2. Meaning of Research
Research is a process steps used to collect and analyze information to increase our
understanding of a topic or issue.
Dictionary meaning “a careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for
new facts in any branch of knowledge”
Redman and Mory define research as a “systematized effort to gain new knowledge.”
Research as a movement, a movement from the known to the unknown.
According to Clifford Woody research comprises defining and redefining problems,
formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions; collecting, organising and evaluating
data; making deductions and reaching conclusions; and at last carefully testing the
conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulating hypothesis.
3. OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it (studies with this
object in view are termed as exploratory or formulative research studies.);
To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group
(studies with this object in view are known as descriptive research studies);
To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated
with something else (studies with this object in view are known as diagnostic research
studies);
To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables (such studies are known as
hypothesis-testing research studies).
4. BUSINESS RESEARCH
Business research can be described as a systematic and organized effort to investigate a
specific problem encountered in the work setting, that needs a solution.
It is the application or the scientific method in searching for the truth about business
phenomena.
These activities include defining business opportunities and problems, generating and
evaluating ideas, monitoring performance, and understanding the business process.
5. TYPES OF BUSINESS RESEARCH
Applied research
Research done with the intention of applying the results of the findings to solve specific problems
currently being experienced in an organization.
It is designed to focus on providing practical solutions to a specific problems.
Examples
1. Applied research to improve an organization’s hiring process.
2. Applied research to improve workplace efficiency and organizational policies.
3. Applied research to bridge skill gaps in the workplace.
Basic research
Research done chiefly to make a contribution to existing knowledge.
It attempts to expand the limits of knowledge in general and is not aims at solving a particular practical
problem.
Basic research is used in education to develop new pedagogic theories that explain different behaviors by
teachers and students within the learning environment.
Examples of basic research in education include:
1. How does the human memory work?
2. How do children acquire new languages?
7. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH METHOD
Research conducted for the purpose of contributing towards science by the systematic
collection, interpretation and evaluation of data and that, too, in a planned manner is
called scientific research: a researcher is the one who conducts this research.
Scientific method refers to a standardized set of techniques for building scientific
knowledge, such as how to make valid observations, how to interpret results, and how
to generalize those results.
Scientific research method
8. BASIC ELEMENTS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
Replicability: Replicate or repeat a scientific study and obtain similar, if not identical,
results.
Precision: Theoretical concepts that are to be defined so that others can use those
definitions to measure those concepts and test that theory
Falsifiability: Theories that cannot be tested or falsified are not scientific theories and
any such knowledge is not scientific knowledge.
Parsimony : When there are multiple explanations of a phenomenon, scientists must
always accept the simplest or logically most economical explanation.
9. RESEARCH APPLICATION IN BUSINESS
MANAGEMENT
The importance of research in an organization
Ultimately, it is research that helps a company to sustain in long run.
It enables the management to take effective decisions through carefully analyzing the
research output for the long term benefit of the organizations.
Many organizations have been unable to sustain themselves and have fallen simply
because of neglecting research and not keeping abreast of market trends and
innovations. Research is important to survive in business.
A business research program is surely a preferred way for businesses to train and
educate their managers and other staff members in a vast array of different fields.
Undertaking research in business management is important since it aids a business
plan for the future, based on what may have occurred in earlier times.
If performed effectively it can help an organization to make plans on how to become
more viable in its field.
10. CONTINUE
Testing of new products:
Research can help design a new product or service, figuring out what is needed and
ensure that the development of a product is highly targeted towards demand.
Measuring advertising effectiveness: Companies use business research to determine the
success of their advertising.
Guaranteeing adequate distribution: Businesses can also use research to guarantee
sufficient distribution of their products.
Studying the competition: To study key rivals in the market. To remain competitive in the
market.
Carrying out research can also help a business determine whether now is the right time to
expand into another town or whether it needs to apply for a new loan.
It may also help the business to decide if a process should be altered or if more needs to
be done to meet the requirements of the customer base.
