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CHAPTER-2
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FORMULATION OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

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&
DEVELOPMENT OF THE RESEARCH
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HYPOTHESES
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RESEARCH METHODOLO G Y CONCEPTS
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Defining the research problem

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A research problem can be defined as a gap or

uncertainty in the decision makers’ existing body
of knowledge which inhibits efficient decision
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making. The gap could be academic & theoretical

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(basic) or real time and action oriented (applied).

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DDRR DDEEEEPAPA K CH
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Problem identification process

Management Decision Problem
D

Discussions Review of Organization Qualitative

with subject existing Analysis analysis
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experts literature
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Management Research Problem / Question

Research framework / Analytical model

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Statement of Research Objectives

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Formulation of Research Hypothesis

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Decision problems Research
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problems
DECISION PROBLEM RESEARCH PROBLEM*
1. What should be done to increase the 1. What is the awareness and purchase
D

customer base of organic products in the intention of health conscious consumers for
domestic market? organic products?

2. What is the impact of shift duties on work

2. How to reduce turnover rates in the BPO exhaustion and turnover intentions of the BPO
sector? employees?
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3. How does Widex/ industry leader manage its

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3. How to improve the delivery process of supply chain in India/Asia?

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Widex hearing aids in India?

4. What is the satisfaction level of the company
4. Should the company continue with its with the existing vendor? Are there any gaps?
existing security services vendor or look at an Can they be effectively handled by the vendor?
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alternative?
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5. What is the current investment in Real Estate

5. Can the Housing and real estate growth be and Housing? Can the demand in the sector be
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accelerated? forecasted for the next six months?

6a. what has been the Leadership initiatives

6. Whom should ICICI choose as its next and performance record of ABC viz. XYZ?
Managing director- Mr ABC or Mrs. XYZ? 6b. Can a leading aggressive private sector
bank accept a woman as its leader?

R E S E A R C H M E T H O D O L O G Y CONCEPTS AND
RESEARCH CONCEPTS AND
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Problem identification process

Management decision problem: the issue/decision that
D

needs to be resolved through research

Discussion with experts: to get the right perspective on
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the issue, discussion/dialogue is held with

subject/industry expert.
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Review of literature: the most valuable source of

framing the research question is to review the past
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work done on related topic(s).

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Qualitative surveys: primary exploratory loosely

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structured surveys to attain the environmental context.

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Problem identification process

Management research problem: the four steps
D

might lead to multiple directions/research

problems the researcher can take.
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The researcher has to identify THE alternative

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he/she will undertake

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Theoretical model building (optional)

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Statement of research objectives

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Elements of a research problem

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Unit of analysis

Independent variable
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Dependent variable
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Extraneous independent variable

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Intervening variables

Moderating variables

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The research hypotheses

A hypotheses is any assumption/presupposition
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that the researcher makes about the probable

direction of the results that might be obtained on
the completion of the research process
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Descriptive hypotheses: This is simply a

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statement about the magnitude, trend, or

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behaviour of a population under study.

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Relational hypotheses: These are the typical

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kind of hypotheses which state the expected

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relationship between two variables.

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Criteria for hypotheses formulation

In simple, declarative statement form
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Measurable and quantifiable

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Is essentially a conjectural statement

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Has underlying assumptions on the testing of the

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stated relationships
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 D RD RD EDEEPA
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A D
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N ESEONNA D HSIOI N D H I I

RESEARCH
RESEARCH METHODOLO
CONCEPTS
G Y CONCEPTS
ANDAND
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