Management Research

Methods
Research

 Research refers to a search for knowledge.

 Research is a systematic process of inquiry that involves
the collection, analysis, and interpretation of information
to gain knowledge and insights on a particular topic or
problem.
 Example: A study conducted to determine the effectiveness
of a new teaching method in improving student learning
outcomes.
Business Research

 Systematic and objective process of gathering, recording, and

analysing data to aid in making business decisions(Zikmund,
2007).
 Cooper and Schindler (2009) defines business research as a
systematic enquiry that provides information to guide
managerial decisions.
 Example: A company conducting market research to understand
customer preferences for a new product they are planning to
launch.
OBJECTIVES OF BUSINESS RESEARCH

1. Understand the Market: Grasp market trends, consumer

behavior, and competition.
2. Improve Decision-Making: Provide insights for informed
strategic decisions in areas like product development and
marketing, and other areas.
3. Risk Identification and Management: Identify potential risks
and challenges, allowing businesses to develop strategies for risk
mitigation and resilience.
4. Operational Improvement: Analyze internal processes and
systems to identify opportunities for efficiency gains and
operational enhancements.
5. Innovation and Adaptation: Stay current with technological
advancements, industry changes, and emerging opportunities,
fostering innovation and enabling businesses to adapt to evolving
circumstances.
Nature of Business Research
1. Systematic Inquiry: It involves a structured and organized process of inquiry, including defining the
problem, collecting data, analyzing information, and drawing conclusions in a systematic manner.
2. Problem-Solving Orientation: It is often driven by the need to address specific business problems,
make informed decisions, or gain insights to improve business performance.
3. Applied Focus: Business research is practical and applied, aiming to provide solutions and insights that
are directly relevant to the challenges and opportunities faced by businesses.
4. Empirical Basis: It relies on empirical evidence and data gathered through observation,
experimentation, surveys, or other methods to support or refute hypotheses and draw meaningful
conclusions.
5. Decision-Making Support: Supports decision-making processes within the business, guiding strategic
planning and operational choices.
6. Ethical Considerations: Ensuring the integrity, honesty, and fairness of the research process, including
the treatment of participants and the reporting of results.
7. Dynamic and Evolving: The business environment is dynamic, and research in this field needs to adapt
to changes, technological advancements, and shifts in market trends.
Role of Management Research

 Identify the consumer response to the company’s product.

 Testing of New Products.
 Know the consumers’ needs and expectations.
 Seek maximum information about the consumer, i.e. the
know consumers’ income range, their location, buying
behaviour, etc.
 Avoids Business Failure.
 Check the reaction of the dealers to the company policies.
 Evaluate the reputation of the company in the market.
 Identify and solve the marketing problems of the company.
 Search for new marketing opportunities.
 Find out alternative uses of the existing products.
 Estimate the cost of marketing of goods and service.
 TYPES OF RESEARCH

1. Descriptive Research
Describes characteristics of a population or phenomenon without looking for cause-effect
relationships.
Example: A survey that reports the average daily screen time of teenagers.
2. Exploratory Research
Investigates a problem or topic to gain insights and discover ideas for further study.
Example: Conducting focus groups to understand why customers prefer a new product.
3. Applied research
Solves practical problems or addresses immediate needs in the real world.
Example: Developing a new software tool to improve hospital scheduling systems.
4. Fundamental Research
Expands basic knowledge and understanding of a subject without immediate practical application in
mind.
Example: Studying the properties of a new material to understand its potential uses in future
technologies.
5. Quantitative Research
Uses numerical data and statistical methods to answer research questions.
Example: A nationwide survey that collects and analyzes data on household income levels.
6. Qualitative Research
Focuses on understanding concepts, experiences, or behaviors through non-numerical data
like interviews and observations.
Example: In-depth interviews with employees to explore their job satisfaction and work
environment.
7. Conceptual Research
Explores and develops theories, models, and frameworks within a field of study.
Example: Developing a new theoretical model to explain consumer behavior in digital
marketplaces.
8. Empirical Research
Gathers evidence from direct observation or experiments to make conclusions.
Example: Observing classroom behavior to assess the effectiveness of a new teaching
method.
9. Experimental Research
Involves manipulating one or more independent variables to determine their effect on
dependent variables, typically in a controlled setting.
Example: Testing the effectiveness of a new drug by comparing results between a treatment
group and a placebo group under controlled conditions.
10. Historical Research
Systematically examines past events and documents to understand historical phenomena.
Example: Analyzing archival documents to understand the political climate during the
Industrial Revolution.
RESEARCH CONCEPTS

