Dr Rajeshwari Patil

PGDM (PM&HRD)
Unit 1.C

Research process

(a) Problem Definition to Report Writing

1.3 Research process

1 Defining Research problem

2 Reviewing Literature

3 Formulating Hypothesis

4 Designing Research

5 Collecting Data

6 Analyzing data

7 Preparing Reports
 Unit 1.C: Problem Definition to Report Writing
Problems versus symptoms of problems
It is very important that symptoms of problems are not defined as the real problem. For instance, a
manager might have tried to decrease employee turnover (the best people are leaving the
organization) by increasing wages, but with little success. Here the real problem may be something
else such as the low motivation of employees who feel they do not have enough control over their
work. The high turnover rate may merely be a symptom of the deep ‐rooted motivational problem.
Under these conditions, in the long run, a higher salary will not affect employees ’ intentions to leave.
Thus, finding the “right” answer to the “wrong” problem definition will not help. Hence, it should be
recognized that correct problem identification is extremely critical for finding solutions to vexing
issues. Frequently, managers tend to describe the problem in terms of symptoms. Rather than
accepting it as such, the researcher needs to identify the problem more accurately
 Unit 1.C: Problem Definition to Report Writing

. “5 Whys” or “5 Times Why”. 5 Whys

will help you to get to the root cause (the most basic cause) of a problem (via preliminary research).
Developed by the Japanese industrialist Sakichi Toyada, the idea is to keep asking “Why?” until the
most basic cause is arrived at.
Let’s go back to our example to illustrate this approach.
My best employees are leaving the organization.
Why? Because they are not satisfied with their jobs.
Why? Because they do not find a challenge in their jobs.
Why? Because they do not have control over their work.
Why? Because they do not have a lot of influence over planning, executing, and evaluating the work they
do.
Why? Because we have been reluctant to delegate.
Note that the number five is a general guideline for the number of whys needed to get to the root cause
level, but asking “Why?” five times versus three, four, or six times is not a strict requirement. What
matters is that we investigate recurring problems by addressing true causes and not symptoms
Unit 1.C: Problem Definition to Report Writing
 Unit 1.4 Management - Research Question Hierarchy

The process of Management - Research Question Hierarchy is designed to move the research
through various levels of questions, with specific function within the overall business research
process.
 Unit 1.4 Management - Research Question Hierarchy
There are six steps to the management research
question hierarchy for a management dilemma that
can be faced at work.

Step 1: Management Dilemma: Example:

Here you try to answer that what factors have An increased number of complaints have been
resulted in the current problem? What received regarding a product due to delay in its
environmental factors have stimulated the issue? delivery.

Step 2: Management Question: Example:

How can management fully eliminate the factors What can be done so that the delay in delivery of
that are causing this problem? How can they avail the product does not occur again?
the opportunity?

Step 3: Research Question:

By taking which course of action can the Example:
management eliminate the factors that are causing Should the delivery service be switched to another
the problem? What course of action is available so company?
that opportunity can be availed?
 Unit 1.4 Management - Research Question Hierarchy
There are six steps to the management research
question hierarchy for a management dilemma that
can be faced at work.

Step 4: Investigative Question: Example:

Which alternate is most suitable for the managers Which specific delivery company can be used for the
in order to avail the opportunity? delivery of this product?

Step 5: Measurement Question: Example:

How can the questions be measured? What needs to What is the approximate delivery time of the best
be asked or observed for the information needed to delivery company in the city?
solve the problem and the management research
question?

Step 6: Management Decision: Example:

Based on the findings gained from the research, Based on the data gathered, should the company
what action course should the management take? switch to a new delivery company or not?
 Unit 1.4 Management - Research Question Hierarchy

The process of Management - Research Question Hierarchy is designed to move the research
through various levels of questions, with specific function within the overall business research
process.

Case
Wisdom World School entered into a contract with Yoscholar to provide online supply of
uniforms and books to students studying in WWS.
The initiative of online order and delivery were welcomed by parents, because parents could
plan their vacations with ease. However, the initiative failed miserably- mismatch of orders
size and delivery, payment failure etc. were the complains that the parents raised.

Develop a Management - Research Question Hierarchy

Unit 1.5 Research proposal
Unit 4

Research Design

(a) Definition and function of a research design

(b) Exploratory design
(c) Descriptive / Diagnostic design
(d) Causal design: Experimental, Quasi-experimental (e)
Correlational design
 Definition and Function Of A Research Design

A research design can be described as a conceptual structure within which research is going to be carried out.
It comprises the blueprint for the collection, measurement and analysis of data.
Decisions with regards to what, where, when, how much, by what means concerning an enquiry or a research design are
taken.

The key elements of a good research design are as under :

a. Research Design is a plan which identifies the sources and kinds of information strongly related to the research problem.
b. It is a strategy indicating which method is going to be employed for collecting and analyzing the data.
c. Additionally, it consists of the time and cost budgets because most research is done under these two constraints.

 In a nutshell a research design must contain

a. A clear statement of the research problem.
b. Methods and techniques to be utilized for gathering information from the population to be researched.
c. Approach to be utilized in processing and analyzing data.
 Definition and Function Of A Research Design

The type of research problem an organization is facing will determine the research design and not vice-versa.
1. Variables,
2. designated tools to gather information,
3. how will the tools be used to collect and analyze data
4. other factors are decided in research design on the basis of a research technique is decided.
Types of Research Design

i) Exploratory Research

1. Simplest and most loosely structured design

2. Basic objective: to explore and obtain clarity about the problem situation.

3. Flexible in approach.

4. Involves qualitative investigation

5. The essential purpose of this study

1. Define and conceptualize the research problem
2. Explore and evaluate the diverse and multiple research opportunities
3. Develop hypothesis
4. Identify possible nature of relationship between variable.

