Research Methods

Session 1

RESEARCH METHODS

Session Handouts

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1. Life

Being Human Beings we live three types of lives that are

o Personal life
o Social life
o Professional Life

2. Change

Irrespective of the type of life we are living in, life is all about changes happening inside us
and around us. We are/have to respond theses changes. These changes either bring
favorable outcomes to or some unfavorable one. These changes can be can be segregated
in following two types

1. Opportunities
2. Threats

Sometimes a same situation can be taken as opportunity or a threat. In either situation we

are in a Problem that how to respond the situation.

3. Problem

Discrepancy between actual and desired state is called problem. In order to respond the
situation, we need knowledge.

that can be access through sources of knwoledge

4. Knowledge

Knowledge is set of information (processed data) that we have or can have using different
sources of knowledge and styles of thinking

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5. Scientific Method

It is a systematic inquiry of collecting observable, concrete data to produce structured

proofs. Scientific Method is a (preferred) way of doing Research

6. What is research

In simple words Re-search means “Search again”

OR
“It is a process if gathering information to answer a question”

What is Business Research?

In simple words It is a systematic and objective process of: Gathering, recording and
analyzing data for making good business decisions.

Examples of Business Research

 What is the best strategy to promote a particular product? (Marketing)
 What are the main reasons for employee turnover? (HRM)
 What is the rate of return on particular investment? (finance)

7. Why to study research

The best reason for learning about research methods is that these methods are used by
Managers to answer questions regarding day to day business problems. Following are some
other implications of the research
1. Management is a Science: Management is a science to gather and interpret information
in order to make effective decisions.
2. Reduce Uncertainty: The prime managerial value of business research is that it reduces
uncertainty by providing the required information and improves the following four
stages of decision making:
a. Identifying problems and opportunity.
b. Diagnosing and assessing problems or opportunities.
c. Selecting and implementing a course of action.
d. Evaluating the course of action.

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3. Conducting a study: Research methods course is very useful for you as you have to do
your master’s thesis in order to complete your degree requirement and it can be helpful
to you at some time in the future because being a professional everyone wants to read
and understand the most recent research in order to be up date their profession.
4. Reading and evaluating other people’s study: A grasp of research terminology will
allow you to read and understand research articles and critically evaluate them. Rather
than reading a summary of someone else’s research in a magazine, news-paper, or
textbook, you can read the original article your-self and draw your own conclusions.
5. Understanding brief descriptions of studies: A research method course will help you
understand abbreviated descriptions of studies given as evidence supporting some
conclusion or theory.
6. Thesis is based on Research: Besides all the business related benefits of the research
studies, it is also useful for your academic requirement of thesis as being compulsory for
your degree.
7. Making decisions in our daily lives: Besides becoming a researcher, to be an effective
participating member of the 21st century one must understand the research process in
order to evaluate and act on research results.
8. Being a better thinker: Research methodology will improve your thinking as it is a
logical and objective method of finding answers to questions which may apply to all
aspects of life.
9. Secrets of success: Finally as described by Aristotle: “The secret of success is to know
something nobody else knows”.

8. When to conduct research

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9. Classification of research

Research is classified on four basis

1. On the basis of Application

2. On the basis of Objective
3. On the basis of Time Dimension
4. On the basis of Inquiry Mode

1. Basic Research: “Research done mainly to enhance the understanding of certain

problems that commonly occur in an organizational setting and seeking methods of
solving them is called basic or fundamental research”
Basic research contributes to the body of knowledge by generating new ideas,
principles and theories which may or may not be immediately utilized.
2. Applied Research: “Research done with the intention of applying the results of the
findings to solve specific problems currently being experienced in the organization is
called applied research” e.g. Reasons to find out decline in sale of certain products.
Applied research is frequently descriptive research, less theory, Central and main
strengths are its immediate practicalities.
3. Exploratory Research: The purpose of exploratory research is to seek new insights
and find out what is happening. There is an attempt to ask questions and asses
phenomena in a new light. A more qualitative approach often underpins this sort of
enquiry and the focus is on obtaining new insights into current situations and issues.
4. Explanatory Research: This research explains a situation or problem, usually in the
form of casual relationships. The focus is on 'Why?' and 'How?'.
5. Descriptive Research: This type of research sets out to provide an accurate profile of
situations, people or events. It focuses on 'what?', 'when?', 'where?', and 'who?',
6. Quantitative Research: Is "a formal, objective, systematic process in which numerical
data is utilised to obtain information about the world“. It is inclined to be deductive,
In that it tests theory.
7. Qualitative Research: Is “an informal, subjective research approach that usually
emphasizes words rather than numbers in the collection and analysis of data” it is
inductive in nature and generates theory.

