Center for

Professional
Colegio de San Juan Studies
de Letran -
Calamba
City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

BUSINESS
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY

ANGELO C. MADULI, Ph.D.

 Center for
Professional
Colegio de San Juan Studies
de Letran -
Calamba
City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Pre-requisites for Research

• Thinking
• Asking the RIGHT question
• Sensitivity
 Center for
Professional
Colegio de San Juan Studies
de Letran -
Calamba
City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Research is very much related to Information

• Research reduces uncertainty

• Research generates new information
• Research increases knowledge
 Center for
Professional
Colegio de San Juan Studies
de Letran -
Calamba
City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Problem Discovery Discovery and

and Definition Definition

and so on Conclusions and

Research
Design Report

Sampling Data Processing

and Analysis

Data
Gathering
 Center for
Professional
Colegio de San Juan Studies
de Letran -
Calamba
City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

“The formulation of the problem

is often more essential than its
solution.”
- Albert Einstein
Problem Discovery Problem Selection of
and Definition discovery exploratory research
technique
Sampling

Selection of
exploratory research
technique ProbabilityNonprobability

Secondary
Experience Pilot Case Collection of
(historical) Data
survey study study data
data Gathering
(fieldwork)

Editing and
Problem definition Data coding
(statement of Processing data
research objectives) and
Analysis
Data
Selection of processing
Research Design basic research
method Interpretation
of
Conclusions findings
and Report
Experiment Survey
Secondary
Laborator Field Intervie Questionnair Observation
Data Study Report
y w e

Copyright © 2000 Harcourt, Inc. All rights reserved. 6

 Center for
Professional
Colegio de San Juan Studies
de Letran -
Calamba
City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Symptom Detection

Analysis of
the Situation
Exploratory Research
(optional)

Problem Definition

Statement of
Research Objectives
 Center for
Professional
Colegio de San Juan Studies
de Letran -
Calamba
City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Problem Definition

Ascertain Understand Isolate and

the the identify the
decision background problems,
maker’s of the not the
objectives problem symptoms
State the
Determine research
the questions
Determine
relevant and
the unit
variables research
of analysis
objectives
 Center for
Professional
Colegio de San Juan Studies
de Letran -
Calamba
City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

• The Iceberg Principle

“That the dangerous part of
many business problems is
neither visible to nor understood
by managers.”
 Center for
Professional
Colegio de San Juan Studies
de Letran -
Calamba
City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

• There is a need to isolate and identify

the problems not the symptoms.
 Center for
Professional
Colegio de San Juan Studies
de Letran -
Calamba
City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Subject Symptoms Problem True Problem

Definition

R-mall in a -Declining -Customers Customers

small city customers prefer bigger behavior or
-New S-mall malls needs are
came to town -More stalls changing
means more
choices
 Center for
Professional
Colegio de San Juan Studies
de Letran -
Calamba
City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Management Functions: The Sari-Sari

Store Perspective
Main Problem:
The study would like to explore how
ordinary sari-sari store owners/managers
understand and articulate the different
management functions in running their
business.
 Center for
Professional
Colegio de San Juan Studies
de Letran -
Calamba
City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Essentials of Chapter 1
•Research Title
•Introductory Paragraph
•Statement of the Problem
•Purpose of the Study
•Significance of the Study
•Hypotheses (if needed)
 Center for
Professional
Colegio de San Juan Studies
de Letran -
Calamba
City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Research Title
•Title should be concise and descriptive
•An investigation…A study…An analysis – should be
omitted
•Stated in terms of a functional relationships – indicating
the independent and dependent variables
•Informative and catchy
•Pricks the reader’s interest and predisposes the readers
favorably towards the proposal.
 Center for
Professional
Colegio de San Juan Studies
de Letran -
Calamba
City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Introduction
GENERAL

•Provides the necessary

background or context
•Catch and sustain the attention
of the readers and get them
“tuned on” the subject
•It contains dramatic and general
scenario about the need for the
study. SPECIFIC
 Center for
Professional
Colegio de San Juan Studies
de Letran -
Calamba
City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Statement of the Problem

The statement of the problem is the focal point of your
research.

Statement of the problem may be elaborated as if:

•You are looking for something wrong…
•Or something that needs close attention…
•Or existing methods that no longer seem to be working.
 Center for
Professional
Colegio de San Juan Studies
de Letran -
Calamba
City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Sample Problem:

“The Increasing Employee Turnovers and

the Declining Productivity of Middle
Managers: The Company-A Experience”
 Center for
Professional
Colegio de San Juan Studies
de Letran -
Calamba
City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Purpose of the Study

The purpose is usually a single statement or paragraph
that explains what the study intends to accomplish.

Examples:
The goal of this study is to…
…discover the…
…understand the cause / effect of the…
…provide a new interpretation of…
…understand what makes _____ effective or ineffective
 Center for
Professional
Colegio de San Juan Studies
de Letran -
Calamba
City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Significance of the Study

The significance of the study answers the questions:

-Why is your study important?

- To whom is it important?
- What benefit(s) will occur if your study is done?
 Center for
Professional
Colegio de San Juan Studies
de Letran -
Calamba
City of Calamba, Laguna 4027

Hypothesis (if needed)

Test the degree/level of
-relationships
-difference
-effect / impact

No hypotheses for exploratory or

phenomenological research