RESEARCH METHODS

FOR BUSINESS:
A Skill-Building Approach

Instructor: Dr. Nur Arfah Mustapha

Contact no.: 017-6163501
 Course Description
This is a specialization course, graded and it carries 3
(three) credit hour units. Class attendance is required as
per academic regulations. It is both qualitative and
quantitative in nature designed to enhance strategic,
analytical, and inquisitive approach of applying knowledge
acquired in other functional areas of the MBA curriculum.
The emphasis therefore is on PROCESS without sacrificing
contents though it may differ in vigorous treatment as data
gathering and analysis.
 Course Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students should be able to: 
1. Illustrate Business Research Procedures to undertake and complete
a more advance independent course, namely, APPLIED
BUSINESS RESEARCH (ABR 794/796) in a group setting.
(PLO1, C2)
2. Demonstrate teamwork skills within diverse team members in doing
a research proposal (PLO5, A3)
3. Integrate information management and lifelong learning skills in
research related decisions in response to changes in
domestic and global economy. (PLO7, A4)
 Teaching Methodology
Teaching
Critique
Discussion
Assessment
Type of
Assessment Assessment Description Weight
Group Assignment Article Review (10%) (Group) 10%
Research Progress (20%) (Group) 20%
Group Project Research Proposal-Report 30%
  Research Proposal -Presentation 10%
Midterm Individual [situation based] 20%
Peer Evaluation Research Proposal team members’ 10%
Evaluation
  Total 100%
 Assessment
Assessment Details %
Assignment 20
-Form groups of 2-3 students. Collaborate with a company which
(Research
Proposal: their research will be based on. Initially students will identify a
Progress) researchable key issue which the company is currently facing
(Group)
and solicit information on the company background.
- Elements of the research proposal will be developed to mirror
the lecture coverage on the applied research process Marketing
Case (relevant to the course content)
-A minimum of 3 checks is needed based on chapter 1,2 and 3.
All feedback will be responded by the group to improve their
proposal for the final submission and presentation.
- The draft proposal progress will be compiled and submitted in a

management file for grading at the end of the semester.

Assessment Details %
Article 20
Requirement & Guidelines:
Review
(Group) -Year of publication: < than 5 years old from the current
year
-Length of article: minimum 6 pages
- Articles must be in the student’s area of research such
as brand effectiveness, staff retention etc.
-Type of article: Empirical
-Review: 2-3 pages (1.5 spacing, font 11 Arial)
-Minimum 2 articles- Maximum 4 articles
-Must be done in class to observe the group dynamics
Assessment Details %
Group 40
Report and Presentation
Project
(Finalized Requirement &Guidelines:
research
Length of report: 6000 to 8000 words (excluding
proposal)
references& appendices)
References must use The American Psychological
Association (APA) format
All reports must be accompanied by a plagiarism
check report ( i.eTurnitin). Plagiarism Similarity
Index should be < 30%
Students must utilise and incorporate any relevant
strategic management/marketing tool(s) in their
research project’s Academic Construct.
Mid-term 20
Assessment Duration of assessment: 3 hours
(Individual)
 Format: Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of study
1.2 Background of industry
1.3 Background of company
1.4 Statement of the problem
1.5 Research Objectives
1.6 Research Questions
1.7 Scope of the study
1.8 Significance of the study
1.9 Limitations of Study
1.10 Definition of terms
 Format: Chapter 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Background of the research area
2.2 Concept and definition of key components of the research area
2.3 Individual sections on each component of the research area
2.4 Related Studies
2.5 Summarize to conclude
2.6 Strategic tools
2.7 Theoretical framework/ Academic Construct
 Format: Chapter 3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 The research design (purpose, type, unit of analysis & time
horizon)
3.2 The sampling design (target population, sampling technique &
sample size)
3.3 Data sources (primary & secondary sources)
3.4 The instrument for the research ( sections, scaling technique)
3.5 Operationalization of variables
3.6 The fieldwork and data collection method
3.7 The data analysis
3.8 Application of Strategic tools
3.9 Time frame (Gantt Chart)
3.10 References [70% < 5 years old]
 Recommended Text
Sekaran, U. & Bougie, R. (2016).Research Methods for Business – A
Skill Building Approach, 7th Edition. John Wiley & Sons

