Introduction to research

FLS 1.1

Introduction to research
Business Research Definition
Objective, Nature, Importance,
Criteria for a good research.
Types of Research.

04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

Why must we understand

research?

help make informed decisions

need to produce research in career
evaluating research in the media
assist in classes

04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

Objectives

04/10/15

Define research and understand its

importance.
Describe the basic steps in
conducting research.
Explore the fundamental methods of
gathering data for research.
Describe how tools such as
databases, decision support
systems, and the Internet facilitate
information systems and research.
Identify key ethical and international
considerations in research.
Dr.R.Hemanalini

Meaning and Importance

04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

Meaning of Research
Research in common parlance refers
to a search for knowledge. also
research as a scientific and
systematic search for pertinent
information on a specific topic. In
fact, research is an art of scientific
investigation.

04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

Definition
According to Clifford Woody research
comprises defining and redefining
problems, formulating hypothesis or
suggested solutions; collecting,
organizing and evaluating data; making
deductions and reaching conclusions;
and at last carefully testing the
conclusions to determine whether they
fit the formulating hypothesis.
04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

The Benefits of Research

Facilitates strategic planning

Assess opportunities/threats
Ascertain potential for success
Determine feasibility
Improves marketers ability to make
decisions

04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

Basic

Applied
04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

Basic vs. Applied Research

Basic research type of research that
may have limited direct application but
in which the researcher has careful
control of the conditions
Applied research type of research
that has direct value to practitioners
but in which the researcher has limited
control over the research setting

04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

10

Continuum of
Basic vs. Applied Research
Level IBasic research
Goal: Theory-driven
Approach: Laboratory

Level IIModerate relevance

Goal: Theory-based using relevant movements
Approach: Similar to real-world task or setting

Level IIIApplied research

Goal: Immediate solutions
Approach: Real-world settings
04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

11

04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

12

Nature of Research
Systematic plan, identify, design,
collect data, evaluate
Logical examine procedures to
evaluate conclusions
Empirical decisions are based on
data (observation)
Reductive general relationships
are established from data
Replicable actions are recorded
04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

13

Characteristics of Research

objective
precise
verifiable
parsimonious
empirical
logical
probabilistic

04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

14

Key Concepts and Issues

time in research
variables
types of relationships
hypotheses
types of data
fallacies
structure or research
deduction and induction
ethics
validity

04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

15

04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

16

Time in Research
cross-sectional vs. longitudinal
repeated measures

04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

time series

17

Variables
variable
any observation that can take on
different values

attribute
a specific value on a variable

04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

18

Examples
Variable
satisfaction

Attribute
1 = very satisfied
2 = satisfied
3= somewhat satisfied
4 = not satisfied
5 = not satisfied at all

04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

19

Examples
IV

DV

exercise
participation

04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

20

Types of Variables
independent variable (IV)
what you (or nature) manipulates in
some way

dependent variable (DV)

what you presume to be influenced by
the IV

04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

21

Unscientific Methods of
Problem Solving

Tenacity
Intuition
Authority
The rationalistic method
The empirical method

04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

22

Quantitative vs. Qualitative

Research

Quantitative data are gathered

such that they can be quantified and
subjected to statistical analyses
Qualitative data are gathered such
that they can be analyzed through
informed judgment

04/10/15

Dr.R.Hemanalini

23