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CHAPTER-1
DR DEEPAK CHAWLA

INTRODUCTION
TO
BUSINESS RESEARCH
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RESEARCH CONCEPTS AND

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What is research?
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Management research is an unbiased,

structured, and sequential method of enquiry,
directed towards a clear implicit or explicit
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business objective. This enquiry might lead to

validating existing postulates or arriving at
new theories and models.
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RESEARCH CONCEPTS AND

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Types of research
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BUSINESS RESEARCH

BASIC RESEARCH APPLIED RESEARCH

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EXPLORATORY CONCLUSIVE RESEARCH

RESEARCH
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DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH CAUSAL RESEARCH

RESEARCH CONCEPTS AND

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Types of research
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Basic research : the basic premise is the need

to KNOW and the concern is primarily academic
in nature.
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Applied research: Solution or action oriented

research, that is contextual and practical in
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approach.

RESEARCH CONCEPTS AND

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Types of research
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Exploratory research is loosely structured and the

basic premise is to provide direction to subsequent,
more structured method of enquiry.
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Conclusive research is structured and definite in

orientation. These studies are usually conducted to
validate formulated hypotheses and specified
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relationships.

RESEARCH CONCEPTS AND


Exploratory vs Conclusive Research
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EXPLORATORY RESEARCH
 Loosely structured in design
 Are flexible and investigative in
methodology
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 Do not involve testing of hypotheses
 Findings might be topic specific and
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might not have much relevance outside
the researcher’s domain
RESEARCH CONCEPTS AND
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CONCLUSIVE RESEARCH
 Well structured and systematic in
design
 Have a formal and definitive
methodology that needs to be followed
and tested
 Most conclusive researches are carried
out to test the formulated hypotheses
 Findings are significant as they have a
theoretical or applied implication.
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Conclusive research
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Descriptive research: The main goal of this type

of research is to describe the data and
characteristics about what is being studied.
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Causal research: Explores the effect of one or

more variables on other variable(s), with
reasonable level of certainty by controlling the
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impact of other influencing variables.

RESEARCH CONCEPTS AND

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The research process Management Dilemma

Basic vs Applied
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Defining the Research Problem

Formulating the Research Hypothesis

Developing the Research Proposal

The Research Framework

Research Design

Data Collection Plan Sampling Plan

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Instrument Design

Pilot Testing

Data Collection

Data Refining and Preparation

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Data Analysis & Interpretation

Research Reporting

Management / Research Decision

RESEARCH CONCEPTS AND

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The research process

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The management decision problem

Defining the research problem

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Formulation of the working hypotheses

Construction of the research proposal

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RESEARCH CONCEPTS AND

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The research process

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Formulating the research design

Sampling considerations
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Collecting the data for the study

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Data analysis and interpretation of findings

RESEARCH CONCEPTS AND

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Research applications in marketing

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Market & consumer analysis

Product research
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Pricing research

 Promotional research
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Place research

RESEARCH CONCEPTS AND

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Research applications in finance

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Asset pricing, capital markets and corporate finance

 Financial derivatives and credit risk modeling research

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Market-based accounting research

Auditing and accountability

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Other areas: financial forecasting, behavioural finance,

volatility analysis

RESEARCH CONCEPTS AND

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Research applications in
human resources
Training & development studies
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Selection and staffing studies

Performance appraisal–design and evaluation

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Organization planning and development

Incentive and benefits studies

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Emerging areas–critical factor analysis, employer

branding studies
RESEARCH CONCEPTS AND
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Research applications in
production & operations management
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Operation planning and design

Demand forecasting and demand estimation

Process planning
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Project management and maintenance effectiveness

studies
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Logistics and supply chain-design and evaluation

Quality estimations and assurance studies

RESEARCH CONCEPTS AND

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Criteria for research

 MUST have: a clearly stated research purpose/ objective
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 MUST have: a sequential plan of execution

 MUST have: a logical and explicitly stated justification for

the selected methods

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 MUST have: an unbiased and neutral method of conduct

and reporting
 MUST have: complete transparency and ethical conduction
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of the research process

 MUST have: provision for being reliable & replicable

RESEARCH CONCEPTS AND

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END OF CHAPTER
DR DEEPAK CHAWLA
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RESEARCH CONCEPTS AND