DPB5023

INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY

* UNIT 2
INITIAL STAGES OF
BUSINESS RESEARCH
NIK AZIDA BINTI ABD GHANI
013 9337550

DPB5023 UNIT 2.1

UNIT 2.1
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION GATHERING
AND PROBLEM DEFINITION

DPB5023 UNIT 2

UNIT 2.1
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this subtopic, students should be able to:
* Construct preliminary information gathering and
problem definition
Identify the broad problem area through several
ways
Discuss the source of preliminary information
gathering
Define a research problem

DPB5023 UNIT 2.1

UNIT 2.1
WAYS TO IDENTIFY BROAD PROBLEM AREA

*
*

Problem is any situation where there is a gap between

the actual and the desired ideal conditions.
Example: Training program is not as effective as
desired/ projected.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.1

UNIT 2.1
WAYS TO IDENTIFY BROAD PROBLEM AREA
Broad problem area can be identified through the process
of observation after some preliminary information is
gathered by the researcher.
* Brainstorm for ideas
* Read general background information
* Focus and read more on your topic
* Make a list of useful keywords
* Be flexible

DPB5023 UNIT 2.1

UNIT 2.1
WAYS TO IDENTIFY BROAD PROBLEM AREA
Sources
* Work Experience/ Practical Training Experience
* Academic or professional journals
* Report in the media
* Speeches from experts or authorities
* Consultant
* Suggestions for further research by theses or
dissertations
* Observation of current issues

DPB5023 UNIT 2.1

EXAMPLES OF BROAD PROBLEM AREA

Employee Problems
Make or buy decisions
Customer/ User satisfaction
Consumer behaviour
Advertising effectiveness
Human Resource Management
Entrepreneurship

DPB5023 UNIT 2.1

IDENTIFYING BROAD PROBLEM AREA

Employee
Problems

Advertising
effectiveness

Absenteeism
Communication
Motivation
Productivity
Morale
Competition
Safety issues
Current challenges

Test marketing
Budget allocations
Accounting procedures

DPB5023 UNIT 2.1

UNIT 2.1
SOURCES OF PRELIMINARY INFORMATION GATHERING
Preliminary information refers to preceding info that
already existed in the initial stage.
Preliminary information comes from:
* Primary data sources

Info that the researcher obtain by himself by talking, observing

and questionnaires

Secondary data sources

Info that already existed and the researcher has no role in

obtaining it but he read it and take what he need from it

DPB5023 UNIT 2.1

UNIT 2.1
SOURCES OF PRELIMINARY INFORMATION GATHERING
There are many ways to get preliminary information such as:
* Literature searches review all readily available
materials (company info, publications, annual reports and
other published materials).
* Talking with people to gather info that is not publicly
available or too new to be found in the literature.
* Focus groups a small group of people/ expert - used to
explore peoples ideas and attitudes.
* Personal interviews to get in depth and comprehensive
info
* Telephone/ mail/ internet surveys way of gathering info
from a relatively large sample.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.1

UNIT 2.1
DEFINE A RESEARCH PROBLEM

A research problem is a statement about an area of

concern, a condition to be improved upon, a difficulty
to be eliminated, a troubling question that exists that
need to be understood and investigated.
A research problem is the topic that you want to
examine or study is the reason why you are
conducting the research.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.1

UNIT 2.1
DEFINE A RESEARCH PROBLEM

Once the general problem is identified, it should be

stated as a clear research problem research problem
statement.
Characteristics of a problem statement:
* The problem should reflects felt needs
* The problem is not hypothetical i.e. must be based on
factual evidence.
* Should suggest meaningful and testable hypothesis
* The problem statement should be relevant,
manageable/ feasible and interesting.
* Scope is limited

DPB5023 UNIT 2.1

UNIT 2.1
DEFINE A RESEARCH PROBLEM
How to formulate the research problem:
* Decide on the general or broad area of study.
* Narrow down the general topic
* Prepare a good problem statement

DPB5023 UNIT 2.1

UNIT 2.1
DEFINE A RESEARCH PROBLEM
How to formulate the research problem:
1. Decide on the general or broad area of study.
* Sustain your interest
* Within range of competencies
* Manageable in size
* Potential to make a contribution
* Based on obtainable data
* Researchable

DPB5023 UNIT 2.1

UNIT 2.1
DEFINE A RESEARCH PROBLEM
How to formulate the research problem:
2. Narrow down the general topic:
* Specific statement of the research problem
* Decide on what to study, investigate or explore
* Understand the sources from which the problem is
defined such as
* Evaluate the potential of the problem important
enough? Contribution to the body of knowledge? Really
researchable? Available data? Can be completed within
time frame?

