College of Finance, Management and Development

Department of Public Financial Management and Accounting

Research Methodology (PFM3233)

B y:
Emebet Ferede (PhD. candidate)

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Module Learning Outcomes
After successfully completing this module, the students should
be able to:
Understand and explain the general concept of research and
research types.
Acquainted with basic knowledge for scientific reasoning and
solutions for business problems.
Formulate research problems and research objectives.
Prepare research proposal for a project.
Explain the various tools and techniques of research.
Define the sources of data and data collection techniques.
Apply business research methods and data analysis techniques
in doing research.

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Content
1. Concepts of Scientific Research
•Definition of research
•Concepts and characteristics of Research
•Why Study Business Research?
•Purposes of Business Research
•Qualities of Good Research
1.2. Types of Business Research
•Basic research vs Applied research
•Quantitative research vs Qualitative research
•Exploratory research vs Descriptive research
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1.3. The systematic process of Research
• Determining /recognizing a research problem
• Formulating a hypothesis/ research question
• Designing the study
• Developing instrument for collecting data
• Collecting data
• Analyzing the data
• Determining the implications & finding
• 2.8. Making recommendations

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Chapter Two: The Research Problem and
Literature Review
2.1. Research problem
2.2. Literature Review

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Content…Cont’d
3. Developing a Research Proposal
3.1 The purpose of research proposal
3.2 Structure of a research proposal
4. The sources of Data and Data Collection
techniques
4.1 Types and sources of data
4.2 Methods of primary data collection
4.3 Methods of secondary data collection
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Content…Cont’d
5. Sampling Design
5.1 Census and sample survey
5.2 Sampling design
5.3 The Need for sampling
5.4 Steps in sampling design
5.5 Criteria for selecting a sampling procedures
5.6. Types of sample design
5.7 Probability sampling design
5.8 Non probability sampling design

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Content…Cont’d
6. Analysis and Interpretation of Data
6.1 Types of analysis
6.2 Descriptive analysis
6.3 Inferential analysis
6.4 Technique of interpretation

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 Assessments
1) Test……………………………………………. 20%
2) Proposal writing (Individual)……… 20%
3) Literature review (Group) …………. 20%
4) Final exam………………………………… 40%
Total …………………………………… 100%

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 Module delivery methods
• Lecture
• Case analysis
• Reflective activity
• Literature review
• Question and answer

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Chapter 1: Concepts of Scientific Research
Learning Objectives:
•Define the term research.
•Explain the characteristics of research
•Identify the types of research
•Identify the criteria of good research
•Ascertain the research process

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Definition of Research
Research is:
•A systematized effort to gain new knowledge
(Kothari, 2004).
•The process of finding solutions to a problem
after a thorough study and analysis (Sekaran,
2006).
•Systematic inquiry that provides information to
guide decision (Cooper & Schindler, 2001).

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Definition Research … Cont’d
• Research is the systematic process of
collecting, and analyzing information to
increase our understanding of the
phenomenon under study.

• Research is a systematic attempt to obtain

answers to meaningful questions about
phenomena or events through the application
of scientific procedures.

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 Reflective Activity, 5 minutes

Explain the characteristics of

research?

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Characteristics of Research
• Research is directed towards the solution of a
problem.
• Research emphasizes the development of
generalizations, principles, or theories to predict
future occurrences.
• Research is based upon observable experiences
or empirical evidence.
• Research demands accurate observation and
description.
• Research involves gathering new data primary
or first- hand sources or using existing data a
new purpose.
 Characteristics of Research…Cont’d
• Research is characterized by carefully
designed procedures, always applying
rigorous analysis.
• Research requires expertise.
• Research strives to be objective and logical,
applying every possible test to validate the
procedures employed, the data collected, and
the conclusions reached
• Research is characterized by patient and
unhurried activity.
• Research is carefully recorded and reported.
 OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
1. To gain knowledge with a phenomenon or to achieve
new insights into it .
2. To show accurately the characteristics of a particular
individual, situation or a group.
3. To determine the frequency with which something
occurs or with which it is associated with something
else.
4. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between
variables.