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Classification of
Research

Time Inquiry
Application Objective
Dimension Mode
Cross-
Basic or Pure Exploratory Qualitative
sectional
Research research research
research

Applied Explanatory Longitudinal Quantitative

Research research research research

Mixed
Descriptive
Methods
research
research

10. How to conduct research

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11. Problem

As human beings, we are curious about the unknowns. We ask many questions and try
to find out answers to them. When you hear a person speaking a different dialect, you
may ask which country the person initially came from. When you see an unusual color a
local lake has, you may ask what type of pollution has caused it. A problem can be
defined as

“The discrepancy between actual and desired state of affaires”

OR

“Issue or obstacle Which makes it difficult to achieve. It refers to situation, condition,

or issue that is yet unresolved”

12. Types of Problem

Every question cannot become a research problem. A research problem has to indicate the
possibility of empirical investigation--that is, of data collection and analysis.

Problems can be classified into four types. They are: "Question-based problems", Situation-
based problems", "Convincing-based problems" and "Solving-based problems". Each of
these types of problem requires a unique approach to tackle and overcome. Let's review
each of them.

1. Question-based problems

These type of problems involve a question that needs an answer. Sometimes it is

difficult to derive the answer as you may not have access to all the relevant data and
facts to make an informed decision. An example: Should the government help
people who are retrenched?

Obviously this question begs further data such as how many people have been
retrenched? Is it a problem that the government should handle? Why and how
should they help them?

Question-based problems usually involve a long term plan of action and one which
requires you to dig for more information and data to help you solve it. It also gives
you an opportunity to delve deeper into the status quo that you are in and to see
how you could improve your current state to the ideal state that you desire.

If you are faced with this type of problem you need to work towards getting as much
facts and data as possible that will allow you to at least try to minimize the problem
and make an informed decision.

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2. Situation-based problems

These types of problems as the word suggest is based on a situation that is currently
causing you a dilemma. For instance, your boss has asked you to work through the
weekend to finish up a project for the company that is worth a million dollars.
However, you've promised to take your family out for dinner to celebrate your
spouse's birthday. You now have a 'situation' here. Such problems can sometimes
cause you to avoid the problem or to try to ignore it. The question that you need to
ask is how are you going to deal with the dilemma?

This is when you need to keep thinking of how if at all you could satisfy these two
contrasting situations. Or to make a decision as to what is more important to you.
Having done this you need to convey your presence of mind to both parties.
Situation based problems might expect you to make choice. In doing so, you need to
weigh the consequences of your decision and as the saying goes to try to choose
"the lesser of the two evil".

3. Convincing based problems

These types of problems put you in a situation where by you might have information
that others don't and a need to convince the others that they should see things your
way. For instance, how do you convince your colleagues that they should not be
coming late for their appointments and meetings always.

There may be a certain amount of sensitivity in such problems as the status quo that
you are in is not an ideal state and might give rise to other problems if you do not
handle it well enough. Convincing based problems requires you to be empathetic to
the others' feeling and to exercise a certain degree of emotional connectivity with
others in order that the can be convinced.

4. Solving based problems

The last in the category is the solving based problems which basically mean that you
have a problem that needs solving. Example: The photocopier machine has broken
down. You have a lot of photocopying to do. There is only one solution here and that
is to solve the problem. The solution option you choose can be either short term,
mid term or long term in effect. For the short term perspective, because you've got
lots of photocopying to do, you might decide to outsource this. As a mid term
remedy you may have to get the photocopier repaired. However this might not
guarantee that it won't break down again in which case you might have to think of a
long term solution of replacing the whole machine.

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Solving based problems usually will involve you being in a current non-desirous state
of being and the need to move to an ideal state of being where the problem is
resolved or if that is not possible at least in a state where the problem can be
minimized.

5. Problem formulation

It is the process of refining, defining and clarifying the problem under consideration so
that specific research questions or hypothesis could be drawn. According to Albert
Einstein

“The formulation of the problem is often more essential than its solution”

a. Problem formulation framework.

The 5 'W's - Who, What, Where, When and Why - is a great tool that helps get
pertinent information out for discussion. From the [poem] from Rudyard Kipling's
"The Elephant's Child" which opens with:

I keep six honest serving-men

(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.

Who - Who does the problem affect? Specific groups, organizations, customers, etc.

What - What are the boundaries of the problem, e.g. organizational, work flow,
geographic, customer, segments, etc. - What is the issue? - What is the
impact of the issue? - What impact is the issue causing? - What will happen
when it is fixed? - What would happen if we didn’t solve the problem?

When - When does the issue occur? - When does it need to be fixed?

Where - Where is the issue occurring? Only in certain locations, processes,

products, etc.

Why - Why is it important that we fix the problem? - What impact does it have on
the business or customer? - What impact does it have on all stakeholders,
e.g. employees, suppliers, customers, shareholders, etc. Each of the answers
will help to zero in on the specific issue(s) and frame the Issue Statement.
Your problem statement should be solveable. That is, it should take a
reasonable amount of time to formulate, try and deploy a potential
solution.

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How – How the data will be collected to respond the problem?, How the data will
be analyzed?

