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Business Research
Methods

Chapter 03
Research Process
1-1

Research
Process
1-2

 Research task: a sequential process

involving several clearly defined
steps.

1-3

Exhibit 3.1: Research

Process

1-4

The Management
Research
Question
Hierarchy
1-5

 A useful way to approach the

research process is to state the basic
dilemma that prompts the research
and then try to develop other
questions by progressively breaking
down the original question into more
specific ones.
See exhibit 3.2
1-6

Management Question
Management dilemma
management question.
Management question states the
dilemma in question form:
What should be done to reduce
employee turnover?
What should be done to increase tenant
residency and reduce move-outs?
What should be done to reduce costs?
1-7

Management Question
Categories
Categories:
Choice of purposes or objectives: e.g.
What goals do we want to achieve?
Generation and evaluation of solutions:
e.g. how can we achieve the goals?
Troubleshooting or control situation: e.g.
how well is our solution meeting its
goals?

1-8

The Nature of the

Management Question
To subdivide a broadly stated
management question.
To look for the underlying causes of
the management dilemma.
E.g.

1-9

Exploration
An exploration typically begins with a
search of published data.
An unstructured exploration allows
the researcher to develop and revise
the management question and
determine what is needed to secure
answers to the proposed question.

1-10

The Research Question

Once the researcher has a clear
statement of the management
question, she and the manager must
translate it into a research
question.
A research question is the
hypothesis of choice that best states
the objective of the research study.
E.g.
1-11

Fine-tuning the Research

Question
The refined-research questions will
Have better focus
Move the research forward: more clarity

In addition to fine-tuning the original

question, other research questionrelated activities should be
addressed to enhance the direction
of the project:
1-12

Investigative Questions
Investigative questions: are questions
the researcher must answer to
satisfactorily arrive at a conclusion
about the research question.
To formulate investigative questions,
the researcher breaks a general
research question into more specific
questions about which to gather data.
E.g.
1-13

Measurement Questions
Measurement questions are the
questions we actually ask the
respondents.
They appear on the questionnaire.

1-14

Research Process
Issues

1-15

The Favored-Technique
Syndrome
Some researchers are methodbound.
Persons knowledgeable about and
skilled in some techniques but not in
others are too often blinded by their
special competencies.

1-16

Company Database
Strip-Mining
The existence of a pool of
information or a database can
distract a manager, seemingly
reducing the need for other search.

1-17

Unsearchable Questions
To be searchable, a question must be
one for which observation or other
data collection can provide the
answer.

1-18

Ill-Defined Management
Problems
Methods do not presently exist.
Dont have necessary data to solve
them.

1-19

Politically Motivated
Research
A research study may not really be
desirable but is authorized anyway.

1-20

Designing the
Study

1-21

 The research design is the blueprint

for fulfilling objectives & answering
questions.
Selecting a design may be
complicated by the availability of a
large variety of methods, techniques,
procedures, protocols, and sampling
plan.
1-22

Sampling Design

1-23

 A sample is a part of the target

population, carefully selected to
represent that population.
Probability v.s. non-probability
approach.

1-24

Resource Allocation and

Budgets

1-25

 Without budgetary approval, many

research efforts are terminated for
lack of resources.

1-26

Valuing Research
Information

1-27

 The value of applied research is not

difficult to determine.
In a business situation, the research
should produce added revenues or
reduce expenses in much the same
way as any other investment of
resources.

1-28

The Research
Proposal

1-29

Proposing Research
Research Question

Revise question
Propose Research

Budget & value Assessment

Cost > Value

Management
Decision without
Research

Value > cost

Issue Request for

Proposal

Obtain budget &

Design Approval

Approved

Execute Research
Design
1-30

Proposal Content
Every proposal should include two
basic sections:
Statement of the research question
Brief description of research
methodology

1-31

Pilot Testing

1-32

 A pilot test is conducted to detect

weakness in design and
instrumentation and to provide proxy
data for selection of a probability
sample.
Pretesting may be repeated several
times to refine questions,
instruments, or procedures.
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Data Collection

1-34

 Questionnaires, standardized tests,

observational forms, laboratory
notes, and instrument calibration
logs are among the devices used to
record raw data.

1-35

Analysis and
Interpretation

1-36

 Data analysis reduces accumulated

data to a manageable size, developing
summaries, looking for pattern and
applying statistical techniques.
Researchers must interpret these
findings in light of the clients
research question or determine if the
results are consistent with their
hypotheses and theories.
1-37

Reporting the
Results

1-38

 A research report should contain the

following:
An executive summary consisting of a
synopsis of the problem, findings, and
recommendation.
An overview of the research: the problems
background, literature summary, methods,
and procedures, and conclusions.
A section on implementation strategies for
the recommendations.
A technical appendix with all materials
necessary to replicate the project.

1-39

End
1-40

Nature of the management

questions
Management Dilemma:
Profits have stagnated in recent years.

Management question:
How can we improve our profit picture?

The management question is too broad.

After the discussion with the CEO, the
researcher refines the management
questions into 2 specific subquestions:
How can we increase deposits?
How can we reduce costs?
1-41

Management Question
Research Question
Management
question:
How can we reduce
costs?

Research
questions:
Should we reduce
the number of
suppliers?
Should we reduce
the number of
versions for our
products?

1-42

 Examine the concepts & constructs to be

used. Are operational definitions appropriate?
Breaks research questions 2nd ; 3rd level
questions.
If hypotheses are used, be certain they meet
the quality tests.
Determine what evidence must be collected
to answer the various questions &
hypotheses.
Set the scope of the study by stating what is
not a part of the research question.
1-43

Investigative Questions
What is the publics
position regarding
financial services and
their use?
What specific financial
services are used?
How attractive are
various services?
What bank-specific
and environment
factors influence a
persons use of a
particular service?

What is the banks

competitive position?
What are the
geographic patterns
of our customers and
of our competitors
customers?
What demographic
differences are
revealed among our
customers and those
of our competitors?

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