Business Research Methods

Dr. Ambreen Ahmed Lecture 1

 Course Description

• This course intends to introduce the basic terminology and concepts

of research in the field of business and management science.

• It covers research process, defining problem, reviewing literature,

using qualitative and quantitative tools to collect the data and

perform suitable analysis.

• It describes the basics of writing and presenting a research report,

citation and referencing style.

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 Course Objectives

1. Introduce basic concepts related to conducting basic and applied

research.

2. Develop the skills to pursue research in various fields of business and

management.

3. Read, understand, and utilize the scholarly work available in research

journals and conference proceedings.

4. Understand the practical needs and problems of the business world.

5. Utilize the tools of research in real-business problems.

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 Learning Outcomes

LO1: Develop the Research Problem and write the problem setting

LO2: Define the research problem and develop research questions

LO3: Access information and search the scholarly literature and cite them

LO4: Develop the research design and methodology to conduct quality

research

LO5: Collect primary and secondary data and perform analysis

LO6: Prepare and present research findings in the form of a report

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 Books
Text Books:
• Research Methods for Business by Uma
Sekaran, Wiley & Sons, 5th edition
• Research Methods for Business Students by
Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis, and Adrian
Thornhill, 8rd edition, Pearson Education

Reference Book(s):
• Business Research Methods by Donald R.
Cooper and Pamela S. Schindler, 9th
edition, McGraw Hill

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 Assessments
Midterm 25%
Final 40%
Assignment 10%
Proposal 10%
Project* 15%

Teaching and Learning Methods

• Formal classroom lectures
• Class discussion
• Presentations
• Corporate Business Project

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Research is…

OR

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 Research is easier for those who…?
Title: Title:

…Do Something Every Day

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 What would you choose?

Pain OR Pain
of of
Discipline? Regret?

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 Unit of Unit of
measurement measurement
DISCIPLINE? REGRET?
OUNCE TONNE!

CHOOSE WISELY
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Research – An overview

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Class Activity – 1 (2 minutes)

What is research?

Write three sentences or words which

come to your mind with the word
‘Research? ’

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 Defining Business Research

A process of det[..]ining, acquiring, ana[..]zing, syn[..]sizing,

and disseminating relevant business data, information, &
ins[..]ts to decision makers in ways that mobilize the
organization to take appropriate business actions that
maximize business perf[..]ance.
Definition by Cooper

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 More definitions

• Research is the process of • An organized, systematic,

finding solutions to a problem crit[..]al, objective, scientific

after a thorough study and inquiry or investigation into a

analysis of the sit[..]tional specific problem, undertaken

factors. with the propose of finding

answers or solutions to it.

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 Typical Users of Business Research Methods

• Businesses and Corporations

• Consulting Firms
• Research institutes
• Non-Governmental Organizations
• Independent Researchers and Consultants

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 Selected Examples of real-life situations in which
Business Research Methods are used

A firm wants to produce and market a new product but first it wants to
ascertain if there is a potential consumer demand for this product in
chosen markets

 A multinational firm wants to establish a production facility in another

country after determining its technical and economic feasibility

A government agency wants to ascertain the satisfaction level of its

employees, the causes for any possible discontent, and propose a
scheme for enhancing this level

The CEO of a firm wants to undertake a SWOT-Analysis as part of his

plan to redefine his organization’s priorities 16
 Class ACTIVITY -2 (5 minutes)

• Write down two real-life situations

where you think research can be

applied.

• The situation should have our local

flavour.

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 Basic V Applied Research

Basic Research/Pure Research aims to expand the frontiers of

knowledge by verifying or disproving the acceptability of a
given theory or attempting to discover more about a certain
concept (non-specificity)
Example: How does motivation affect employee performance?
Applied Research focuses on a real-life problem or situation with
a view to helping reach a decision on how to deal with it
(Specificity)
Example: Should Corporation X adopt a paperless office
environment?

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 Basic V Applied Research: Purpose

Purpose of Basic Research Purpose of Applied Research

• Expand knowledge of • Improve understanding of a

processes of business particular business or

management problem
and management
• Results in a solution to a specific
• Knowledge is not limited
(business) problem
• Findings of significance
• New knowledge limited to the
and value to society in problem
general • Findings of practical relevance and
value to managers in organizations

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A comparison of the attitudes of BBA students

and MBA students towards the general

education requirements at SZABIST Karachi

Applied

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Teenager self-esteem and bonding

with parents.

Basic

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Challenges of introducing a 4-day work
week to reduce overheads in consumer
banking.

Applied

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The effectiveness of counselors who have
been once-divorced as compared with
other counselors at a women’s shelter.

Applied

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 Class Activity - 3 (5 minutes)

• Write one example of basic and applied

research.
• You may work in pairs

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Characteristics of Good Research
Clearly
Clearly defined
defined purpose
purpose
Detailed
Detailed research
research process
process
Thoroughly
Thoroughly planned
planned design
design
High
High ethical
ethical standards
standards
Limitations
Limitations addressed
addressed
Adequate
Adequate analysis
analysis
Unambiguous
Unambiguous presentation
presentation
Conclusions
Conclusions justified
justified
References
References

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 Process of Research

Analysis and
Proposal Literature Research Data
Introduction Managerial
Development Review Methodology Collection
Implications
Project Group Formation

• 4-5 Students per group

• Based on your area of Interest.
Selection of Research Topic

• Beginning researchers often

Organizational Global
performance Warming
pick a broad and general topics,
thinking that it is easier to do
Eating
Face Time
research.. Disorder

• But some topics are too big

Brand Physical
Perception Fitness
• Consider these examples

Media Employee
Violence Productivity

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 Problems with the Big Topics

• You will not be able to cover large topic in one semester or

• You will not be able to cover large topic in a brief paper

• You will be overwhelmed with research material

• You cannot research or write about a topic if you cannot define

clearly

Solution-Ask Questions
Who? What? Where? When? How?

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Narrow it down...

What Kind of
Benefit?
Reduce
Blood Reduce
Pressure Stress

Benefits of
Exercise

Improve Lose weight

Mental
Health

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Narrow it down further…

Who might Benefit?

Overweight women
people
Benefits of
Exercise

Elderly
smokers

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Some topic options…

The missing link between exercise and overcoming addiction to smoking

OR

Exercise: The secret of improved self esteem in overweight young adults

OR

…..? Benefits of
Exercise

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 Select Any Topic of your Interest and Narrow
down it……

To Narrow Down your Topic Focus On:

• A Single Event

• A specific Group

• A Limited Time Period

• One Cause or Effect

• One argument or Viewpoint

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Using Google Scholar

• Topic Selection

• Searching for papers

• https://www.lifewire.com/web-search-tricks-to-know-4046148
Criteria for choosing your research
topic
• Something that you have a genuine interest in
• Something that makes you curious
• Something you are capable of undertaking
• Something in which you will not lose interest in 4 months
• Something that develops research skills

You are capable of

accessing data for it
THANK YOU

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