing,
• Methods include experimental studies, re-analysis of
secondary data, structured questionnaires and structured
interviews,
• The implication of scientific method with deductive
reasoning.
B) Interpretivism
This paradigm is associated with qualitative research.
It is assumed that there are multiple realities rather than
single reality.
These realities differ across the time and place.
According to paradigm, human action should be observed
through the eyes of actors doing the work.
It focuses on methods and methodology, defines set of
procedures that need to carried out with existing details.
Inductive approach is usually used.
• Main assumptions of interpretivism are:
It is qualitative in nature.
Individuals are not like puppets who react to external social
forces.
Individual are difficult and complex units of society.
Research methods are derived from ‘social action theory’.
Main elements of this paradigm are:
• Subjective world where people experience social and
physical reality in different way.
• A socially constructed reality with subjective evaluation and
meaningfulness of experience for the individual.
• Researcher becomes fully involved with individual subjects.
• Explicit values
• Flexible research process which flows from the material
provided by the participants.
• Methods includes ethnography, participant observation,
focus group interview, depth interview, and generally,
inductive reasoning is used.
C) Constructivism
It assumed that learners are not passive recipients of
knowledge but are active in process.
They build on previous experience in order to make sense of
what they are learning.
That is, they are more active in the creation of meaning and
knowledge.
According to this paradigm, knowledge is not given but
constructed.
Scientific knowledge is constructed by the scientific
community.
Therefore, constructivism is an approach of learning for
maintain that people actively construct or make their own
knowledge and reality is determined by the experience of the
learner.
Principles of constructivism are:
 Knowledge is constructed rather than innate or passively absorbed.
 Learning is an active process.
 All knowledge is socially constructed.
 Each learner has a distinctive point of view.
 Learning exists in the mind.
 Paradigm Shift in Research
• Refers to the change in model, modality and perception of
the context.
• According to Kuhn, paradigm shift is a revolution to a
prevailing scientific framework.
• They arise when the dominant paradigm is rendered
incompatible or insufficient, facilitating the adoption of a
revised or completely new theory.
• There are three phases of scientific development.
• First Phase: exist only once, pre-paradigm phase, there is no
consensus on any particular theory, through the research
being carried out can be considered scientific in nature.
• Second Phase: normal science begins, general consensus
within the discipline normal science continues.
• Third Phase: revolutionary phase, follows the period of crisis.
• In short, paradigm indicated a fundamental change in
approach or underlying assumptions.
• It is a drastic and uncomfortable change.
 Management Research
Systematic development and acquisition of knowledge that
are needed to answer the managerial problem within a time
frame.
Research which is conducted to identify and analyze the
problem and develop managerial tools to take decisions for
solving managerial problems.
It studies minutely, objectively and scientifically on the
problems and suggests the management to improve in
managerial procedures so that the managerial problems
can be solved.
“Managerial research is the systematic and objective
process of gathering, recording and analyzing data for aid
in making business decision.” – W.G. Zikmund
 Nature of Management Research
• Business or management research helps to solve the business
problems and contributes to management knowledge.
• It is an applied science.
• Its nature can be summarized as:
1. The way in which managers and researchers extract
knowledge developed by other discipline.
2. As the managers are busy, they are less likely to allow
research access unless they can see advantages.
3. The need for research has some practical consequence.
4. Knowledge taken from different disciplines helps
management research to gain new insights.
5. Management research leads to develop ideas for managers
and to relate them in practice.
6. It addresses the business issues and practical business
problems.
7. The purpose and context of business research differs
considerably.
8. All management research projects can be placed on a
continuum.
To sum up, nature of management research are
• Transdisciplinary
• Commercial Advantages
• Practical
• Double Hurdles (Theory and Practice)
 Value of Management Research in Business
Decision
The uncertainty can be reduced with the help of information/
suggestion provided by the research.
Therefore, research drives every aspects of major decision
making.
In the managerial decision making, research provides the fools
and supports in different dimensions.
Some of the dimensions are
1. Identify the problem
2. Diagnosing and assessing the
problems and opportunities
3. Selecting the best course of action
4. Implementing a course of action
5. Evaluating the course of action
 Applying the Scientific Thinking in Management
Problem
Scientific thinking refers to the goal focused problem solving,
step-by-step logical, organized and rigorous method that
helps to identify problems, gather data, analyze data and
draw the conclusion.
Scientific thinking tends to be more objective than subjective.
Research is purposive and rigorous.
By using scientific thinking in research, more accurate result
can be drawn.
Management problems are the problems faced by the
organization.
Organizations are based on the society.
Therefore, management problems are more social in nature
as they are directly connected with the human behaviour.
Human behaviour differs as per the situation or context.
There are difference in perceptions and feeling of the people.
Therefore, there are some problems faced in research
when scientific methods are used in social science research.
Those scientific methods are used in management
research.
While using the scientific methods in management
research some problems are faced .
Those problems arise due to follows reasons.
1. Complexity of subject matters
2. Difficult to obtain correct measurement
3. Subjectivity of social events
4. Emotional tendency
5. Vested interest of the researcher
6. Misconceived impression of society
7. Qualitativeness of social events
8. Lack of universality of social events
 Ethical Concern in Research
Ethics are the norms or standards of behaviour that guide
moral choice about our behaviour and relationship with
others.
It refers to those assumptions based on which a person
decides anything as right or wrong.
Researcher should decide about the right or wrong.
Ethical issues are determined by the behaviour presented
by the researcher.
If the behaviour presented by the researcher is
out of values and norms of research, then it is
considered as non-ethical behaviour.
Such non-ethical behaviour puts pressure to the
respondents.
In research, ethical issues should be considered
while selecting sample, collecting and analyzing
data, and preparation and presentation of
report.
Some of the ethical concerns of research are as follows.
1. Not putting pressure to participants for getting
information,
2. No deception of participants,
3. Not fabricating the data,
4. Not presenting dishonesty,
5. No manipulation,
6. No illegal work,
7. No discrimination,
8. Respect of intellectual property
9. Respect to social and cultural norms and values,
10.Protecting the participant right.