Research Lecture Module 4

Week 8
Developing the Investigative Questions and
Linking to the Quantitative Methods of Data
Capture in Management Research

Methods in data collection

Dr. Kofi Nkrumah-Young
MODULE 4 - THE REPORT &
PROPOSAL
On completion of this module, participants will be able
to:
Identify the components of a research proposal
Identify the components of a research report
Present a proposal for a study or a project
 Data Collection Techniques in Business
Quantitative Studies
Questionnaires
Standardised interviews
Qualitative Studies
Semi structured interviews
Open ended questionnaires
Primary documents
Focus group discussions
Observations
Illustration

 PROBLEM
 The Transaction Processing System that is used by the NHT is called International
Comprehensive Banking System (ICBS). When ICBS is down some departments are
unable to carry out their functions effectively. Customers’ accounts cannot be access to
give them up-to-date information and cashiers have to record the transaction manually.
 QUESTIONS
 How does NHT’s TPS affect its productivity?
 Sub-Questions
 What type of TPS does the NHT use?
 What was the level of Productivity before the introduction of the TPS
 What was the level of Productivity after the introduction of the TPS?
 Methodology
 Mixed Strategy
 Method
 Survey and Semi structured interviews
 The Process
Research Sub- Brain Specific
Question questions Storming Investigative
Questions Questions
 Using the Grid
Research Sub- Brain Specific
Question questions Storming Investigative
Questions Questions
What type of transactions
How does NHT’s TPS
affect its productivity?
What type of TPS does
the NHT use? are preformed? Dependent
What is the name of the
system? on the
How are the transactions
processed?
method
What are the functions of
NHT
What was the level of
Productivity before the
introduction of the TPS?

What was the level of

Productivity after the
introduction of the
TPS?
 Using the Grid
Research Sub- Brain Specific
Question questions Storming Investigative
Questions Questions
How does NHT’s TPS What type of TPS does
affect its productivity? the NHT use?

