Business Research Methods

Chapter Two: Types & Business

Research Process
Section One

Types of research
 Types Of Research
• Exploratory
• Descriptive
• Causal
 Uncertainty Influences
The Type Of Research

COMPLETELY ABSOLUTE
CAUSAL OR EXPLORATORY
CERTAIN AMBIGUITY
DESCRIPTIVE
 Degree of Problem Definition
Exploratory Research Descriptive Research Causal Research
(Unaware of Problem)(Aware of Problem) (Problem Clearly Defined)
possible situation

“Our sales are declining and
we don’t know why.”
“Would people be interested
in our new product idea?”
“What kind of people are buying “Will buyers purchase more of
our product? Who buys our our products in a new package?
competitor’s product?”
“Which of two advertising
“What features do buyers prefer campaigns is more effective?”
in our product?”
 Exploratory Research
• Initial research conducted to clarify and define
the nature of a problem
• Does not provide conclusive evidence
• Subsequent research expected
Exploratory Research

Secondary data

Experience survey

Pilot studies

7
 Descriptive Research
• Describes characteristics of a population or
phenomenon
• Some understanding of the nature of the
problem
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.”
--Rudyard Kipling

9
 Causal Research
• Conducted to identify cause and effect
relationships
 Identifying Causality
• Evidence of causality:
1. The appropriate causal order of events
2. Concomitant variation-two phenomena vary
together
3. An absence of alternative plausible explanations
Section Two

Research Stages
 Research Stages
• Cyclical process - conclusions generate new
ideas
• Stages can overlap chronologically
• Stages are functionally interrelated
– Forward linkages
– Backward linkages
Problem Discovery Problem Selection of
and Definition discovery Sampling
technique
Sampling

Selection of
exploratory research
technique Probability Non-probability

Secondary
Experience Pilot Case Collection of
(historical) Data
survey study study data
data Gathering
(fieldwork)

Data
Editing and
Problem definition Processing
coding
(statement of and
Analysis data
research objectives)

Data
Selection of processing
Research Design basic research
method Conclusions
Interpretation
and Report
of
findings
Experiment Survey
Secondary
Laboratory Field Interview Questionnaire Observation
Data Study
Report
 Problem Discovery And Definition
• First step
• Problem, opportunity, or monitor operations
• Discovery before definition
• Problem means management problem
“The formulation of the problem is
often more essential than its
solution”

Albert Einstein
 Experience Case
Secondary Pilot Study
Survey
(historical) Study
Data

Exploratory
Research
 Exploratory Research Techniques
Two Examples
• Secondary data (historical data)
– Previously collected
– Census of population
– Literature survey
• Pilot study
– A number of diverse techniques
Focus Group Interview
 Research Design
• Master plan
• Framework for action
• Specifies methods and procedures
 Basic Research Methods
• Surveys
• Experiments
• Secondary data
• Observation
 Selecting a Sample

Sample: subset SAMPLE

of a larger population.

POPULATION
 Sampling
• Who is to be sampled?
• How large a sample?
• How will sample units be selected?
Data Gathering Stage
Data Processing and Analysis
 Conclusions And Report Writing
• Effective communication of the research
findings