COURSE OUTLINES

Unit I
Definition and Applications of Business
Research
Unit II
Research Design
Unit III
Sampling
Unit IV
Introduction to Hypothesis Testing

Q: 1 Please write in the paper:

Do

you think

what is research?

RESERACH
Re

---------------- Search
Re
means (once more, afresh,
anew) OR (back; with return to a previous
state)
Search
means (look thorough or go
over thoroughly to look something) OR
(examine to find anything concealed)

SAMSUNG CEO WANTS TO LAUNCH ITS

COMPANY IN PAKISTAN?

HE IS IN A PROCESS OF
DECISION MAKING

CONCEPTS OF RESEARCH

Consider the following case which is an example of

research:
A general manager, of a car producing company
which is quite old ,was concerned with the complaints
received from the car users that the car they produce
have some problems with rating sound at the dash
board and the rear passenger seat after few thousand
kilometers of driving.

CONCEPT

He enquired with customers to know their

behaviour of driving and to identify the lot where
the problem existed
He obtained information from the company
workers to identify the various factors
influencing the problem.
He then formulated the problem and generated
guesses (hypotheses).
He constructed a checklist and obtained
requisite information from a representative
sample of cars.
He analyzed the collected data, interpreted the
results in the light of his hypotheses and
reached conclusions.

CONCEPT

Notice in the example above that the

researcher went through a sequence of steps
which were in order and thus systematic.
Secondly, the researcher did not just jump at the
conclusions, but used a scientific method of
inquiry in reaching at conclusions.
The two important characteristics of research
are: it is systematic and secondly it follows a
scientific method of enquiry.

WHAT IS RESEARCH
Collecting data in an organized and controlled
manner so as to arrive at valid decisions.
Analyzing data appropriate to the problem.
Drawing conclusions and making
generalizations.

Business research involves establishing objectives and

gathering relevant information to obtain the answer to a
business issue. You can conduct business research to answer
a business-related question, such as: What is the target
market of my product? Business research can also be used to
solve a business-related problem, such as determining how to
decrease the amount of excess inventory on hand. Adequate
planning and information-gathering are essential to derive
results for your business.

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HIGH QUALITY RESEARCH!

It is based on the work of others.

It can be replicated (duplicated).
It is generalizable to other settings.
It is based on some logical rationale and tied to
theory.
It is doable!
It generates new questions or is cyclical in
nature.
It is incremental.

THEN WHAT IS BAD RESEARCH?

The opposites of what have been discussed.

Looking for something when it simply is not to
be found.
Plagiarizing other people's work.
Falsifying data to prove a point.
Misrepresenting information and misleading
participants.

WHY DO WE NEED RESEARCH?

To get PhDs, Masters and Bachelors degree

To provide solutions to complex problems
To investigate laws of nature
To make new discoveries
To develop new products
To save costs
To improve our life
Human desires

PURPOSE OF RESEARCH
Market point of view, since research has to be
seen from some angle: Gauge the market mood
Forecast the future scenario
Give direction to cos marketing efforts & saves
from making a mistake
Thus a art of scientific investigation or
systematic efforts to gain new knowledge.

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RESEARCH CHARACTERISTICS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.
7.
8.

Originates with a question or problem.

Requires clear articulation of a goal.
Follows a specific plan or procedure.
Often divides main problem into subproblems.
Guided by specific problem, question, or hypothesis.
Accepts certain critical assumptions.
Requires collection and interpretation of data.
Cyclical (helical) in nature.

SCOPE OF BUSINESS RESEARCH

It covers a wide range of phenomenon
For managers: the purpose of research is to
fulfill the need for knowledge of the
organization, the market, the economy, or any
other area of uncertainty
For development and implementation of plans
and strategies

It helps decision makers to shift from intuitive

information gathering to systematic and
objective investigation
Business research encompasses all functional
specialties: financial, economic, marketing,
production

CONSTRUCTS
A construct is an image or idea specifically
invented for a given research or a theory
building purpose
Construct is formed by combining the simpler
concepts

EXAMPLE
A human resource analyst in a software
company that employs technical writers is
analysing task attributes of a job in need of a
redesign
She knows that job description of a technical
writer consist of three componentspresentation quality, language skill, and job
interest

CONSTRUCT COMPOSED OF CONCEPTS IN A JOB

REDESIGN
Most
Abstract

Job Interest
Construct

Vocabulary
Syntax

Level of
Abstractio
n

Spelling

Lang. Skill
Construct
Presentation quality
Construct
Manuscrpit
error
Format
accuracy

Most
Concrete

Typing
speed

DEFINITIONS
Nominally
definitions are dictionary definitions of
concepts

Operationally
definitions describe how concepts are or will be
measured for research purposes

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION

A very clear and very precise explanation of the

items being measured or the terms that are
used to ensures comprehensible knowledge of
the terminology and the ability to operate a
process, procedure, or service and/or collect
data consistently and reliably.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS

Before we can test our hypotheses we need to

establish operational definitions for our variables.
This is the next step after defining concepts in
our hypotheses.
Operational definitions are very specific.
There can be disagreement over these
operational definitions across researchers. This
is permissible as long as the definitions are clear

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION EXAMPLE #1

Hypothesis: "Higher rates of literacy make democracy

more likely."
Defining concepts: Literacy: "the completion of
enough education to be expected to read." Democracy:
"a system of government in which public officials are
selected in competitive elections.

Operational definitions: Literacy: "the % of people in

a country that have completed at least 6 years of formal
education." Democracy: "a country where the 2nd place
finisher for the most powerful political office received
at least 25% of the vote."

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION EXAMPLE #2

Hypothesis: "Highly educated people tend to be

liberal."
Defining concepts: Highly educated: "at least
some college education." Liberal: "believing the
government should help those who are less welloff."
Operational definitions: Highly educated: "has
completed at least 2 years of education at a
college or university." Liberal: "answers 'yes' to
the question 'Should the government provide
low income housing for poor citizens?'"

APPLICABILITY OF RESEARCH
Research methods are set & developed by R.
methodologists & every profession uses these
methods in varying amounts, thus validity of
findings entirely depends upon the soundness of
the RM adopted.
This applicability is not restricted, usually it is
considered from 4 different perspectives: The service providers
The service administrator, manager & planner
The service consumers
The professional

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SHORTCOMINGS OF BUSINESS RESEARCH

While research is highly useful to guide business decisions,

managers should use it with an awareness of potential
weaknesses. Many errors can arise in the research process. For
example, if a problem is inaccurately stated in a particular
study, the questions researchers ask may not be relevant to the
business actual challenges.
In another situation, the variables business researchers are
able to examine may not actually be useful for making
conclusions. Its important to remember that research is often
only as good as the data available, and that it must sometimes
be used with caution.

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Q:2
Why

is it important for
managers to know about
research?

MANAGER AND RESEARCHER.

Solve problems
Decision making tool
Global and domestic competition is more
vigorous
Risk
Organizations are increasingly practicing data
mining and data warehousing
Hire researchers and consultants more
effectively

IMPORTANCE TO RESEARCH
Hypotheses are designed using concept
Measurement concepts are devised to test the
hypothetical statements
Data is gathered by using this measurement
concept

The success of research is on

How clearly conceptualize
And how well others understand the concepts
we use

EXAMPLE

Qs. Give the estimate of your (respondents)

family income.

This question may seem simple but we will get

varying and confusing answers unless we
restrict and narrow the concept by specifying.
Time period-weekly, monthly, annually
Before or after Income tax
For head of the family only or for all the
members.