INTRODUCTION

TO
BUSINESS RESEARCH
CHAPTER-1
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
CONCEPTS AND
CASES
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What is research?
Management research is an unbiased,
structured, and sequential method of enquiry,
directed towards a clear implicit or explicit
business objective. This enquiry might lead to
validating existing postulates or arriving at
new theories and models.

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RESEARCH
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Types of research

BUSINESS RESEARCH
CONCLUSIVE RESEARCH
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
APPLIED RESEARCH BASIC RESEARCH
EXPLORATORY
RESEARCH
CAUSAL RESEARCH
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Types of research

Basic research : the basic premise is the need
to KNOW and the concern is primarily academic
in nature.


Applied research: Solution or action oriented
research, that is contextual and practical in
approach.


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Types of research

Exploratory research is loosely structured and the
basic premise is to provide direction to subsequent,
more structured method of enquiry.

Conclusive research is structured and definite in
orientation. These studies are usually conducted to
validate formulated hypotheses and specified
relationships.

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Exploratory vs Conclusive Research

EXPLORATORY RESEARCH CONCLUSIVE RESEARCH
Loosely structured in design

Are flexible and investigative in
methodology

Do not involve testing of hypotheses

Findings might be topic specific and
might not have much relevance outside
the researchers domain
Well structured and systematic in
design
Have a formal and definitive
methodology that needs to be followed
and tested
Most conclusive researches are carried
out to test the formulated hypotheses
Findings are significant as they have a
theoretical or applied implication.

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Conclusive research

Descriptive research: The main goal of this type
of research is to describe the data and
characteristics about what is being studied.

Causal research: Explores the effect of one or
more variables on other variable(s), with
reasonable level of certainty by controlling the
impact of other influencing variables.
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The research process

Management Dilemma
Basic vs Applied
Defining the Research Problem
Formulating the Research Hypothesis
Developing the Research Proposal
Data Collection
The Research Framework
Research Design
Data Collection Plan Sampling Plan
Instrument Design
Pilot Testing
Data Analysis & Interpretation
Research Reporting
Management / Research Decision
Data Refining and Preparation
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The research process
The management decision problem

Defining the research problem

Formulation of the working hypotheses

Construction of the research proposal

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The research process
Formulating the research design

Sampling considerations

Collecting the data for the study

Data analysis and interpretation of findings

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Research applications in marketing
Market & consumer analysis
Product research
Pricing research
Promotional research
Place research




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Research applications in finance
Asset pricing, capital markets and corporate finance

Financial derivatives and credit risk modeling research

Market-based accounting research

Auditing and accountability

Other areas: financial forecasting, behavioural finance,
volatility analysis







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Research applications in
human resources
Training & development studies

Selection and staffing studies

Performance appraisaldesign and evaluation

Organization planning and development

Incentive and benefits studies

Emerging areascritical factor analysis, employer
branding studies







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Research applications in
production & operations management
Operation planning and design
Demand forecasting and demand estimation
Process planning
Project management and maintenance effectiveness
studies
Logistics and supply chain-design and evaluation
Quality estimations and assurance studies






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Criteria for research
MUST have: a clearly stated research purpose/ objective
MUST have: a sequential plan of execution
MUST have: a logical and explicitly stated justification for
the selected methods
MUST have: an unbiased and neutral method of conduct
and reporting
MUST have: complete transparency and ethical conduction
of the research process
MUST have: provision for being reliable & replicable
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