DPB5023 UNIT 2.1

UNIT 2.1
DEFINE A RESEARCH PROBLEM
How to formulate the research problem:
3. Prepare a good problem statement:
* Clarify what you want to determine or solve
* Scope limited
* Operational definition for key terms
* Stated in a way that it is:

Researchable
Clear and feasible

DPB5023 UNIT 2.1

UNIT 2.1
DEFINE A RESEARCH PROBLEM

EXAMPLES OF A PROBLEM STATEMENT

DPB5023 UNIT 2.1

UNIT 2.1
DEFINE A RESEARCH PROBLEM

In a nutshell:
Problem statement is the
discussion about the issue or problem
that justify the research (why the
research need to be conducted).
It should be related to the background
of the problem.
It should be stated in the form of

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

UNIT 2.2
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this subtopic, students should be able to:
* Developing theoretical framework and setting the
objective
Comprehend the need for a framework in the
research process
Differentiate the different types of variable:
independent variable and dependent variable
Construct theoretical framework
Construct research objective
Construct research question

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

CONSTRUCT THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
What is a theoretical framework:
* A theoretical framework is a collection of
interrelated concepts.
* It guides the research, determines what to
measure and what statistical analysis to use.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

CONSTRUCT THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Why we need a theoretical framework:
* Theoretical framework may guide the
researcher in doing the research.
* help reduce the problem of making mistakes
by developing the explicit theoretical
framework.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

CONSTRUCT THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Elements of a theoretical framework:
* Cases objects whose behaviour/
characteristics being studied. Example:
students, lecturers, departments.
* Variables characteristics/ attributes of cases.
Example: gender, age, height, math ability.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

CONSTRUCT THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Roles of variables: Key roles of variables are independent
or dependent variables.
* Independent variable (a.k.a. predictor) explain the
variation in the dependent variable (causes).
* Dependent variable the outcome variable or the one
that are to be predicted.
* Example: if we say that people are more satisfied with
their jobs when they are given more freedom to do
what they want and if they are well paid (salary);
job freedom - IV
salary
- IV
satisfaction - DV

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

CONSTRUCT THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Example of a theoretical framework:

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

More examples of a theoretical framework:
Diversity is good for profitability because diversity leads
to innovation which in turn leads to profitability.
Therefore, innovativeness is the intervening variable.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

CONSTRUCT RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
What is a research objective:
* A concrete statement describing what the research is
trying to achieve.
* Specific accomplishment the researchers hope to
achieve by doing the study/ research.
* Summarises what is to be achieved by the study.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

CONSTRUCT RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Why we need to have clearly defined research objective:
* Help researcher to FOCUS on the study.
* Helps avoid the collection of data which are not
needed.
* Helps researcher to obtain answer to research
questions.
* Helps organize the study in clearly defined parts or
phases.
* Help orient the collection, analysis, interpretation and
utilization of data.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

CONSTRUCT RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Characteristics of a research objective:
* Should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable,
Realistic and Time-Bound).
* Research objective should be relevant, feasible,
logical, and observable.
* Can be achieved within the expected timeframe and
within available resources (financial, logistics,
materials etc.).

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

CONSTRUCT RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Types of research objective:
* General Objective
Broad goals to be achieved.
What the researcher expects to achieve in general
terms.
Usually only a few (less in number).
* Specific Objective
Short term and narrow in focus.
More in number and address various aspects of
problems and key factors.
Should specify what the researcher will do in the
study, where and for what purpose.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

CONSTRUCT RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Characteristics of a research objective:

*
*
*

Should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable,

Realistic and Time-Bound).
Research objective should be relevant, feasible,
logical, and observable.
Can be achieved within the expected timeframe and
within available resources (financial, logistics,
materials etc.).