6. Problem Statement

“A problem statement is a clear and concise description of any issue that seeks for
Description, Association or difference of two or more variables”

A good problem statement

 It should "hook" the reader and establish a persuasive context for what follows
 It includes a vision, issue statement, and method used to solve the problem.”
 It expresses the words that will be used to keep the effort focused.
 It should take a reasonable amount of time to formulate, try and deploy a potential
solution.
 It should represent a solvable problem
 The problem must be described sufficiently so that other people can comprehend it.

7. Research questions

Research problem needs to be translated into one or more research questions that are
defined as

“A research question is an interrogative statement that seeks for the tentative

relationship among variables and clarifies what the researcher wants to answer.”

Example

 What is the impact of advertisement on sales of a new product in the market

 What is the annual turnover of employees in Higher educational institutions of
Pakistan
 Does investing in stock market yield more return on investment as compare to
investment in real estate.

7.1 Types of Research questions

1. Descriptive

A question that is answered through summarising data about a single variable

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E.g.: What is the annual turnover of employees in higher educational institutions of
Pakistan

2. Associational

A question that is answered through determining strength and direction of relationship

between two or more variables
E.g.: What is the impact of advertisement on sales of a new product in the market

3. Difference

A question that is answered through comparing and contrasting two groups or variables

E.g.: Does investing in stock market yield more return on investment as compare to
investment in real estate.

8. Research Question Hierarchy

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Example or Research Question Hierarchy

9. Hypothesis

Research hypotheses are predictive statements about the relationship between two
variables

8.1 Types of Hypothesis

There are two types of hypothesis

1. Null Hypothesis

It is the type of hypothesis which relates that there is no relationship/difference

between the two variables. It is denoted by Ho

Ho = There is no relationship between Advertising and Sales

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2. Alternative Hypothesis

It is the type of hypothesis which relates that there is relationship/difference between

two variables. It is denoted by H1 or HA

H1 = There is relationship between advertising and sales

Research question Hypothesis

o Interrogative statement Simple statement

o Non-Predictive Predictive

o Non-Directional Directional

SOME BASIC CONCEPTS

1. Theory
Theory is a standardized principle on which basis we can explain the relationship between
two or more concepts or variables.
PURPOSE OF THEORY
Prediction and understanding are the two purpose of theory.
THEORY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
1. Induction Process
It is a process of developing theory based on limited observations in specific settings
2. Deduction Process
It is process of testing/verifying theory using empirical data in order to generalize the
theory

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LEVELS OF THEORY
There are two levels of theory
1. Abstract level
At the abstract level Concepts and propositions are the elements of theory
2. Empirical level
At the empirical level theory is concerned with variables and testable hypothesis, the
empirical counterparts of concepts and propositions.
3. Concepts
Abstract realities or generalized ideas about objects, attributes, occurrence or processes,
that cannot be measured directly. Concepts are the building blocks of theory.
Examples Motivation, Performance and Satisfaction
4. Variables
Empirical realities that may have varied (different) values that can be measured directly is
called variables
Example:
Gender is a variable because it has two values, female or male.
Age is a variable that has a large number of values. i.e. 20 years, 30 years

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Constant
A constant is a characteristic or attribute of participants or situations that do not varies in a
particular study and carry a single value. For example
Gender is a constant in a study if it is conducted only on males or only on females
Ethnicity is constant if all participants are Asians.

Ex-3: List down at least 10 variables.

Types of Variables (with respect to relationship)
In quantitative research there are two main types of variables
Dependent Variables
A characteristic of respondent that is considered to be influenced by another
event or characteristic during one study is called independent variable. It is
plotted along the x-axis of a graph.
Example: Motivation (Independent variable) of employees affects the
performance (Dependent variable) of employees.
Independent Variables
A characteristic of respondent that is considered to influence another event or
characteristic during one study is called independent variable. It is plotted along
the x-axis of a graph.
Example: Motivation (Independent variable) of employees affects the
performance of employees.

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Ex-4: List down at least five independent variables and five dependent variables
Types of Variables (with respect to Data)

1. Categorical Data

A variable whose values are not numerical in nature

Types of Categorical variable

a. Nominal variable: A categorical variable whose values are not ordered

Example Gender (Male, Female)

b. Ordinal variable: A categorical variable whose values are in ordered

Example Qualification (Metric, inter, graduation)

10. Numerical Data: A variable whose values are numerical in nature

Types of Numerical variable

a. Discrete variable: A numerical variable whose values have same interval

Example collar size 14.5, 15, 15.5……..

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b. Continuous variable: A numerical variable whose values don’t have same
interval

Example Speed 40.1, 45, 67……….

11. Data

Set of raw facts figures is called Data

Example: Age- 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, ……..years

Nationality- Pakistani, Indian, American

Types of Data

CLASS ACTIVITY
In groups of Three

1. Select a research Problem/topic of your interest

2. Refine and clarify it.
3. Write down problem statement (Problem formulation)
4. Write down research question and express its type
5. Develop a model and decide on different types of variables in your model
6. Write down hypothesis (both null and alternative)
7. Decide on the type of data you will collect on each variable.

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