Chapter Three

THE RESEARCH PROCESS

3-1

Research Process
Development of Research questions Research Proposal Data Collection Data Analysis Research Report

3-2

The Management-Research Question Hierarchy 6

Management Decision

4
3 2 1

Measurement Questions Investigative Questions

Management Questions Research Questions

Management Dilemma

3-3

Working with the Hierarchy

Management Dilemma The symptom of an actual problem Not difficult to identify a dilemma, however choosing one to focus on may be difficult Management Question Categories Choice of purposes or objective Generation and evaluation of solutions Troubleshooting or control situation

3-4

Working with the Hierarchy

Research Questions
Hypothesis of choice that best states the objectives of the research study

Fine-tuning the research questions is necessary

Examine concepts and constructs Break research questions into specific second-and-thirdlevel questions Verify hypotheses with quality tests Determine what evidence answers the various questions and hypothesis Set the scope of your study

3-5

Working with the Hierarchy

Investigative Questions Questions the researcher must answer to satisfactorily arrive at a conclusion about the research question

3-6

Working with the Hierarchy

Measurement Questions The questions we actually ask or extract from respondents or data

3-7

Research Process Problems

The Favored Technique Syndrome Company Database Strip-Mining Unresearchable Questions Ill-Defined Management Problems Politically Motivated Research

3-8

Designing the Study

Research Design
Select a research design from the large variety of methods, techniques, procedures,and protocols.

Sampling Design
Estimating population values Testing statistical hypotheses

3-9

Resource Allocation & Budgets: Cost

Guides to plan a budget
Project planning Data gathering Analysis, interpretation, and reporting

Types of budgeting
Rule-of-thumb Departmental or functional area Task
3-10

Evaluation Methods :Benefit

Ex Post Facto Evaluation Prior or Interim Evaluation Option Analysis (Cost-benefit analysis)
Several alternatives

Decision Theory
Selection according to a chosen decision rule.

3-11

Contents of a Research Proposal

3-12

Statement of the research question Brief description of research methodology Pilot Testing Data collection Data preparation Data analysis and interpretation Research reporting

Data Collection
Characterized by
abstractness verifiability elusiveness closeness to the phenomenon

Types
Secondary data Primary data
3-13

Final Steps in Research

Data analysis Reporting the results Executive summary Overview of the research (or main body of research) Implementation strategies for the recommendations Technical appendix
3-14