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

CONSTRUCT RESEARCH QUESTION
Research question:

*
*
*

Is a statement that identifies

the phenomenon to be
studied.
Research question should be
clear and focused.
Summarises the significant
issues your research will
investigate.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

CONSTRUCT RESEARCH QUESTION
How to formulate a good research question:

*
*
*

Choose a general topic of interest.

Conduct a preliminary research what have been
done determine what kinds of information the topic
generates.
Characteristics of a good research question:

Relevant of interest to people you have chosen to study.

Manageable in terms of research and academic abilities
realistic about the scope and scale of the study.
Clear and simple
Interesting

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

CONSTRUCT RESEARCH QUESTION
A research question, title, research problem, or research
focus, are interrelated and support one another.
Difference between a research question, title,
hypothesis & research focus
*Aresearch questionsummarises the significant issue
your research will investigate.
*Thetitleconsists of the topic and outcome of a research
project.
*Theresearch problemexplains the knowledge gap your
research will address.
*Aresearch focusspecifies the scope or domain of
inquiry.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

CONSTRUCT RESEARCH QUESTION
Purpose of a research question:

*
*
*
*
*

To guide you through a huge storehouse of

information.
Provide you a great place to get started with your
research
Allow you to efficiently locate and retrieve the most
relevant knowledge possible
Help prevent you from getting off track
Help keep you organized as you begin writing.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

CONSTRUCT RESEARCH QUESTION
Example of research questions (Descriptive):
* What are the factors that affect students inclination
towards entrepreneurship?
* How many employees are satisfied with their work?
* Why are social networking sites harmful?
* How frequently do students ask their lecturers for
help?

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

CONSTRUCT RESEARCH QUESTION
Example of research questions (Relationship):
* What is the relationship between emotional
intelligence and leadership effectiveness in CEOs?
* What is the relationship between readiness and
commitment among students?

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

CONSTRUCT RESEARCH QUESTION
Example of research questions (Comparative):
* What is the difference between in academic
achievement of public and private higher education
institutions in Malaysia?
* What is the difference in team productivity of
transformational and authoritarian team leaders.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

CONSTRUCT RESEARCH QUESTION
Example of research questions (Causality):
* Is there an effect of one variable on the other
variable?
* What is the effect of diet on weight loss in overweight
females?

DPB5023 UNIT 2.2

CONSTRUCT RESEARCH QUESTION
Qualities of a good research question:
* Interesting
* Useful
* Focused and clear
* Specific variables (IV and DV), population/ group.
Example: What is the relationship between leadership
style and commitment among team leaders in PKB?

DPB5023 UNIT 2

UNIT 2.3
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this subtopic, students should be able to:
*Discuss the literature survey
Define literature review
Purpose of literature review
Sources of literature
Writing up the literature review

DPB5023 UNIT 2.3

DISCUSS THE LITERATURE REVIEW
Definition of literature review:

* A literature review is a body of text that aims

to review the critical points of current
knowledge on a particular topic.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.3

DISCUSS THE LITERATURE REVIEW
Purpose of literature review:
* Expand the knowledge on areas under study.
* To know the meaning of the variables under study.
* To know about what other researchers have done or to
know their findings.
* To justify why the study is important and need to be
conducted.
* To improve the methodology of research avoid from
making the same mistakes as previous researchers.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.3

DISCUSS THE LITERATURE REVIEW
Sources of literature review:
* Dictionary and phrases
* Encyclopaedia
* Journals
* Abstracts and indexes
* Data bases
* Books and bibliography
* Reports and bulletin
* Book reviews
* Internet

DPB5023 UNIT 2.3

DISCUSS THE LITERATURE REVIEW
Process of Writing up the literature review:
* Look for recent publication relevant to the study.
* Read the abstract to identify the suitability of
publication.
* Identify the objective, purpose, methodology, findings,
discussion, conclusion and implication
* Organize the literature
* Critically evaluate and select the literature
* Write a review

