Research Structure and Content

Topic 2

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Learning outcomes
After studying this topic, students should be able to:
a. determine the structure of business research;
b. identify your research problem, state the background of your study, develop
conceptual framework, link conceptual framework with the theoretical
framework;
c. hypothesize problems;
d. make the assumptions in the study;
e. determine what to include in the significance of the study;
f. identify what are your scope and limitations; and
g. know what to include in the definition of terms.

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Structure of
business
research

SBG Business Research Format

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Activity
• Group; 6-7 members
• Discuss possible topic of interest (30 mins)
• Present your topic in class

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Background of the Study
• Macro > Micro
• Global > Regional > National > Local
• Research gap

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Conceptual Framework
• the backbone of the research study; must be anchored to the TF
• the model used to test variables empirically
• all important parts of the research should be anchored to the CF
• title
• problems and subproblems – presented in the Statement of the Problem (SOP)
• objectives
• instrument
• statistical treatment
• 2 parts
• graphical model – shows the relationships of variables in the study
• narrative – CF must state how and where the variables are anchored in the
theoretical framework

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Theoretical Framework
• the structure that can support a theory of a research study
• serves as the guide to evaluate the research problem and the research
questions

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How do you measure (solve) the problem and subproblem/s as
represented by the conceptual framework?
• consider appropriate words to be used to translate the relationships
of the variables into research questions
• research instrument should represent all the research questions

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How do you measure (solve) the problem and subproblem/s as
represented by the conceptual framework?
Words to be used in the research problems Equivalent statistical treatment
1. Level Central tendency
2. Relationship Pearson R (for parametric data);
Kendall’s tau B and Spearman’s rho,
Chi-square (for nonparametric data)
3. Influence/Predict Regression
4. Moderate/Difference T-test, ANOVA
5. Perception Multidimensional scaling, multidimensional unfolding,
and correspondence analysis

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What is a hypothesis?
• statement about an educated guess on the effect of a particular
variable to other variable/s
• effect could be measured in terms of statistical significance (P-value
of 0.05 or less)
• null hypothesis = negative form
• alternative hypothesis = positive form

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Which problem/s should be hypothesized?
• if problems require significance testing (P-value of 0.05 or less) or
statistical measurement (e.g., significant factor loading, significant
beta coefficient), there is a need for hypothesis testing
• if problems are to be addressed descriptively, hypothesis is not
necessary

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How should a null hypothesis be stated
• by adding “No” in the statement
• “There is no significant relationship between variable A and variable B”
• “Variable A does not significantly relate to Variable B”

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What should be assumed in the study?
• The assumption of the study is a supposition about a situation that
does not require to be studied anymore
• It is assumed to be present and observed and there is no need for its
justification through research

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What should be included in the significance
of the study?
• should be arranged either from general (macro) to specific (micro)
significance or vice versa
• macro level = institutions, groups, or associations
• micro level = specific individuals from various fields who will benefit
from the findings of the study

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What should be included in the scope and
limitation of the study?
• discusses briefly what is being covered in the study
• what and who are included in the study
• discusses the limitation that is evident or might be encountered in the
data-gathering and analysis phase
• number of respondents to be surveyed
• financial constraint
• access to relevant information
• unsafe locations

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What should be included in the definition of
terms?
• includes conceptual and operational definition of terms used
extensively in the study
• conceptual definition = intended to clarify the meaning of a particular term
and guide the reader on how it is intended to be used in the study
• operational definition = how a term is technically used in the study and how
such term is applied to the variable/s in the study
• arranged alphabetically

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