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 Reflective Activity, 4 minutes

• Why do a research?

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 MOTIVATION IN RESEARCH

 Desire to get a research degree along with its

consequential benefits;
 Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved
problems,
i.e., concern over practical problems
initiates research;
 Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative
work;
 Desire to be of service to society;
 Desire to get respectability.

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 1.2. Types of Research
1) Applied research/action 2) Fundamental/Basic/Pure
 Concerned with
• aims at finding a
generalizations and
solution for an formulation of a theory.
immediate problem  advancement of knowledge
facing a society or an and the theoretical
industrial/business understanding of the relations
organization among variables.
• Eg. Research to identify Eg. Research concerning some
natural phenomenon or
social, economic or relating to pure mathematics
political trends , market •
research studies, concerning
research human behaviour
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 Types of Research …Cont’d
3) Exploratory research 4) Explanatory Research
 focuses on gaining  aims at establishing
background the cause and effect
information and relationship
helps to better between variables.
understand and
clarify a problem.

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 6)Analytical Research
5) Descriptive Research

 sets out to describe  the researcher uses

and to interpret facts or information
what it is. already available,
 is description of the and analyze these to
state of affairs as it make a critical
exists at present evaluation of the
 the researcher can only material.
report what has
happened or what is
happening.
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7) Quantitative 8) Qualitative:

 is based on the  is concerned with

measurement of qualitative phenomenon,
quantity or amount. i.e., phenomena relating
to or Involving quality or
kind.
 It is applicable to
 aims at discovering the
phenomena that can be underlying motives and
expressed in terms of desires, using in depth
quantity. interviews for the
purpose.
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 Qualitative Research vs. Quantitative Research

Characteristics Qualitative Research Quantitative Research

Participant observation, semi-structured  Laboratory observations,
Typical Data Collection interviews, introspection. questionnaire, schedule or
Methods structured interviews.
  Instruments use more flexible Instruments use more rigid style
To describe variation To quantify variation
Analytical objectives To describe and explain relationships To predict causal relationships
To describe individual experiences To describe characteristics of a
To describe group norms Population
Question format  Open-ended  Closed-ended
Timing of Analysis  Parallel with data collection  After data collection
 Application of  Are rarely used. Methods of analysis are
Standard formulated during the data collection  Standard statistical methods are
Methods of Analysis process. frequently used
There are human characteristics
and processes that constitute a
Nature of reality There are no human characteristics and form of reality in that they occur
processes from which generalizations under a wide variety of
can emerge. conditions
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Criteria of Good Research
• Purpose/ objectives clearly defined in common
concepts
• Procedure enumerated to keep continuity
• Carefully planned design leading to objective results
• Complete frankness; flaws reported and their effect
estimated
• Adequate analysis of data with appropriate methods of
analysis
• Carefully checked data for validity & reliability
• Conclusions confined to those justified by the data
• Confidence, competence/ reputation, experience,
honesty & integrity of researcher
Criteria of Good Research…Cont’d
 A scientific research leads to derivation of the
qualities of good research as follows.
• SYSTEMATIC - Reject the use of guessing & intuition,
but does not rule out creative thinking
• CONTROLLED – Variables are identified & controlled,
wherever possible
• LOGICAL - Guided by rules of logical reasoning &
logical process of induction & deduction
• EMPIRICAL- Provides a basis for external validity to
results (validation)
• REPLICABLE - Verified by replicating the study
• SELF CORRECTING - Built in mechanism & open to
public scrutiny by fellow professionals
1.3. The Research Process
• Formulating a research problem;
• Formulating a hypothesis/ research
question and research objectives
• Preparing the research design (including
sample design);
• Developing instrument for collecting data
• Collecting the data;
• Analysis of data (hypothesis testing if any);
• Interpret and report the results.

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 End of chapter 1

Thank you for your Attention!

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