DPB5023 UNIT 2.3

DISCUSS THE LITERATURE REVIEW
Techniques of Writing up the literature review:
* Arrange the content systematically, chronologically
and based of logic arrangement, from general to
specific
* Covers main concepts, relevant theory and model.
* Jot down the information on publication and author.
* Stop when it is enough.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.3

DISCUSS THE LITERATURE REVIEW
A good literature review:
* Logic flow of ideas
* Current and relevant references
* Usage of suitable terminologies
* Not biased
* Comprehensive

DPB5023 UNIT 2

UNIT 2.4
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this subtopic, students should be able to:
*Discuss the research design and proposal writing
Explain types of research design: exploratory
research, descriptive research, cross-sectional and
longitudinal research
Discuss guidelines for preparing a research proposal

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Research Design
*Refers to the overall strategy that is chosen to integrate

the different components of the study in a coherent and

logical way, ensuring you will effectively address the
research problem.
*The methodology and procedure employed to conduct
scientific research.

*It constitutes the blueprint for the collection,

measurement and analysis of data.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Types of Research Design

Exploratory
research

Descriptive
research

Crosssectional

Longitudinal
research

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Types of Research Design

Exploratory research
Is conducted for a problem that has not been
clearly defined.
Focus on discovery of ideas and insights
Usually use open-ended questions give richer
information

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Types of Research Design

Exploratory research
Suitable for new topic or new angle (new ways
of looking at things from a theoretical
perspective or new way of measuring something)
Not usually useful for decision-making by
themselves, but can provide insights into a given
situation.
Not typically generalizable to the population at
large.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Types of Research Design

Descriptive research
The objective is to describe the characteristics
of a population or phenomenon being studied
such as market potential of a market and
demographic variables.
Quantitative in nature.
Preplanned and structured in design use
statistics to generalize the information to the
population.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Types of Research Design

Descriptive research
Attempts to explore and explain while
providing additional information about a topic.
May get data through observations (a method
of viewing and recording the participants),
case study (an in-depth study of an individual
or group of individuals) or surveys (brief
interview or discussion with individuals about a
specific topic.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Types of Research Design

Cross-sectional
Make comparisons at a single time may
compare different population at a single point
in time a snapshot.
Allows the researcher to compare many
different variables at the same time.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Types of Research Design

Cross-sectional
Does not provide definite information about
cause-and-effect relationships because it
does not consider what happens before or
after the snapshot is taken.
Can be done more quickly compared to
longitudinal study.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Types of Research Design

Longitudinal research
Make comparisons over time conduct several
observations of the same subjects over a
period of time (sometimes lasting many
years).
Involves repeated observations of the same
variables over long period of time
Can be used to study cause and effect.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Guidelines for Preparing Proposal

Contents of a proposal:
1.Project title
2.Background information
3.Problem statement
4.General and specific objective
5.Research question
6.Research scope

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Guidelines for Preparing Proposal

Contents of a proposal:
7.Literature review
8.Research methodology
9.Brief Bibliography
10.Work schedule
11.Estimated cost

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Guidelines for Preparing Proposal

Title of research:
*Should reflect the problem or scope of research or
variables under study.
*Limit the number of words to about 10 12 words (if
possible).
*Be direct to the point, avoid from using the word:
Research on .
Kajian .
Kajian tinjauan

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Guidelines for Preparing Proposal

Example of a research title:
*Faktor yang mempengaruhi kecenderungan pelajar
untuk menjadi usahawan
*Faktor yang mendorong usahawan wanita menceburi
bidang perniagaan di Pasar Siti Khadijah Kelantan
*Komitmen Kerja Berpasukan dan Hubungannya Dengan
Kepuasan Kerja Dalam Kalangan Juru Audit di .
*Hubungkait Antara Pengurusan tekanan Dengan Prestasi
Kerja Dalam Kalangan ..