Additional Text
1. Zikmund, W.G. (2013).Business Research Methods, 9th Edition.
South Western
2. Coakes, S.J. (2012).Analysis Without Anguish with SPSS V20,
1stEdition. John Wiley & Sons
1. SPSS Surviving Manual, http://spss.allenandunwin.com.s3-website-
ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/ downloaded 15 April 2018
1. Hair, J. F., Babin, B. J., Anderson, R. E.,&Black, W. C.
(2013).Multivariate Data Analysis. Pearson New International Edition,
Pearson education Ltd, Harlow, United Kingdom.
 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION TO
RESEARCH
 What is Research?
A systematic and organized effort to
investigate a specific problem that needs a
solution. It is a series of steps designed
and followed, with the goal of finding
answers to the issues that are of concern
to us in the work environment.
 Business Research
In business, research is usually primarily
conducted to resolve problematic issues
in, or interrelated among, the areas of
accounting, finance, management, and
marketing.
 Types of Research
Applied research
Basic or fundamental research
 Managers and Research
Being knowledgeable about research and research
methods helps professional managers to:
1. Identify and solve small problems in the work setting.
2. Know how to discriminate good from bad research.
3. Appreciate and constantly remember the multiple
influences and multiple effects of factors impinging on
a situation.
4. Take calculated risks in decision making, knowing full
well the probabilities attached to the different/possible
outcomes.
5. Prevent possible vested interests from operating in a
situation.
6. Relate to hired researchers and consultants more
effectively.
 Scientific Investigation
Scientific research has the focused goal of
problem solving and pursues a step-by-
step logical, organized, and rigorous
method to identify problems, gather data,
analyze the data, and draw valid
conclusions therefrom.
 The Hallmarks of Scientific
Research

1. Purposiveness
2. Rigor
3. Testability
4. Replicability
5. Precision and confidence
6. Objectivity
7. Generalizability
8. Parsimony
The Building locks of Science in Research
Identification
Observation
of problem area

Theoretical framework
Refinement of theory or
(pure research) Network of association
or
Implementation
(applied research)
Hypotheses

Interpretation
of data Constructs
Concepts
Operational definition
Analysis
of data
Research
Data
design
Collection
The Hypothetico-Deductive Method
1. Observation
2. Preliminary information gathering
3. Theory formulation
4. Hypothesizing
5. Further scientific data collection
6. Data analysis
7. Deduction
 Summary
In this chapter we have examined what research
is, considered the two types of research, tried to
understand scientific investigation, what the hypothetico-
deductive method or research involves, why a manager
should know about research, and the advantages and
disadvantages of hiring internal and external teams of
researchers or consultants.
We examine the research process in the next two
chapters.
 CHAPTER 2
STEPS 1 TO 3: THE BROAD
PROBLEM AREA PRELIMINARY
DATA GATHERING PROBLEM
DEFINITION
 The Research Process for Basic and
Applied Research
①
OBSERVATION
Broad area
of research
interest
identified

④ ⑦
③ THEORETICAL
PROBLEM FRAMEWORK ⑤ ⑥ DATA
COLLECTION
DEFINITION GENERATION SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS,
Research OF RESEARCH AND
problem Variables clearly HYPOTHESES DESIGN INTERPRETATION
delineated identified and
labeled

② ⑧
DEDUCTION
PRELIMINARY Hypotheses
DATA GATHERING substantiated?
Interviewing Research question
literature survey answered?
 Broad Problem Area
The broad problem area refers to the entire situation
where one sees a possible need for research and
problem solving.
The specific issues that need to be researched within
this situation may not be identified at this stage. Such
issues might pertain to:
1. Problems currently existing in an organizational
setting that need to be solved.
2. Areas in the organization that a manager believes
need to be improved.
3. A conceptual or theoretical issue that needs to be
tightened up for the basic researcher to understand
certain phenomena.
4. Some research questions that a basic researcher
wants to answer empirically.
 Preliminary Data Collection
Nature of data to be collected
 Background information on the organization
 Information on management philosophy and structural
factors
 Perceptions, attitudes, and behavioral responses

Literature survey
 Reasons for literature survey
 Conducting the literature survey
Identifying the relevant sources
Bibliographical indexes
 Extracting the relevant information
 Writing up the literature review
 Problem Definition
A problem does not necessarily mean that
something is seriously wrong with a current
situation, which needs to be rectified
immediately. A “problem” could simply indicate
an interest in an issue where finding the right
answers might help to improve an existing good
situation. Thus, it is fruitful to define a problem
as any situation where gap exists between the
actual and the desired ideal state.
 Summary
In this chapter, we learned about the first three
steps in the research process: identification of the broad
problem area to be researched, preliminary data
gathering through interviews and literature survey, and
problem definition. The appendix to this chapter offers
information on on-line databases, bibliographical
indexes, APA format for references, referencing previous
studies and quoting original sources in the literature
review section, and some of the most frequently cited
business journals.
In the next chapter we will examine the next two
steps in the research process: theoretical framework and
hypotheses.
 CHAPTER 3

THE RESEARCH PROCESS:

STEPS 4 AND 5: THEORETICAL
FRAMEWORK HYPOTHESIS
DEVELOPMENT
 The Research Process for Basic and
Applied Research
①
OBSERVATION
Broad area
of research
interest
identified

④ ⑦
③ THEORETICAL
PROBLEM FRAMEWORK ⑤ ⑥ DATA
COLLECTION
DEFINITION GENERATION SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS,
Research OF RESEARCH AND
problem Variables clearly HYPOTHESES DESIGN INTERPRETATION
delineated identified and
labeled

② ⑧
DEDUCTION
PRELIMINARY Hypotheses
DATA GATHERING substantiated?
Interviewing Research question
literature survey answered?
The Need for a Theoretical Framework
A theoretical framework is a conceptual model of how
one theorizes the relationships among the several factors
that have been identified as important to the problem.