 Constructs: A construct is the abstract idea, underlying

theme, or subject matter that one wishes to measure using
survey questions.
 Preposition: Statements are statements concerned with the
relationships among concepts. Example: we might propose
that treating our employees better will make them more loyal
employees.
 Variables: Anything that may assume different numerical
values; the empirical assessment of a concept.
 Hypothesis: Formal statement of an unproven proposition
that is empirically testable. A hypothesis is a guess. Eg: A
Sales manager may hypothesize that the salespeople who are
highest in product knowledge will be the most productive.
Construct

A construct is an abstract idea or concept that researchers want to

measure or explore.

Example:
In a study on job satisfaction, "employee motivation" is a construct that
represents an underlying idea about how driven employees feel at
work.
 A preposition (often referred to as a
proposition in research contexts) is a
statement about the relationship
between two or more constructs or ideas.

prepositio
Example:
n A researcher might propose that "if
employees receive more recognition at
work, then they will be more engaged."
Here, the relationship between
recognition and engagement is the focus.
Variables

Variables are measurable elements or factors in research

that can take on different values. They are used to
empirically assess constructs.

In a study measuring employee performance, "number of

sales" might be a variable. It takes on different numerical
values and is used to quantify performance.
Hypothesis

A hypothesis is a formal, testable statement predicting a relationship

between variables. It is an educated guess that researchers can test
with data.

Example:
A sales manager might hypothesize that "salespeople with the
highest product knowledge will have the highest sales numbers."
This hypothesis sets a prediction that can be empirically tested by
comparing product knowledge and sales performance.
Stages in the Research Process

OPTION 2
OPTION 1
 Identifying the Problem
 Defining the research objectives
 Reviewing the Literature
 Planning a research design
 Determining the Research Design
 Planning a sample
 Defining the Sample and Data
 Collecting the data Collection
 Analysing the data  Data Analysis and Interpretation.
 Formulating the conclusions and  Drawing Conclusions and
preparing the report Recommendations
 Preparing the Research Report
 Presenting the Findings
Literature review

 A directed search of published works, including periodicals, articles, and books, that
discusses theory and presents empirical results that are relevant to the topic at hand.
 A literature review is a critical analysis and synthesis of existing research and
scholarly articles on a specific topic or research question.
 The main purpose of a literature review is to provide a comprehensive overview of
the current state of knowledge on a particular subject, identify gaps in existing
research, and highlight areas where further investigation is needed.
Types of literature review
1. Narrative Literature Review: Example: Summarizes and discusses the key findings and concepts
from various studies without a formal structure.
2. Systematic Literature Review: Example: Follows a structured and rigorous methodology to
systematically identify, evaluate, and synthesize relevant studies on a specific topic.
3. Meta-analysis: Example: Quantitatively combines data from multiple studies to draw statistical
conclusions about a particular research question.
4. Meta-synthesis: Example: Qualitatively analyzes and interprets findings from multiple qualitative
studies to generate new insights or theories.
5. Scoping Review: Example: Provides a broad overview of the existing literature on a topic,
identifying key concepts, sources, and gaps.
6. Integrative Review: Example: Combines findings from diverse methodologies (quantitative and
qualitative) to present a more comprehensive understanding of a research topic.
7. Critical Review: Example: Evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of existing research, focusing
on methodological flaws, biases, and limitations.
8. Conceptual Review: Example: Examines theoretical frameworks and concepts related to a specific
topic without necessarily focusing on empirical studies.
Research Problem

