Introduction to Business

Research

Ndalahwa Musa Masanja

Introduction to Business Research
First edition

Due to changing nature of business, business research is important for students as well as
business professionals. This is due to the fact that business research is important for
acquiring information for decision making. All decisions are based on comprehensive facts
from business research.

In this first edition, Dr. Ndalahwa Musa Masanja identifies the important aspects of business
research. The author provides a step by step guide of the process in business research in
relation to identifying key areas in business research. Some of the important topics include:

-introduction of business research

-relevant literature review

- Research Methodology

- Data analysis and interpretation

-Writing the findings of the business research

This outstanding new book provides the common styles and structure of business writing.
With a well-integrated synopsis and comprehensive pedagogy for teaching graduate and
senior undergraduate students, this book is instrumental toward learning business research.

Dr. Ndalahwa Musa Masanja has been teaching in several institutions in the area of research
and therefore, his expertise will contribute towards business research.
Introduction
to Business
Research

First edition

Ndalahwa Musa Masanja

First published 2018
by NMM Printers

Simultaneously published in the Tanzania and Kenya

by NMM Printers
P.O. Box 11239 Mwanza Tanzania
NMM Printers is an imprint of the NMM Group
2018@ Ndalahwa Musa Masanja
Typeset in N and M by Arusha Imaging Systems (P) Ltd, Arusha, Tanzania
Printed and bound in Tanzania by NMM Printers
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any
electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or
in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.
Tanzania Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the Tanzania Library
NMM Cataloging in Publication Data
A catalog record for this book has been requested

ISBN (hbk)
ISBN (pbk)
To A. Masanja

‘‘Business research is an important aspect of any business

endeavor, we cannot make good decision without some research.’’
Ndalahwa. M. Masanja
 About the author

Dr. Ndalahwa Musa Masanja is an expert in Accounting, Management and Higher

education administration. He possesses good interpersonal and communication skills.
He is also experienced in the academic research and business writing. This knowledge
is attributed by serving in different capacities as an Accountant, business manager and
entrepreneur in Tanzania and United States of America. He holds a BBA in
Accounting and Management, and MBA in Accounting from the University of Eastern
Africa Baraton in Kenya. He also has a PhD from Andrews University in USA.
Currently, He is a lecturer at the University of Arusha. Furthermore, he is an Adjunct
lecturer at Jomo Kenyatta University of Science of Technology at Arusha Campus and
a part-time lecturer at MS-TCDC. He has been teaching graduate programs at Institute
of Accountancy Arusha and Dar-es-salaam.

He has been supervising students pursuing research methods in business and projects.
Furthermore, he has been supervising students writing their dissertations and thesis. At
the same time, he has participated as an external examiner for students pursuing their
postgraduate studies. He is a published author in several publications in international
journals. He also has participated in international seminars and workshops on business
research. He is committed and hardworking.
 Contents
List of illustrations xiii
Preface xviii

1 CONCEPTS AND TYPES OF BUSINESS RESEARCH 1

The Meaning of business research 1
The objective and importance of business research 1
The Types of business research 2
Topics covered in this book 13
Summary 17
Review questions 17
Assignment problems 18
Bibliography 18

FORMULATING AND CLARIFYING RESEARCH TOPIC 27

2 FORMULATING AND CLARIFYING THE RESEARCH TOPIC 29

The attributes of a good research topic 29
The strategies for generating and refining research ideas 32
The strategies for turning research ideas into research topics 32
The procedures for writing a research proposal 43
Summary 50
Review questions 51
Assignment problems 51

3 RELEVANT LITERATURE REVIEW 53

The concept and meaning of literature review 53
The importance of literature review in business research 54
The procedures for reviewing literature 56
The ability to review literature for a research project 56
The strategies for finding sources for the literature review 58
Summary 59
Review questions 60
Assignment problems 61

&
CONTENTS

4 DECIDING ON RESEARCH APPROACH 68

The different approaches in business research 68
The rationale of a clear research strategy 75
The strategies for choosing the best research approach and strategy 85
Summary 86
Review questions 87
Assignment problems 88

PART II
RESEARCH APPROACH AND STRATEGY 95

5 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN 97

The meaning and concept in qualitative research design 97
The importance of qualitative research 98
The different types of qualitative research design 99
Case studies 108
Exploratory design 111
Ethnographic studies 113
Summary 114
Review questions 116
Assignment problems 116

6 QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN 119

The meaning and concept in quantitative research design 120
The importance of quantitative research 122
Correlational design 130
Descriptive design
Explanatory design 133
Summary 135
Review questions 136
Assignment problems 136

PART III

7 RESEARCH ETHICS 143

The right to informed consent 143
The right to confidentiality 144
The safety of the researcher and research participants 145
Summary 154
Review questions 155
Assignment problems 156
viii
 CONTENTS

8 SAMPLING METHODS AND TECHNIQUES 159

The meaning and concept of sampling in business research 160
The importance of sampling in business research 166
Probability sampling techniques 167
Simple random sampling 169
Stratified sampling 170
Cluster sampling 171
Non-probability sampling techniques 172
Expert sampling 173
Total population sampling 174
Convenience sampling 175
Snowball sampling 176
Determination of the sample size 177
Summary 184
Review questions 185
Assignment problems 186

PART IV

9 TYPES AND METHODS FOR DATA COLLECTION 191

Primary data collection methods 191
Interview method 192
Questionnaire method 193
Observation method 198
Participants observation method 204
Secondary data collection methods 205
Reviews of relevant documents
Related government policies and legislations
Reports
Published and unpublished research studies
Videos and pictures
Summary 211
Review questions 213
Assignment problems 213

10 DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION PLAN 216

Techniques and procedures for analyzing qualitative data 216
Techniques and procedures for analyzing quantitative data
Summary 226
Review questions 227
Assignment problems 227

11 WRITING FINDINGS OF BUSINESS RESEARCH 230

Methods of data presentation 230
Discussion of findings 231
Writing summary of findings, conclusions and recommendations 240
Review questions 244
Assignment problems 249
Summary 251
Illustrations

FIGURES
1.1 Importance of Business Research to Managers and Other Stakeholders 3
2.1 Attributes of good research topic 33
3.1 Procedures for reviewing literature 58
4.1 Different Approaches to business research 69
5.1 Sampling Methods and Techniques 121
6.1 Methods for data collection 122
7.1 Techniques and procedures for analyzing quantitative data 123
7.2 Techniques and procedures for analyzing qualitative data 124
8.1 Methods of data presentations 125
 Preface
This book is intended for graduate and senior level undergraduate students pursuing business
research. It provides through and specific details for writing research in business. It is
important for both students and business practitioners. The book is designed to be used for
business courses that cover all aspects of business research. At the same time, it serves as a
guide for those planning to develop a business research. This book provides a step by step
guide for an student or business practitioner to develop a business research.

The book is designed for students who need introductory knowledge in business research
writing. Concurrently, this book is a practical guide because it provides practical review,
assignment problems and summary of each chapter. Given the scope of the coverage of this
book, it equips a student or business practitioner with relevant knowledge, skills and
techniques for business research.

Dr. Ndalahwa Musa Masanja

Arusha, Tanzania

xviii