How did you measure

What was the level of
Productivity before the productivity? Dependent
introduction of the TPS? What was the productivity
level? on the
How long does it take to
process a transaction?
method
What was the level of How do you measure
productivity now?
Productivity after the
What is your current level
introduction of the of productivity?
TPS? How often does the
system go down?
Conduction Surveys
What is a surveys research?
Involves acquiring information about one or more
groups of people … by asking them questions and
tabulating their answers. The ultimate goal is to learn
more about a large population by surveying a sample
of that populations. (Leady and Omrod 2005)
Questionnaire
A type of measurement instrument that yields a single
score by arithmetically combining responses to a
number of items (statements/questions with several
possible responses represented on some form of scale),
where each item attempts to measure one aspect of the
factor being measured.
www.ndu.edu/irmc/elearning/primer/glossary.htm
Developing questionnaire
prescribed wording and order of questions, to
ensure that each respondent receives the same
stimuli
prescribed definitions or explanations for each
question, to ensure interviewers handle questions
consistently and can answer respondents' requests
for clarification if they occur
prescribed response format, to enable rapid
completion of the questionnaire during the
interviewing process.
(http://www.fao.org )
 Steps in developing questionnaire
1. Decide the information required.
2. Define the target respondents.
3. Choose the method(s) of reaching your target
respondents.
4. Decide on question content.
5. Develop the question wording.
6. Put questions into a meaningful order and format.
7. Check the length of the questionnaire.
8. Pre-test the questionnaire.
9. Develop the final survey form
 Types of questions
List questions – list from which they can choose – can
choose more than one
Category questions – each answer fits only one category
How often do you visit the centre
Ranking – asks respondents to place things in ranking
order
Rating or scale - Number of statements or questions and a
set of response categories related to a score.
 Examples of Listed Questions
 list from which they can choose – can choose more
than one
 What types of transactions are processed by the
TPS at NHT
a) Mortgage Payments
b) Mortgage Loan processing
c) Refunds
d) Savings
e) Contribution Payments
f) Returns
Example of Category Questions
 list from which they can choose but each answer
must fit only one category
 How long does it take to process a transaction
a) 1-2 minutes
b) 3-4 minutes
c) 5-6 minutes
d) Over 6 minutes
Ranking scale
Rank the performance of the choir on a scale of 1 to 5.
1 being the lowest and 5 the highest
Types of Scales
Likert Scale – ask how strongly they feel
Used in studying attitude
Example - My reaction to the processing speed of the
TPS was
 Very positive (5)
 Positive (4)
 Neutral (3)
 Negative (2)
 Very negative (1)
 Guttman Scale
Cumulative Scale
Measure social distance
Number of statements placed in a hierarchical order
ranging from low to high in such a way that if respondents
reject one all others before would be rejected.
 The order in the Guttman Scale
I believe that this country should allow more immigrants
in.
I would be comfortable with new immigrants moving into
my community.
It would be fine with me if new immigrants moved onto
my block.
I would be comfortable if a new immigrant moved next
door to me.
I would be comfortable if my child dated a new
immigrant.
I would permit a child of mine to marry an immigrant.
Order in administering Guttman
 INSTRUCTIONS: Place a check next to each statement you agree
with.
 _____ I would permit a child of mine to marry an immigrant.
 _____ I believe that this country should allow more immigrants in.
 _____ I would be comfortable if a new immigrant moved next door to
me.
 _____ I would be comfortable with new immigrants moving into my
community.
 _____ It would be fine with me if new immigrants moved onto my
block.
 _____ I would be comfortable if my child dated a new immigrant.
 Semantic differential Scale
Rate single object or idea on a series of bipolar rating
scale.
Would you say that the NHT’s web site is:
 (7) Very Attractive
 (6)
 (5)
 (4)
 (3)
 (2)
 (1) Very Unattractive
Standardised interviews
A questionnaire read by the interviewer
Answers are determined by a set of response
categories given for the purpose (Sarantakos 1998)
 Benefits of Closed Ended Questions
Advantages of Closed-Ended Questions
Quick to answer
Easy to code
No difference between articulate and inarticulate
respondents
Disadvantages of Closed-Ended Questions
Can draw misleading conclusions because of limited range
of options
Researcher / interviewer cannot deal with qualifications to
responses e.g. "Yes, but….." or "It depends" where only
Yes/No are given as options
Activities
Use the grid to develop some brain storming questions
for your research sub-questions
Develop some investigative questions based on the
following
List
Categories
Scaling
Ranking
 Using the Grid
Research Sub- Brain Specific
Question questions Storming Investigative
Questions Questions
What type of transactions
How does NHT’s TPS
affect its productivity?
What type of TPS does
the NHT use? are preformed? Listed
What is the name of the
system?
How are the transactions
processed?
What are the functions of
NHT
What was the level of
Productivity before the Category
introduction of the TPS?

What was the level of

Productivity after the
Category
introduction of the
TPS?
 Using the Grid
Research Sub- Brain Specific
Question questions Storming Investigative
Questions Questions
How does NHT’s TPS What type of TPS does
affect its productivity? the NHT use?

How did you measure

What was the level of
Productivity before the productivity? Dependent
introduction of the TPS? What was the productivity
level? on the
How long does it take to
process a transaction?
method
What was the level of How do you measure
productivity now?
Productivity after the
What is your current level
introduction of the of productivity?
TPS? How often does the
system go down?
HOW TO WRITE A
QUESTIONNAIRE
HOW TO WRITE A
QUESTIONNAIRE
What is your research question?
What do you intend to find out?
How will the information be helpful?
Which issues will relate to the questionnaire
HOW TO WRITE A
QUESTIONNAIRE
Specify your sub questions
list all the things you want to find out
indicate those sub questions to be included in the
questionnaire
refine your list
HOW TO WRITE A
QUESTIONNAIRE
Draft the items
translate questions into items
formulate fill in the blanks, multiple choice, comment
on, list, Likert scale and rank questions
HOW TO WRITE A
QUESTIONNAIRE
Sequence the items
group into topic sections
group by question type
rewrite as necessary
HOW TO WRITE A
QUESTIONNAIRE
Design the questionnaire
 order and number questions
 layout booklet format
 arrange questions on pages
HOW TO WRITE A
QUESTIONNAIRE
Pilot test the questionnaire
clarify wording with respondents
group test the draft questionnaire
discuss the draft questionnaire with the group
revise and retest if necessary

 From: Anderson, G. (1990) Fundamentals of Educational

Research London: Falmer Press