 A research problem refers to a specific issue,

question, or gap in knowledge that requires
investigation and analysis through a research
study. It defines the objective of the research and
guides the research process.
 Research Problem: "Assessing the Impact
of Air Pollution on Respiratory Health in
Delhi"
 India is known for its significant air pollution challenges, and
Delhi, the capital city, frequently experiences high levels of air
pollution.
 This research problem focuses on investigating the effects of
air pollution on respiratory health in Delhi's population.
 The study would aim to analyze the relationship between air
pollution levels (such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide,
etc.) and respiratory health outcomes (such as respiratory
symptoms, lung function, and respiratory diseases) among
individuals living in Delhi.
 The research would contribute to understanding the health
implications of air pollution in urban areas and could help
inform policy measures and interventions to mitigate the
adverse effects of air pollution on public health.
 Criteria for Identifying Research Problem
 Topic of research selected should be within the range your resources and time
 Data should be accessible
 Selected research problem should have a solution
 Research methodology should be manageable and understandable
 The research problem should of sufficient magnitude and scope to fulfill the requirements that
motivate the study
 The research problem should have enough variables
 The researcher should have interest in the problem area
 The selected topic should be within the researchers knowledge and skills
 The selected problem should be of theoretical importance and fill gaps in literature
 It should contribute to the advancement of knowledge
 It should meet publication standards
Source of research problem
 Existing theory
 Existing literature
 Discussion with experts
 Previous research study
 Replication
 The media
 Personal experience
 Internet
Research Hypothesis

 A research hypothesis is a tentative statement or

proposition that predicts or explains the
relationship between two or more variables.
 It is formulated based on existing theories, prior
observations, or the researcher's intuition, and it
serves as a starting point for empirical
investigation.
Example

 Hypothesis: "Increased physical exercise leads to improved

cognitive performance in elderly individuals."
 In this example, the researcher is proposing that there is a positive
relationship between physical exercise and cognitive performance
among older adults.
 They expect that if elderly individuals engage in more physical
exercise, their cognitive abilities will show improvement.
 The hypothesis can be tested through empirical research, such as
conducting an experiment or an observational study, to gather
data and analyze whether the predicted relationship exists.
Example
 Vice-president (HR) of a Company wants to know the effectiveness of a training
programme which has organised for all its 70,000 employees based at 130
different locations in the country.
 Contacting all these employees with an effectiveness measurement questionnaire
is not feasible.
 So the Vice-President (HR) takes a sample size of 629 from all the different
locations in the country.
 The result that is obtained would not be the result from the entire population but
only from the sample.
 The Vice-President (HR) then set an assumption that “ training has not enhanced
efficiency” and will accept or reject this assumption through a well-defined
statistical procedure known as hypothesis testing.
Characteristics of Hypothesis

 Hypothesis should be clear and precise.

 Hypothesis should be capable of being tested.
 Hypothesis should state relationship between
variables.
 Hypothesis should be limited in scope and must
be specific.
 Hypothesis should be stated as far as possible in
most simple terms so that the same is easily
understandable by all concerned.
Types of Hypothesis

 Simple hypothesis
 Complex hypothesis
 Directional hypothesis
 Non-directional hypothesis
 Null hypothesis
 Associative and casual hypothesis
 Simple Hypothesis: It shows a relationship between one dependent
variable and a single independent variable.
For example – If you eat more vegetables, you will lose weight
faster. Here, eating more vegetables is an independent variable, while
losing weight is the dependent variable.