The theoretical framework discusses the

interrelationships among the variables that are deemed
to be integral to the dynamics of the situation being
investigated.

Developing such a conceptual framework helps us to

postulate and test certain relationships so as to improve
our understanding of the dynamics of the situation.
 Variables
A variable is anything that can take on differing or
varying values. The values can differ at various for the
same object or person, or the values can differ at the
same time for different objects or persons. Examples of
variables are exam scores, absenteeism, and
motivation.

Types of variables:
1. The dependent variable (also known as the
criterion variable).
2. The independent variable (also known as the
predictor variable).
3. The moderating variable.
4. The intervening variable.
 Dependent variable
The dependent variable is the variable of
primary interest to the research. The
researcher’s goal is to explain or predict the
variability in the dependent variable.
 Independent variable
An independent variable is one that influences the dependent
variable in either a positive or a negative way. That is, when
the independent variable is present, the dependent variable is
also present, and with each unit of increase in the
independent variable, there is an increase or decrease in the
dependent variable also.

New product Stock market

success price

Independent variable Dependent variable

Managerial values Power distance

Independent variable Dependent variable

 Moderating variable
The moderating variable is one that has a strong
contingent effect on the independent variable-dependent
variable relationship. That is the presence of a third
variable (the moderating variable) modifies the originally
expected relationship between the independent and the
dependent variables.

Number of books Reading abilities

Independent variable Dependent variable

 Number of books Reading abilities

Independent variable Dependent variable

Parents literacy

Moderating variable

Organizational
Workforce diversity
effectiveness

Independent variable Dependent variable

Managerial
expertise

Moderating variable
 Intervening variable
An intervening variable is one that surfaces between the time
the independent variables operate to influence the dependent
variable and their impact on the dependent variable. There is
thus a temporal quality or time dimension to the intervening
variable. Willingness to learn

Training programs
Growth needs
 Effects for those high in
growth needs
Willingness to learn

Effects for those low in

growth needs

Training programs
Time: t1 t2 t3

Workforce diversity Creative Reading abilities

synergy
Independent variable Dependent variable
Intervening variable

Time: t1 t2 t3

Workforce diversity Creative Reading abilities

synergy
Independent variable Dependent variable
Intervening variable

Managerial
expertise

Moderating variable
 Theoretical Framework
The theoretical framework is the foundation on
which the entire research project is based. It is
logically developed, described, and elaborated
network network of associations among
variables that have been identified through such
processes as interviews, observations, and
literature survey.
 The components of the theoretical
framework
1. The variables considered relevant to the study should be clearly
identified and labeled in the discussions.
2. The discussions should state how two or more variables are
related to each other. This should be done for the important
relationships that are the orized to exist among the variables.
3. If the nature and direction of the relationships can be theorized on
the basis of the findings from previous research, then there
should be an indication in the discussions as to whether the
relationships would be positive or negative.
4. There should be a clear explanation of why we would expect
these relationships to exist. The arguments could be drawn from
the previous research findings.
5. A schematic diagram of the theoretical framework should be
given so that the reader can visualize the theorized relationships.
 Communication among
Cockpit members

Communication between
Ground control and cockpit

Air-safety
violations
Decentralization

Training of cockpit crew

Independent variables Dependent variables

 Communication among
Cockpit members

Communication between
Ground control and cockpit

Air-safety
violations
Decentralization

Nervousness
Training of cockpit crew
And diffidence

Independent variables Intervening Dependent

variables variables
 Communication among
Cockpit members

Communication between Air-safety

Ground control and cockpit violations

Decentralization

Training

Independent variables Moderating variables Dependent variables

 Hypotheses Development
Definition of hypothesis
An hypothesis is an educated guess about a problem’s
solution. It can be defined as a logically conjectured
relationship between two or more variables expressed in
the form of testable statements.

Statement of hypotheses: formats

If then statements → To examine whether the
conjectured relationships or differences exist or not,
these hypotheses can be set either as propositions or in
the form of if-then statements.

Null and alternate hypotheses

The null hypothesis is a proposition that state a
definitive, exact relationship between two variables.
Hypotheses Testing with Qualitative
Research: Negative Case Analysis

Hypotheses can also be tested through qualitative data.

For example, let us say that a researcher has developed
the theoretical framework after extensive interviews, that
unethical practices by employees are a function of their
being ignorant of what is right or wrong, or because of a
need for more money, or because of the organization’s
indifference to such practices. To test the hypothesis that
these three factors are the primary ones that influence
unethical practices, the researcher will look for data that
would disconfirm the hypothesis. When even a single
case disconfirms the hypothesis, he will revise the
theory.
 Summary
In this chapter we examined the four types of
variables: dependent, independent, moderating, and
intervening. We also discussed how theoretical
frameworks are developed and testable hypotheses are
generated therefrom as they relate to both qualitative
and quantitative research. In the next chapter we will
examine the basic research design issues.