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It can also help in the recruitment of employees:
It’s through proper research that human resource managers are able to determine and
recruit qualified manpower.
Recruitment of workers with the right skills and attitudes aids the company to improve its
productivity levels.
Research for the right staff members can be done via the internet, consultancy firms and
institutions of higher learning.
Research creates benchmarks:
It helps you measure your progress – Unless you measure you may not be able gauge
how well your business is performing
Research and Business Decision Making
Businesses conduct research for many reasons, such as gathering crucial information about
consumers and business customers.
The key function of management is to take decisions and without help of the research and
analysis of present situation and future forecasting, decisions may not be effective.
So research helps to take right decisions. Based on research, management can make
intelligent and well informed decisions. Application of Research In
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Research is important for managerial decision making.
All strategic business areas are analyzed and evaluated; then techniques for more
efficient procedures are created.
All businesses usually have many ways of doing an activity. Through proper research,
the organization will be able to pick the most effective, productive and profitable
one.
Research could possibly be applied to develop strategies for marketing, production,
finance, IT and Human resources.
13. RESEARCH PROBLEM
A Research problem is a question that a researcher wants to answer or a problem that a
researcher wants to solve.
A research problem is an issues or a concern that an investigator / researcher presents
and justifies in a research study.
“ A situation for which we have no ready & successful response by instinct or by
previous acquired habit. We must find out what to do”, i.e. the solution can be found
out only after an investigation. R.S. Woodworth
Identification and formulation of a research problem is the first step of the research
process.
Selection of a research problem depends on several factors such as researcher’s
knowledge, skills, interest, expertise, motivation & creativity with respect to the subject
chosen.
14. COMPONENTS OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
1. An individual or a group which has some difficulty or the problem
2. Some objectives to be attained
3. Two or more course of actions or alternative means for obtaining the objective
4. Two or more possible outcomes
5. The environment in which the problem exists.
15. IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEM
Generally a broad area is selected and then it is delimited or narrowed down to a specific
one sentence statement of the problem.
Sources of research problem
1. Personal experience
2. Practical experience
3. Critical appraisal of literature
4. Previous research
5. Existing theories
6. Social Issues
7. Brainstorming
8. Intuition
9. Folklores
10.Exposure to field situation
11.Consultation with experts
16. SELECTING THE PROBLEM
Overdone subjects should not be selected
Controversial subject should not become the choice of average
researcher.
Too narrow & too vague problems should be avoided
Selected research subject should be familiar & feasible so that the
related research material & resources of research are within one’s
search.
The importance of subject, the qualification & the training of a
researcher, the costs involved, the time factor are few criteria's must
also be considered.
The selection of a problem must be preceded by a preliminary study.
17. RESEARCH ETHICS
Research ethics provides guidelines for the responsible conduct of
research. In addition, it educates and monitors scientists conducting
research to ensure a high ethical standard.
Rules of behavior based on ideas about what is morally good and bad.
It is concerned with a set of social and moral principles that guide
research.
Ethics in research provides rules that specify and appropriate and
inappropriate behavior in the conduct of research and application of
findings
18. RIGHTS & OBLIGATIONS OF THE RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS
Informed consent: When an individual understands what the researchers wants him or her to
do & consents to the research study.
Confidentiality: The information in a research study will not shared with others.
Participants right to privacy
Active research
Passive Research
Experimental designs: Often involves some degree of deception
Placebo: a false experimental effect used to create the perception that some effect has been
administered.
Debriefing: Research subjects are fully informed & provided with a chance to ask questions they may
have about the experiment.
Protection from harm
19. RIGHTS & OBLIGATIONS OF THE RESEARCHER
The purpose of research is research
Objectivity
Misrepresentation of research
Confidentiality
Dissemination of faulty conclusions
20. RIGHTS & OBLIGATIONS OF THE CLIENT
Ethical behavior between buyer & seller
An open relationship with interested parties