 Complex Hypothesis: It shows the relationship between two or more

dependent variables and two or more independent variables. Example:
Eating more vegetables and fruits leads to weight loss, glowing skin,
reduces the risk of many diseases such as heart disease, high blood
pressure, and some cancers.
 Directional Hypothesis:
It shows how a researcher is intellectual and committed to a particular
outcome. The relationship between the variables can also predict its nature.
For example- children aged four years eating proper food over a five year
period are having higher IQ level than children not having a proper meal. This
shows the effect and the direction of effect.
 Non-directional Hypothesis:
It is used when there is no theory involved. It is a statement that a
relationship exists between two variables, without predicting the exact nature
(direction) of the relationship.
 Null Hypothesis
It provides the statement which is contrary to hypothesis. It’s a
negative statement, and there is no relationship between independent and
dependent variable. The symbol is denoted by “H0”.
 Associative and Causal Hypothesis
Associative hypothesis occurs, When there is a change in one variable
resulting a change in the other variable. Causal hypothesis propose a cause and
effect interaction between two or more variables.
Null Hypothesis

 A In the context of hypothesis testing, both the null hypothesis and the
alternative hypothesis are considered research hypotheses. They serve
different purposes in the hypothesis testing framework.
1. Null Hypothesis (H0): The null hypothesis is a statement of no effect or no
relationship between variables. It represents the default position or the
status quo. Researchers often formulate the null hypothesis with the
intention of rejecting it based on evidence. For example:
 H0: "There is no significant difference in test scores between students who
receive tutoring and those who do not."
Alternative Hypothesis

2. Alternative Hypothesis (Ha or H1): The alternative hypothesis is a statement

that contradicts or challenges the null hypothesis. It suggests the presence of
an effect or a relationship between variables. Researchers aim to gather
evidence to support the alternative hypothesis. For example:
 Ha: "Students who receive tutoring have significantly higher test scores
compared to those who do not."
FORMULATION OF HYPOTHESIS
Procedure for Testing a Hypothesis
 Setting null and alternative hypothesis
 Determine the appropriate statistical test
 Set the level of significance
 Set the decision rule
 Collect the sample data
 Analyse the data
 Decision.
The structure of hypothesis testing

 Define the research hypothesis for the study.

 Explain how you are going to operationalize (that is, measure or operationally define)
what you are studying and set out the variables to be studied.
 Set out the null and alternative hypothesis (or more than one hypothesis; in other words, a
number of hypotheses).
 Set the significance level.
 Make a one- or two-tailed prediction.
 Determine whether the distribution that you are studying is normal (this has implications
for the types of statistical tests that you can run on your data).
 Select an appropriate statistical test based on the variables you have defined and whether
the distribution is normal or not.
 Run the statistical tests on your data and interpret the output.
 Reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis.
ERRORS IN HYPOTHESIS

 TYPE I ERROR
 It is the error of rejecting null hypothesis Ho, when it is true. A Type I error is
committed if we reject a hypothesis which is true and should be accepted. Or
Type I error means rejection of hypothesis which should have been accepted.
The probability of making a type I error is denoted by (alpha).
 TYPE II ERROR
 It is the error of accepting the null hypothesis Ho, when it is false. A Type II
error is committed if we accept a hypothesis which is false and should be
rejected. Or Type II error means accepting the hypothesis which should have
been rejected. The probability of making a type II error is denoted by Beta.
FEATURES OF GOOD RESEARCH

Clearly Defined Purpose

Objectivity

Systematic

Empirical

Replicability

Adequate Analysis

High Ethical Standards

Ethical Issues in Research

 Information and Data collected from the respondents should not used for any other purpose or
for any other research work.
 Researcher should not force any respondent for answer.
 Protection of data or Confidentiality of data.
 In case of personal or sensitive questions, researcher should give time to the respondents to
think about it, and refuse to participate in the study.
 Proper, unbiased and accurate information collection.
 The researcher should collect information for specific marketing research and should not use
data for any other purpose such as to attempt sale of merchandise or service.
 Researcher should protect anonymity and confidentiality of information collected from the
respondents.
 There will be no intentional or deliberate misrepresentation of research methods.
 Interviewer should not use gathered information for personal use or gain or advantage.
 Interviewer should conduct the interview as per the instructions and specification received.