6. Example:
A study on employee experience and its impact on retention.
Types of Research Design

i) Exploratory Research

Methods of conducting exploratory

1. Secondary sources
2. Unstructured and structured observations
3. Expert interview
4. Focus group discussion.
 Types of Research Design

ii Descriptive Research
 In a descriptive research design, a researcher is solely interested in describing the situation or case under his/her research
study.

 It is a theory-based research design which is created by gather, analyze and presents collected data.

 By implementing an in-depth research design such as this, a researcher can provide insights into the why and how of
research.

 Three main purposes of descriptive studies can be explained as describing, explaining and validating research findings.

 Examples of Descriptive Research

 Research questions in descriptive studies typically start with ‘What is…”.

 What are the most effective intangible employee motivation tools in hospitality industry in the 21 stcentury?

 What are the main distinctive traits of organisational culture of McDonald’s?

Types of Research Design

ii Descriptive Research : Methods of conducting Descriptive Research

Descriptive Research is further divided into

1. Cross Sectional Studies
2. Longitudinal Studies
Types of Research Design

iii Experiment Research Design

an experiment is a type of study designed specifically to answer the question of whether there is a causal relationship
between two variables.

In other words, whether changes in an independent variable cause changes in a dependent variable.

Experiments have two fundamental features.

1. The first is that the researchers manipulate, or systematically vary, the level of the independent variable. The different

levels of the independent variable are called conditions. Manipulates independent variable

2. The second fundamental feature of an experiment is that the researcher controls, or minimizes the variability in,

variables other than the independent and dependent variable. These other variables are called extraneous variables. 

Controls extraneous variable

Types of Research Design
iii Experiment Research Design

An experiment is a type of empirical study that features the manipulation of an independent variable, the measurement
of a dependent variable, and control of extraneous variables.

Control of extraneous Variable.

Consider the example ………..
•  a researcher with a sample of 100 university students might assign half of them to write about a traumatic event and
the other half write about a neutral event.
•  the sample should include a similar proportion of men and women, and they should have similar average intelligence
quotients (IQs), similar average levels of motivation, similar average numbers of health problems, (extraneous
variables)
• Matching is a matter of controlling these extraneous participant variables across conditions.
• The primary way that researchers accomplish this kind of control of extraneous variables across conditions is
called random assignment, which means using a random process to decide which participants are tested in which
conditions.
• Random assignment is a method for assigning participants in a sample to the different conditions, and it is an
important element of all experimental research
Types of Research Design
iii Experiment Research Design

Random assignment to conditions in between-subjects experiments or to orders of conditions in within-subjects

experiments is a fundamental element of experimental research. Its purpose is to control extraneous variables so that
they do not become confounding variables.
Types of Research Design
iv Quasi-experimental

Experimental research is appropriate when the researcher has a

a. specific research question or hypothesis about a causal relationship between two variables
b. it is possible, feasible, and ethical to manipulate the independent variable
c. randomly assign participants to conditions or to orders of conditions.

What if these conditions cannot be met……………….

the choice between the experimental and no experimental approaches is generally dictated by the nature of the research
question.

1. The research question or hypothesis can be about a single variable rather than a statistical relationship between two
variables (e.g., How accurate are people’s first impressions?).
2. The research question can be about a noncausal statistical relationship between variables (e.g., Is there a correlation
between verbal intelligence and mathematical intelligence?).
3. The research question can be broad and exploratory, or it can be about what it is like to have a particular experience
(e.g., What is it like to be a working mother diagnosed with depression?).
Types of Research Design
iv Quasi-experimental

1. In quasi-experimental research, the researcher manipulates an independent variable but does not randomly assign
participants to conditions or orders of conditions.

2. For example, a researcher might start an antibullying program (a kind of treatment) at one school and compare the
incidence of bullying at that school with the incidence at a similar school that has no antibullying program.

3.  The prefix quasi means “resembling.” Thus quasi-experimental research is research that resembles experimental
research but is not true experimental research. 

4. Quasi-experiments are most likely to be conducted in field settings in which random assignment is difficult or
impossible.

5. They are often conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a treatment—perhaps a type of psychotherapy or an
educational intervention.
Types of Research Design
v Correlational design

Correlational research is a type of nonexperimental research in which the researcher measures two variables and
assesses the statistical relationship (i.e., the correlation) between them with little or no effort to control extraneous
variables.

Two reasons that researchers interested in statistical relationships between variables would choose to conduct a
correlational study rather than an experiment when
1. they do not believe that the statistical relationship is a causal one. (the terms independent variable and dependent
variable do not apply to this kind of research.) 
2. the researcher cannot manipulate the independent variable 
 Research process: The Management Dilemma

 The management dilemma is usually a symptom of an actual problem,

such as:
1. Rising costs.
2. Declining sales.
3. A larger number of product defects during the manufacture of an automobile.
4. An increasing number of letters and phone complaints about post purchase.

 The management dilemma can also be triggered by an early signal of an opportunity or growing evidence that a trend may
be gaining staying power.
 Identifying management dilemmas is rarely difficult.
 Choosing one dilemma on which to focus may be difficult.
 Choosing incorrectly may result in a waste of time and resources.
Research process: Defining the research Problem

 Most important step in the research process is to identify the path of enquiry in the form of research problem.
 A research problem can be defined as a gap or uncertainty in the existing knowledge which inhibits efficient decision
making.
 A formulation of the research problem includes narrowing down the research area and formulating the objectives
 The formulation of the problems consists of the following steps
1. Identify a broad research area of your interest.
2. Dissect the broad area into sub area.
3. Select one of the sub area
4. Raise Research questions
5. Formulate the objectives