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Guidelines for Preparing Proposal

Background Information:
*Narrow down the scope of the study. Be focused.
*Define clearly the problem to be examined.
*Explain the status quo (current situation) about the
issue to be researched on.
*Read articles, thesis and other resources as reference to
support your writing.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Guidelines for Preparing Proposal

Problem Statement:
*Explain the status quo (current situation) about the
issue to be researched on what really is the problem.
*Explain the need to change or to do something about
the issue.
*Justify why research is done.
*You may support your statement by referring to articles
in newspapers, comments or report done to a place or
office.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Guidelines for Preparing Proposal

Problem Statement:
*Relate to the background information.
*State clearly the problem that justify why the research
is conducted or why the researcher wants to do the
research.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Guidelines for Preparing Proposal

Research Objective:
*Is the objective or aim of the research.
*It should be stated clearly, in brief and focused.
*You might want to have 3 to 5 research objectives for
your purpose.
*Example of words to use:
to identify (untuk mengenal pasti)
to examine (untuk mengkaji)
to measure (untuk mengukur)

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Guidelines for Preparing Proposal

Examples of research objectives:
TAHAP KEPUASAN PELANGGAN TERHADAP PERKHIDMATAN
YANG TERDAPAT DI STESYEN KERETAPI WAKAF BARU
1. Mengenal pasti kepuasan pelanggan terhadap
perkhidmatan kaunter di Stesen Keretapi Wakaf Baru.
2. Menentukan kepuasan pelanggan terhadap kemudahan
yang disediakan Stesen Keretapi Wakaf Baru.
3. Menentukan kepuasan pelanggan terhadap kebersihan
di Stesen Keretapi Wakaf Baru.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Guidelines for Preparing Proposal

Examples of research objectives:
FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI PENGGUNA SEMASA
MEMBUAT PEMBELIAN BARANGAN
1. Menentukan samada harga mempengaruhi pengguna
semasa membeli barangan.
2. Mengenal pasti samada produk mempengaruhi
pengguna apabila membeli barangan.
3. Mengenal pasti samada lokasi premis mempengaruhi
pengguna apabila membeli barangan.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Guidelines for Preparing Proposal

Examples of research objectives:
KESEDARAN USAHAWAN IKS MENGENAI KEPENTINGAN
PERLINDUNGAN INSURAN DALAM PERNIAGAAN
1. Mengenal pasti tahap pengetahuan usahawan mengenai
kepentingan perlindungan insuran dalam perniagaan.
2. Mengenal pasti kecenderungan usahawan IKS untuk
mendapatkan perlindungan insuran.
3. Menentukan sejauh mana perlindungan insuran
diamalkan oleh usahawan IKS.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Guidelines for Preparing Proposal

Research Scope:
* The scope of the research in terms of respondents,
variables under study, time period and limitations of
the study.
* Limitations may exist because of instruments used,
methodology, implementation, time, logistics,
financial, sample and analysis methods.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Guidelines for Preparing Proposal

Literature review:
Conducting review analytically and systematically on the
documents which contain the information, data, idea and
method of gathering information about the study/
research.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Guidelines for Preparing Proposal

Literature review:

Menurut Valeria (2001), dalam memastikan sesuatu

barangan itu berkualiti atau tidak, pengguna yang
mementingkan kualiti akan menggunakan harga
sebagai rujukan. Dalam kajian ini, beliau menegaskan
bahawa pengguna akan membeli sesuatu barangan
yang berkualiti, di mana pengguna menganggap
semakin tinggi harga sesuatu barangan semakin
tinggilah kualiti barangan tersebut.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Guidelines for Preparing Proposal

Literature review:

Jamal Khair Hashim (1998) menyatakan bahawa

kebersihan adalah menjadi satu amalan yang baik
apabila setiap sesuatu kerja yang dibuat penilaian
supaya kita dapat mengetahui keberkesanannya dan
mengambil langkah tertentu jika ia tidak memuaskan.
Dengan menjaga kebersihan sesuatu perniagaan akan
terus kekal dan mendapat sambutan dari pengguna.

DPB5023 UNIT 2.4

Guidelines for Preparing Proposal

Literature review:

Cohen dan Manion (1996) mentakrifkan metodologi

sebagai pendekatan yang digunakan dalam
penyelidikan bagi mengumpul data. Dalam bahagian
ini penyelidik perlu menyatakan bagaimana (kaedah,
prosedur dan tatacara) kajian tersebut dilaksanakan.