Introduc)on to Research
ResearchMethods
Learning Objectives
•  What is research and what different types are
available?
•  The difference between good and poor research
•  Research philosophies
•  How to formulate solid hypotheses
Blumberg,B.,Cooper,D.andSchindlerP.(2014)BusinessResearch
Methods.Mac-GrawHill.
What is Business Research?
•  A systematic inquiry, the objective of which is to
provide information to solve managerial problems.
Blumberg,B.,Cooper,D.andSchindlerP.(2014)BusinessResearch
Methods.Mac-GrawHill.
Why Study Research?
•  Research provides you with the knowledge and skills
needed for the fast-paced decision-making
environment
Blumberg,B.,Cooper,D.andSchindlerP.(2014)BusinessResearch
Methods.Mac-GrawHill.
The Value of Acquiring
Research Skills
•  To gather more information before selecting a course of
action
•  To conduct a high-level research study
•  To understand research design
•  To assess the quality of research studies
•  To establish a career as a research specialist
Blumberg,B.,Cooper,D.andSchindlerP.(2014)BusinessResearch
Methods.Mac-GrawHill.
Types Of Studies
Used To Do Research
•  Reporting
provides account or summation of data
•  Descriptive
answers who, what, when, where and sometimes how questions
•  Explanatory
theory based answering why and how questions
•  Predictive
theory based attempting to predict future events
Most business / management studies are descriptive or
explanatory.
Blumberg,B.,Cooper,D.andSchindlerP.(2014)BusinessResearch
Methods.Mac-GrawHill.
Different Styles of Research
•  Applied Research
more directed to provide the base for immediate
managerial decisions
•  Pure Research / Basic Research
more directed to solve theoretical problems and
paradoxes
Blumberg,B.,Cooper,D.andSchindlerP.(2014)BusinessResearch
Methods.Mac-GrawHill.
What is Good Research?
Following the standards of the scientific method:
•  Purpose clearly defined
•  Research process detailed
•  Research design thoroughly planned
•  Limitations frankly revealed
•  High ethical standards applied
Blumberg,B.,Cooper,D.andSchindlerP.(2014)BusinessResearch
Methods.Mac-GrawHill.
What is Good Research? (cont.)
Following the standards of the scientific method
(cont.):
•  Adequate analysis for decision-maker’s needs
•  Findings presented unambiguously
•  Conclusions justified
•  Researcher’s experience reflected
Blumberg,B.,Cooper,D.andSchindlerP.(2014)BusinessResearch
Methods.Mac-GrawHill.
rom Decision Problems to Research
roblems
Management/Decision
Problem:
•  WhatDoWeNeedtoDo?
Whatshouldbedonetoarrest
thedeclineinmarketshareof
BankX?
ResearchProblem:
•  WhatDoWeNeedto
Know?
Whicharethestrengthsand
weaknessesofBankXwithrespectto
compePtors?
MalhotraandBirks2007:41-42
rom Research Problems to Research
bjec)ves
ResearchProblem
• WhatDoWeNeedto
Know?
Whicharethestrengthsand
weaknessesofBankXwithrespectto
compePtors?
ResearchObjecPve:
• WeneedtoknowX
DeterminetherelaPvestrengths
andweaknessesofBankX,vis-àvisothermajorcompePtors
inIreland.
MalhotraandBirks2007:41-42
Is Research always problem-solving based?
•  AppliedResearch:
•  emphasisonpracPcalproblem-solving
•  moredirectedtoprovidethebaseforimmediatemanagerialdecisions
•  E.g.IsCompanyXana9rac:veacquisi:ontarget?
•  BasicResearch
•  emphasisongeneraPngtheorythatwillsetacontextforsubsequentpracPcalproblem-solving
•  moredirectedtosolvetheorePcalproblemsandparadoxes
•  E.g.Whichspecificcompanycharacteris:csrenderitana9rac:veacquisi:ontarget?
Inanutshell:Yes,researchisalwaysorientedtowardsolvingproblems.
BothappliedandbasicresearchneedtobescienPfic.
Blumberg,CooperandSchindler2014:11-1
Characteris)cs of scien)fic research (I)
•  Purposeclearlydefined
•  Managementproblem:thestarPngpoint
•  ResearchproblemàresearchobjecPve:unambiguousandclear
•  Researchprocessdetailed
•  DescribeproceduresinsufficientdetailtoallowthereplicaPonofresearch
•  Researchproposal
•  IdenPficaPonofsources–descripPonofmethodologicaldetails
•  Researchdesignthoroughlyplanned
•  Everythingisplannedinadvance(literaturereview,sampling,datacollecPontoolsetc.)
Blumberg,CooperandSchindler2014:12-1
Characteris)cs of scien)fic research (II)
•  Highethicalstandardsapplied
•  Ethicalissues:moralconcerns,parPcipants’safety
Seealso:Consequencesof
FakingData[intextbook]
•  Limita:onsfranklyrevealed
•  AcknowledgelimitaPons
•  EsPmatetheireffectonresearchfindings
•  Adequateanalysisfordecisionmaker’sneeds
•  Findingspresentedunambiguously
•  Clearandpreciselanguage,‘hedging’
•  EfforttoachievemaximumobjecPvity
Blumberg,CooperandSchindler2014:12-1
Characteris)cs of scien)fic research (III)
•  Conclusionsjus:fied
•  Conclusionsmuststrictlyderivefromthefindings
•  NopersonalinterpretaPons
•  Researcher’sexperiencereflected
•  Researcherprovidesexperience/credenPalswithreport
Seealso:Areyouagood
researcher?[intextbook]
Blumberg,CooperandSchindler2014:12-1
Are you a good researcher?
Yes
Doyouopendoorstoseewhatisbehindit?
Ifpeopleactstrangely,Iaskthemwhytheydoso?
DoyoulookthingsupindicPonariesorencyclopaedias?
Doyougoonholidaytothesameplace?
Do you like to take the other side in a discussion just to tease the other with
“brilliant”arguments?
AreyoueasilysaPsfied?
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DoyouquesPonnumberspresentedinnewspaperarPcles?
□
No
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Blumberg,B.,Cooper,D.andSchindlerP.(2014)BusinessResearchMethods.
GrawHill.
References/ Reading
•  Blumberg,B.,Cooper,D.andSchindlerP.(2014)BusinessResearch
Methods.Mac-GrawHill.Chapter1
•  Zikmund,W.G.,Babin,B.J.,Carr,J.C.&Griffin,M.(2012)Business
ResearchMethods.CengageLearning.Chapter1
•  O'Leary,Z.(2004)TheEssenOalGuidetoDoingResearch.Sage.
Chapter1
•  Malhotra,N.K.&Birks,D.F.(2007)MarkeOngResearch:AnApplied
Approach.PearsonEducaPonLimited.Chapter1