Lecture 1:

Overview of business
research
By: Le Nhat Hanh,
PhD in Business Administration
 Agenda
1. Identification of types of
academic and applied research
2. Research process overview
3. Research ethics
4. Research outline
1. Identification of types of academic and
applied research
• Research is a discerning pursuit of the truth—of
knowing the facts.
• Research is a systematic truth seeking
• Business researchers pursue the truth about business
phenomena
• Business research seeks to predict and explain
phenomena that, taken together, constitute the ever
changing business environment.
• Business research is a truth-seeking, fact-finding
function that gathers, analyzes, interprets, and reports
information so that business decision makers become
more effective.
Types of Studies

provide a summation of data, often

recasting data to achieve a deeper tries to discover answers to the
understanding or to generate questions who, what, when, where,
statistics for comparison and, sometimes, how.

Reporting Descriptive

Explanatory Predictive

attempts to predict when and in what

attempts to explain the reasons for
situations an event will occur. Studies
the phenomenon that the descriptive
may also be described as applied
study only observed
research or basic research
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Categories of Research

Applied: applies Basic (Pure): solve

perplexing questions or
research to obtain new knowledge of
discovering an experimental or
solutions for theoretical nature that has
little direct or immediate
immediate impact on action,
problems or performance, or policy
decisions.
opportunities

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2. Research process overview
The terminology used by professional researchers

Conceptual
Concepts Constructs
schemes

Operational
Models
definitions
Terms used
in research
Theory Variables

Propositions/
Hypotheses
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 Theory
A theory is a set of systematically interrelated
concepts, definitions, and propositions that are
advanced to explain and predict phenomena (facts).

Social exchange theory is a

sociological and psychological theory
that studies the social behavior in the
interaction of two parties that
implement a cost-benefit analysis to
determine the relationship outcomes.

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 Model
A model is defined here as a representation of a
system that is constructed to study some aspect of
that system or the system as a whole. Models differ
from theories in that a theory’s role is explanation
whereas a model’s role is representation.
Descriptive model Predictive model: Conceptual framework

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Propositions and Hypotheses

• A proposition is a statement about observable

phenomena that may be judged as true or false.
Example: There is a difference in the application of the
product life cycle concept theory assumptions of small
organisations in South Africa compared to Kotler’s
theory.

• A hypothesis is a proposition formulated for empirical

testing.
Example: There is a positive relationship between
transformational leadership and leader-member
exchange
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3. Ethical obligations of Business
researchers
• strive to communicate effectively and to develop a
consensus regarding the research among all the key actors
involved.
• use the right tool for the job, which means avoiding overly
complex research tools.
• decline a job for which they lack expertise.
• take great care to treat research participants fairly.
• Human resource committees can provide useful reviews
ensuring that the research is carried out in an ethical way.
• strive to communicate simply and clearly.
• Reports and presentations should be prepared with the
level of sophistication of the audience in mind.
• clearly communicate all research limitations.
4. Applied Research: Outline
Title:
Abstract
CHAPTER 01: INTRODUCTION
1.1. Research background and statement of the problem
1.2. Research objectives
1.3. Subject and scope of research

Basic Research:
1.4. Research method
1.5. Research contribution
1.6. Research structure
CHAPTER 02: LITERATURE REVIEW AND HYPOTHESIS DEVELOPMENT
2.1. Definitions
2.2. Theoretical backgrounds (if possible; optional)
2.3. Prior relevant studies
2.4. Research framework and hypothesis development
CHAPTER 03: RESEARCH METHOD

Outline
3.1. Research process
3.2. Measurement scale
3.3. Questionnaire design
3.4. Sample and data collection
CHAPTER 04: DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS
4.1. Sample characteristics
4.2. Assessment of measurement scales
4.3. Assessment of structural model 46
CHAPTER 05: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION 52
5.1. Discussion of results 52
5.2. Research implications 53
5.3. Limitations and further research 56
REFERENCES
APPENDICES
Characteristics of
Good Research
Clearly defined purpose
Detailed research process
Thoroughly planned design
High ethical standards
Limitations addressed
Adequate analysis
Unambiguous presentation
Conclusions justified
Credentials
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